Wrestlers have 2-1 record at Wis.-Whitewater Border Brawl Duals
The Olivet College wrestling team had a 2-1 record today at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Border Brawl Duals. The Comets, ranked No. 16 in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, started the day with a 36-9 win over unranked Wis.-Oskosh, and followed that with a 24-13 loss to No. 13 Whitewater. Olivet then upset No. 6 Wis.-Stevens Point, 24-15, in the third round.
WHITEWATER, Wis. – The Olivet College wrestling team had a 2-1 record today at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Border Brawl Duals. The Comets, ranked No. 16 in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, started the day with a 36-9 win over unranked Wis.-Oskosh, and followed that with a 24-13 loss to No. 13 Whitewater. Olivet then upset No. 6 Wis.-Stevens Point, 24-15, in the third round.
Against Oshkosh, Olivet won eight bouts, including scoring bonus points in half. Sophomore 125-pounder Esteban Gonzales (Davisburg/Holly), senior 141-pounder Kenny Richmond (Brighton) and junior 174-pounder Connor Sharp (Schoolcraft) all recorded pins in 4:46, 1:57 and 2:48, respectively.
Senior 197-pounder Logan Renas (Big Rapids) won by injury default. Winning by minor decision were junior 149-pounder Gage Pederson (Hastings), 3-0; sophomore 157-pounder Kyle Witgen (Romeo), 8-4; sophomore 184-pounder Jeff Holm (Battle Creek/Harper Creek), 11-8; and senior heavyweight Jake Ceslick (Alpena), 10-3.
The match against the Whitewater was tied at 10-10 at the midway point before the Warhawks won four of the last five bouts to gain the win.
Junior 125-pounder Henry McKeown (Bellevue/Olivet) posted a 9-0 major decision win. Richmond used a takedown in the third overtime period to win 2-1. Down by one point to start the final period, Pederson scored an escape, takedown and the riding time point for a 10-7 win. Senior 165-pounder James Myers (Monroe/Indian Creek) jumped out to a 4-1 lead after the first period and rolled to a 14-8 win.
Olivet won six bouts to beat the Pointers. McKeown got the match started with an 8-1 win. Junior 133-pounder Michael Gancer (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) won by forfeit. After a close at 141 pounds, Pederson won 5-2 to make the team score, 12-3. Stevens Point tied the match at 12-12 with a pin at 157 pounds and 5-3 win at 165 pounds.
Sharp put the Comets up by six points, 18-12, with a first period pin in 1:53. Holm used the riding time point at the end of his bout to win 3-2 and make the score 21-12. The Pointers won 5-2 at 197 pounds before Ceslick capped Olivet's victory with a 2-1 win. He also needed the riding time point to gain the win.
The Comets are off until next Friday-Saturday, Feb. 1-2, when they participate in the Pete Willson Invitational, hosted by Wheaton (Ill.) College.