Wrestling team has 2-2 record at NWCA National Duals

The Olivet College wrestling team had a 2-2 record today in the first day of competition at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals, which is being hosted by the University of Northern Iowa at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Rapids. The Comets, who were seeded No. 13 and making their first-ever trip to the National Duals, beat No. 4 seed Heidelberg (Ohio) College, 19-14. In the quarterfinals, Olivet fell to No. 5 seed Johnson & Wales (R.I.) University, 29-10.

Dropping down to the consolation bracket, the Comets rebounded to defeat No. 11 seed North Central (Ill.) College, 30-17. In the semifinals of the consolation bracket, Olivet tied Cornell (Iowa), 20-20, but Cornell earned the victory based on Critera C.

Against Heidelberg, the Comets won six bouts – one by major decision and five by minor decision – to gain the victory. Winning by major decision was freshman 133-pounder Blake Gardner (Mount Morris), 9-1. Earning the minor decision victories were sophomore 125-pounder Kyle Labrecque (Battle Creek/Lakeview), 6-3; senior 157-pounder Ken Andrews (Swartz Creek), 4-0; sophomore 165-pounder Jason Brew (Sparta), 6-0; sophomore 174-pounder Kyle Vanderhyde (Sparta), 11-5; and junior 184-pounder Daron Cruickshank (Inkster/John Glenn), 7-4.

Against Johnson & Wales. Andrews defeated his opponent, 4-2. Vanderhyde picked-up a 15-4 major decision win. Junior Tucker Surbrook (Potterville) moved up to heavyweight and won, 3-1 in overtime.

Against North Central, Olivet won seven bouts – one by forfeit, two by pin and four by minor decision. Sophomore 141-pounder Rob Yahrmarkt (Sparta) earned the forfeit win. Freshman 197-pounder Joe Yurisich (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) and freshman heavyweight Sean Misko (Richmond) pinned their opponents in 3:36 and 6:45, respectively.

The coaching staff made a decision to bump Vanderhyde up one weight class to 184 pounds and the decision paid off as Vanderhyde won 12-7. Brew picked-up an 8-5 win, while freshman 125-pounder Blair Mellish (Silverwood/North Branch) and freshman 174-pounder Ben Temple (Perry) earned their first victory at the National Duals. Mellish won 10-4, and Temple won, 8-2.

After falling behind 20-0 against Cornell, the Comets won five consecutive bouts to tie the score at 20-20. The order of criteria for advancement was that each team had five wins, followed by each team winning once by pin and Cornell advancing to the next round because of its technical fall win at 149 pounds.

Brew got Olivet rolling with a 12-4 major decision. Vanderhyde was next and improved to 4-0 on the day with a 7-2 win. Freshman 184-pounder Darrick Parker (Bangor) kept the winning going with a 7-4 victory. Senior 197-pounder Jeff Wright (Escanaba) followed with a 16-6 win. Misko completed the comeback as he recorded a pin in 2:24.

The Comets will wrestle Coe College tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. ET in the seventh-place match. Coe fell to Luther College, 28-13, in the other consolation bracket semifinal.