Wrestling team finishes in 16th-place at Pete Willson-Wheaton Invitational

The Olivet College wrestling team had 39 points to finish in 16th-place at the 2010 Pete Willson Invitational, which was hosted by Wheaton (Ill.) College inside the King Arena in Wheaton, Ill. Wisconsin-Parkside won the team title with 175.5 points. The two-day event is the oldest and largest small-college wrestling tournament in the country, with more than 250 wrestlers entered from 30 different colleges and universities.

The highest finisher for Olivet was junior Adam Wilson (Battle Creek/Harper Creek), who was second at 133 pounds. In Friday's first day of action, he posted a 3-0 record. In the first round, he defeated Brian Reier from University of Wis.-Eau Claire by technical fall (15-0). He Wilson then beat Kyle Kleuskens from University of Wis.-Oshkosh. In the quarterfinals, Wilson upset No. 2 seed Ethan Harris from University of Indianapolis, 4-2.

In this morning's semifinals, Wilson scored a 3-2 victory over No. 6 seed Brandon Kircher from Wisconsin-Parkside. In the championship match, he fell to No. 1 seed Nathan Fitzenreider from North Central, 10-2.

Junior Vince Tucker (Clio) finished in sixth-place at 141 pounds. The No. 1 seed, he received a bye in the first round and then earned a default victory in the second round. Tucker beat Eric Meyer from College of Mt. St. Joseph (Ohio), 12-6, in the quarterfinals. A nagging shoulder problem caused Tucker to medically forfeit his two matches today.

Olivet is back in action next Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Mid-States Conference Tournament. Wabash (Ind.) College is the host, and action starts at 9 a.m.