Newberry and Wright advance to national championships

The Olivet College wrestling team crowned two champions and finished in first-place today at the 2006 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Meet, which was hosted by Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. The Comets, ranked No. 11 in the latest NCAA Division III nationing rankings, tallied 128 points. College of Mt. St. Joseph (Ohio) and Thiel (Pa.) College tied for second with 99.5 points. Head Coach Todd Hibbs was selected as the Regional Coach of the Year.

Senior 184-pounder Ryan Newberry (Grand Junction/South Haven) and junior 197-pounder Jeff Wright (Escanaba) took first-place and advance to the 2006 NCAA Division III National Championships at the College of New Jersey March 3-4.

Newberry, who was national qualifier last year, had a 3-0 record. In the championship match, he defeated Will Clarke from Wabash (Ind.) College, 3-2. Newberry’s other wins were a pin (1:59) and minor decision (9-5). Wright collected four wins, including a 6-4 overtime victory against Keith Garrard from Wabash in the championship bout. He also won two matches by pin (3:24 and 2:50) and one by major decision (11-2).

Taking runner-up honors were freshman Jason Brew (Sparta) at 149 pounds and freshman Kyle Vanderhyde at 165 pounds. Each had a 2-1 record on the day. Brew lost 10-4 in his championship match to Jason Roush from Mt. St. Joseph. Vanderhyde fell 3-1 in his championship bout to Cory Murphy from Thiel.

Third-place finishes were by junior Ken Andrews (Swartz Creek) at 157 pounds, senior Kefentse Mandisa (Westland/John Glenn) at 133 pounds and freshman Keith Sterly (Petoskey) at 285 pounds. Andrews had three wins: 3-2, pin in 1:03 and medical forfeit. Mandisa lost his first match of the day and bounced back to win three straight, 16-0, 3-2 and 4-2. Sterly won two matches, lost his semifinal match, and then won two straight matches.

Freshman Kyle Labrecque (Battle Creek/Lakview) took fourth-place at 125 pounds with a pair of wins. Senior Mike Andrews (Swartz Creek) placed fifth at 174 pounds with two wins. Freshman Rob Yahrmarkt (Sparta) was sixth at 141 pounds with two wins.