2011-12 Olivet College Wrestling News

Season
Wrestling camps underway
Wrestling camps underway

The 2012 Olivet College wrestling camps are underway inside The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. This week, eight teams with more than 100 wrestlers are participating in a team camp. Next week, approximately 75 children between the ages of six and 18 will participate in an individual camp.

Myers finishes in sixth-place at NCAA DIII Wrestling Championships
Myers finishes in sixth-place at NCAA DIII Wrestling Championships

Olivet College junior James Myers (Indian Creek, Ohio/Monroe) finished in sixth-place at the 2012 NCAA Division III National Wrestling Championships. With the finish, he earned All-American honors for a second straight season, equaling his finish in 2011.

Myers secures All-American honors for second straight year
Myers secures All-American honors for second straight year

The first day of the 2012 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships is in the books at the LaCrosse Center in La Crosse, Wis. Olivet College junior James Myers (Indian Creek, Ohio/Monroe) posted a 2-1 record today and has secured All-American honors for a second straight year, while the other four Comet wrestlers have dropped out of the tournament.

Head Coach Brandon Brissette and former Olivet Head Coach Jare Klein
Wrestling team receives NWCA Scholar Team Award, follow Comets at NCAA DIII National Championships

The success for Olivet College wrestling team on the mat has carried over to the classroom. The Comets have finished second in the annual academic championship in collegiate wrestling, which is sponsored by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). Olivet’s team grade point average (GPA) was 3.539.

Olivet's five national qualifers (from left): Robbie Bidlingmaier, James Myers, Trevor Tyler, Justin Leonard and Logan Renas
Brackets released for the 2012 NCAA Division III National Wrestling Championships

The brackets for the 2012 NCAA Division III National Wrestling Championships March 9-10 at the La Crosse Center in LaCrosse, Wis. have been released. Three Olivet College wrestlers have received a seed.

Wrestling team wins Midwest Regional title, qualifies five for DIII National Championships
Wrestling team wins Midwest Regional title, qualifies five for DIII National Championships

Bolstered by five weight-class champions, the Olivet College wrestling team won the 2012 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional, which was hosted by Case Western Reserve University and inside the Horsburgh Gymnasium in University Circle, Ohio. All five of the champions have advanced to the 2012 NCAA Division III National Championships March 9-10 at the University of Wis.-LaCrosse.

Brissette and Therrian named Mid-States Conference Coaches of the Year
Brissette and Therrian named Mid-States Conference Coaches of the Year

At the conclusion of the Mid-States Conference Tournament Feb. 11, it was announced Olivet Head Wrestling Coach Brandon Brissette was named the conference’s Co-Coach of the Year, and his assistant Jeff Therrian was selected as the Assistant Coach of the Year.

Wrestling team finishes in second-place at Mid-States Conference Tournament
Wrestling team finishes in second-place at Mid-States Conference Tournament

The Olivet College wrestling team crowned five champions but still finished in second-place at the 2012 Mid-States Conference Tournament, hosted by College of Mount St. Joseph in Cinicinnati, Ohio.

Comet seniors gather for a picture before the match
Rivalry renewed: Wrestling team shuts out Alma, 49-0

The Olivet College wrestling team hosted Alma College in Olivet tonight for the first time since Jan. 18, 1984. The Scots may want to forget tonight’s trip, as the Comets won all 10 matches, including half by fall, en route to a 49-0 shutout win. The shutout is the first for Olivet since Jan. 19, 2005, when it beat Tri-State (Ind.) University by the same score.

Wrestling team wins 26-13 at Trine
Wrestling team wins 26-13 at Trine

The Olivet College wrestling team won 7-of-10 bouts and rolled to a 26-13 win over Trine (Ind.) University tonight at Hershey Hall in Angola, Ind. The Comets, ranked No. 7 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) poll, improve their dual match record to 17-5, with the 17 wins being the most for a season since 1999-2000 when they won 20 matches.

Olivet Head Coach Brandon Brissette and Dr. Seth Norton, former head wrestling coach at Wheaton College
Wrestling team finishes in fifth-place at Pete Willson Invitational

The Olivet College wrestling team finished in fifth-place (out of 31 teams) at the two-day Pete Willson Invitational, hosted by Wheaton College and inside King Arena in Wheaton, Ill.

Wrestling team sits in fourth-place after day one of Pete Willson Invitational
Wrestling team sits in fourth-place after day one of Pete Willson Invitational

Robbie Bidlingmaier, Gage Pederson and Trevor Tyler have advanced to the semifinals, as the Olivet College wrestling team sits in fourth-place after the first day of the Pete Willson Invitational, hosted by Wheaton (Ill.) College.

Wrestling team wins Wis.-Whitewater Border Brawl
Wrestling team wins Wis.-Whitewater Border Brawl

With a perfect 4-0 record, the Olivet College wrestling team won the team title today at the University of Wis-Whitewater Border Brawl. The Comets defeated Lakeland (Wis.) College, 34-13, Wis.-Stevens Point, 30-6, Wis.-Oshkosh, 28-8, and Wis.-Eau Claire, 36-10.

Wrestling team loses to Eastern Michigan, 29-9
Wrestling team loses to Eastern Michigan, 29-9

The Olivet College wrestling team fell to NCAA Division I foe Eastern Michigan University, 29-9, tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Wrestling team places fourth at Spartan Mat Classic
Wrestling team places fourth at Spartan Mat Classic

The Olivet College wrestling team placed fourth of 10 teams today at the Manchester (Ind.) College Spartan Mat Classic. The Comets collected 142 total points, which was one point behind third-place Manchester, 23 behind second-place College of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) and 53.5 points behind team champion University of Cumberlands (Ky.).

Wrestling team beats Manchester, 38-8, in "Throwback Match"
Wrestling team beats Manchester, 38-8, in "Throwback Match"

The Olivet College wrestling team won 8-of-10 bouts, including scoring bonus points in six wins, and the Comets defeated Manchester (Ind.) College, 38-8, tonight in a “Throwback Match” at MacKay Gymnasium in Olivet. Olivet, ranked No. 8 in this week’s National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, improved its dual match record to 12-4.