Corey Olson began wrestling and fondly remembers traveling to tournaments across southern Minnesota with his dad and older brother, Curt. He was fortunate to be part of a solid wrestling program built by Dave Erickson, who had never wrestled himself but was an outstanding leader and role model. Coach Erickson was strict, but fair, and would not hesitate to go the extra mile for any of his wrestlers. Corey made it to the State Tournament as a Freshman, then reeled off three State Titles at Hayfield.

Olson was recruited by Tim Newman from Nebraska and went on to have an outstanding college wrestling career. After redshirting as a freshman, Corey took 3rd in the nation in his first varsity year. He came in the next season ranked 2nd in the nation behind Marty Morgan, but blew out his knee and was done for the year. Olson came back strong the following season and finished 2nd in the National Tournament to Kevin Randleman from Ohio State in both his Junior and Senior Seasons at Nebraska.

Corey came back to Minnesota along with his wife, Annette, and moved to his third-generation family farmstead near Grand Meadow, where he started his Olson Tree Service company. A few years later, Corey was talking with his brother Curt and Dean Swanson about starting a youth wrestling tournament series where wrestlers could compete for an actual state title, and the Northland Youth Wrestling Association (NYWA) was born. Corey and Annette, along with help from their children – Blake, Brenn, and Isabelle – have continued to grow the program, which has expanded to over 5300 memberships in recent years.