WAVERLY - Thirty-one former standout wrestlers will take part in the "Legends of Knights Gymnasium" ceremony tonight at the midway point of top-ranked Wartburg College's dual meet against Luther College at Levick Arena.

The guests of honor were voted on by Wartburg fans, friends and alumni last summer from a list of individuals put together by the Legends of Knights Gymnasium steering committee.

"It is definitely a good deal," said Wartburg coach Jim Miller. "It will be good to see all those guys again."

Also as part of the festivities, the Knights will host a naming ceremony for the Dr. Richard Walker Wrestling Room. The naming event is set to begin at 6 p.m. in the wrestling room after a brief reception that runs from 5:30-6 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Room at the Wartburg-Waverly Sports and Wellness Center.

The 31-member wrestling "Legends" group consists of 18 national champions, two four-time Iowa Conference champions, three National Wrestling Coaches Association scholar all-Americans and 28 all-Americans.

The group is: Howard Wolfgram (1951), Arnie Brandt (1958), Dick Chellevold (1958), Bruce Brye (1961), Jim Mueller (1963), Steve Deike (1979), Scott Becker (1983), Dean Gavin (1989), Mike Hogan (1989), Lance Christenson (1993), Tom Hogan (1993), Jon Dawley (1994), Zane Braggs (1995), Jamal Fox (1997), Dusty Rhodes (1997), Nick Mitchell (2000), Ben Shane (2000), Zac Weiglein (2000), Kevin Bratland (2003), Heath Ropp (2003), Sonny Alvarez (2004), LeRoy Gardner III (2004), Bart Mehlert (2005), Ozzie Saxon (2005), Dustin Hinschberger (2006), Tyler Hubbard (2006), Wil Kelly (2006), Ryan Sturm (2006), Blake Gillis (2007) and Akeem Carter.

Saturday's ceremony is the second of three "Legends Nights," with the women's basketball ceremony scheduled for Jan. 26.

Meanwhile, the main attraction Saturday will be the Knights' annual regular-season showdown with No. 7 Luther.

"Luther is always an important meet for us, and it is going to be a challenge, particularly in one weight class," said Miller. "We need to be ready to go.

"Our guys have probably been told how good they are too many times. I think I'm pretty good at bringing them back to earth, but we have to put the national duals title behind us and go forward."

The featured match of the meet will come at 197 where top-ranked Alec Bonander of Luther will face third-ranked and defending national champion T.J. Miller.

Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com