Wrestling team finishes in 17th-place at 2010 Midwest Classic Tournament

Led by three placers, the Olivet College wrestling team finished in 17th-place at the 2010 Midwest Classic Tournament, which was hosted Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 2-3, by the University of Indianapolis at the Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis. The Comets collected 38 points. University of Wis.-Parkside topped the 22-team field with 127 points.

Junior Vince Tucker (Clio) was the highest finisher for Olivet, as he placed fifth in the 141-pound bracket. As the No. 2 seed, in Saturday's action, he started the day with a 10-4 minor win decision win over Eric Meyer of College from Mt. St. Joseph (Ohio) and then posted a 14-5 major decision victory over Matt David from Campbellsville (Ky.) University. In the quarterfinals, Tucker beat Josh Falk of University of Findlay (Ohio).

In today's semifinals, Tucker fell to No. 6 seed Deral Brown from Newberry (S.C.) College, 6-3. Dropping down to the consolation bracket, he lost a tough 5-4 decision to No. 1 seed Corey Bloodgood from Central Missouri University. In the fifth-place bout, Tucker defeated Jake Strausbaugh from Wabash (Ind.) College, 7-6.

Junior Jim Neal (Marysville) placed sixth in the 165-pound bracket. He was defeated 4-2 in the second round of the championship bracket, and came back with four consecutive wins in the consolation bracket. Three wins were by minor decision (8-5, 6-4, 6-5) and the fourth was a major decision (15-7).

Neal fell to Jarod Shaw from West Liberty (W.Va.) University, 15-8, in the consolation quarterfinals. He had to forfeit the fifth-place bout.

Sophomore Steven Mena (Martin) battled his way through the consolation bracket to finish in seventh-place at 149 pounds. After losing his first round match to the top seed, he bounced back to win three consecutive matches. One win was by technical fall (15-0) and another was by pin (2:58).

In the consolation quarterfinals, Mena dropped a 1-point decision, 3-2, Dave Lopez from Indianapolis. As an unseeded wrestler, he posted a 10-2 major decision win over No. 6 seed Brandon Bradley from University of North Carolina-Pembroke in the seventh-place match.

Olivet returns to the mat this Saturday, Jan. 9, when it participates in the Muskegon Community College Quad. Action gets under way at 9 a.m.