Sterly receives Pete George Sportsmanship Award

The Olivet College wrestling team finished in seventh-place Friday-Saturday at the 64th Annual Wheaton (Ill.) College Pete Willson Invitational. Individually, freshman heavyweight Keith Sterly (Petoskey) received the Pete George Sportsmanship Award as selected by the invitational’s referees. The award was presented to a wrestler who exhibited outstanding sportsmanship throughout the event.

The Comets, ranked No. 10 in the latest NCAA Division III rankings, tallied 69.5 points to rank fourth among 26 Division III schools. Truman State (Mo.) University, a NCAA Division II school, led the 30-team field with 134.5 points.

Individually, Olivet recorded one third-place, two fourth-place and one seventh-place finish. Leading the was freshman 149-pounder Jason Brew (Sparta), who had a 4-1 record to take home the third-place finish. As the No. 1 seed, he won by pin in 1:29, a 14-4 major decision, a 4-2 overtime decision and a medical forfeit win in the third-place.

Sterly also finished with four wins to claim fourth-place. His wins were 5-0, 3-2, 7-0 and a pin in 4:47. Freshman Kyle Vanderhyde (Sparta) had four wins and was fourth at 165 pounds. All four of his wins were by minor decision -- 2-0, 7-3, 3-2 and 2-1.

Junior Jeff Wright (Escanaba) battled back from a loss in the first round to win five matches, including four straight, to finish in seventh-place at 197 pounds. His wins were two pins (3:45 and 5:47) and three minor decisions (3-1, 8-3 and 6-3).

Also wrestling for the Comets were junior Ken Andrews (Swartz Creek) at 157 pounds, senior Mike Andrews (Swartz Creek), sophomore Dayne Fletke (Middleville/Thornapple Kellogg) at 184 pounds, senior Kefentse Mandisa (Westland/John Glenn) at 133 pounds and freshman Rob Yahrmarkt (Sparta) at 141 pounds. The Andrews brothers and Fletke each bowed out with 1-2 records. Mandisa had a 2-2 record, including a win by pin. Yahrmarkt had a 0-2 record.

Olivet travels to the College of Mt. St. Joseph (Ohio) next Saturday, Feb. 11, for the Mid-States Conference Tournament.