Wrestling team participates in MSU Open

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Olivet College wrestling team participated in the 2011 Michigan State University Open today at the Jenison Field House in East Lansing. There was both an open division and freshman/sophomore division at the meet, which is one of the largest tournaments in the nation.

OPEN DIVISION

At 165 pounds, junior James Myers (Monroe/Indian Creek (Ohio)) was the Comets' top wrestler, as he finished in fourth-place. After getting a bye in the first round, he beat Miles Chapman from Ohio University, 12-6, and Mason True from University of Findlay (Ohio), 2-1. Dan Yates from University of Michigan beat Myers in the semifinals, 10-1. He then received bye to advance to the third-place match, where Myers and Kevin Bialka forfeited to each other, resulting in a tie for fourth-place.

At 125 pounds, sophomore Robbie Bidlingmaier (Chesterfield Twp./Anchor Bay) received a bye in the first round and then pinned Zach Shelton from Cumberland (Tenn.) University in 38 seconds. He then lost 10-3 to Levi Mele from Northwestern in the quarterfinals. In his first consolation bracket match, Bidlingmaier pinned Eddie Ortiz from Cumberland.

At 174 pounds, senior Trevor Tyler (Roscommon) pinned Robert Kellogg from Northwestern and then fell to Michael Lybarger from Findlay, 12-6. He received a bye in his first consolation bracket match and then pinned Sven Alm from Central Michigan University in the next round. Tyler bowed out of the tournament with a 9-3 loss to Ryan Leblanc from Indiana University.

At 141 pounds, junior Kenny Richmond (Brighton) split his four matches. He beat Chad Channel from Findlay, 6-0, and Matt Stanfield from Cumberland, 3-2.

FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE DIVISION

At 125 pounds, freshman Esteban Gonzales (Davisburg/Holly) dropped a close 5-4 decision to Derek Elmore from Northern Illinois University in the first round. He responded with two wins, pinning Kristopher McKinley from Indiana Tech and beating Christian Yarbrough from Indiana Tech, 8-4. Gonzales ended his tournament run with a 5-2 loss to Vinnie Pizzuto from Eastern Michigan University.

At 133 pounds, sophomore Michael Gancer (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) had a 3-2 record. His wins were 6-4 over Zebulon Hillyard from Michigan, 9-7 over Ryan Abrigo from Michigan and 9-4 over Thorian Twyner from Northern Illinois.

At 149 pounds, sophomore Gage Pederson (Hastings) and freshman Paul Sawaya (Williamston) each won two matches. Pederson pinned Josh Tardy from Harper (Ill.) College and defeated Jacob Schultz from Kent State (Ohio) University, 10-2. Sawaya beat Alex Contini, an unattached wrestler, 10-7, and Reece Lefever from Indiana Tech, 10-9.