Tucker's championship leads wrestling team to sixth-place finish at ONU Invitational

Junior Vince Tucker (Clio) won the 141-pound championship to help the Olivet College wrestling team to a sixth-place finish at the 29th Annual Ohio Northern University Invitational in Ada, Ohio. In addition to Tucker's championship, the Comets had one runner-up finish, two fifth-place, one sixth-place and two eighth-place finishes. For his efforts, Tucker was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler.

In a tightly contested battle, 25 points separated the top six teams. Campbellsville (Ky.) won the team title with 118 points. Limestone (S.C.) was second with 111 points, followed by the host Polar Bears in third, 109.5 points; Lycoming (Pa.) in fourth, 105.5 points; and West Liberty (W.Va.) in fifth, 104 points. Olivet had 93 points.

Seeded third at 141 pounds, Tucker started his day with a 14-5 major decision win, followed by back-to-back win by minor decision (13-8 and 11-4). In the semifinals, he pinned second-seed Kayne Melko from West Liberty in 6:04. Tucker captured the championship with a 3-2 win over Michael Davis from Cumberlands (Tenn.).

The runner-up performance was turned in by senior Joe Bargerstock (Livonia/Churchill) at 197 pounds. He posted three straight minor decision wins (8-3, 5-2, 8-4) to advance to the championship match. In that match, he fell to No. 1 seed Mitch Knapp from West Liberty, 4-2.

Freshman Josh Crawford (Birch Run) and senior Ben Hitchcock (Montrose) were fifth at 184 and 157 pounds, respectively. In the first round, Crawford avenged two losses earlier this season to Heidelberg's Ed Bizorik with a 9-4 win. He then fell to the No. 4 seed in the quarterfinals, and battled back with two wins in the consolation bracket before losing in overtime. In the fifth-place match, Crawford won by forfeit. Hitchcock won his first match 7-5 and then lost to No. 1 seed. He then had two straight pins before losing in the consolation semifinals and winning the fifth-place match, 5-3.

Freshman Logan Renas (Big Rapids) placed sixth at 285 pounds. He won twice before losing in semifinals, followed by two more wins in the consolation bracket. Renas lost the fifth-place match to No. 2 seed. Finishing in eighth-place were sophomore Justin Fleeson (Belleville) and junior Jim Neal (Marysville) at 125 and 165 pounds, respectively.

The Comets are idle until next Saturday when they travel to Naperville, Ill., to participate in the North Central College Invitational.