Wrestling team competes at Eastern Michigan and Trine opens

ANGOLA, Ind. – The Olivet College wrestling team competed today at the Trine (Ind.) University Open inside Hershey Hall in Angola, Ind. In addition, the Comets' three captains traveled to Ypsilanti for the Eastern Michigan Open.

At EMU, senior Gage Pederson (Hastings) placed third in the 149-pound bracket. After receiving a bye in the first round, he won a 9-7 decision over Mike Leholm from Eastern Michigan and 9-4 over Mitch Roadruck from Indiana Tech. Pederson then lost 6-3 to Nick Trimble from Michigan State in the semifinals. He bounced back to beat Cody VanderHagen from Michigan, 2-0, in the third-place match.

Senior Justin Holm (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) was sixth in the 141-pound bracket. After dropping an 11-1 decision in his first match, he bounced back with four straight wins (8-3 over Chance Driscoll from Kent State, 5-0 over Tyler Fraley from Clarion and 7-6 over Christian Olanowski from Michigan State and 4-2 decision over Kaelan Richards from Michigan State in the consolation bracket semis. Holm was then pinned in the fifth-place match by Kyle Bauer from Kent State.

Senior Jeff Holm (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) dropped two close matches, 5-3 to Ran Garringer from Ohio University and 3-2 to Mitch Sliga from Northwestern, in the 184-pound bracket.

At Trine, the Comets crowned two weight class champions. Senior Henry McKeown (Bellevue/Olivet) won the 125-pound bracket with a 3-0 record, while junior Nick Allen (Scotville/Mason County Central) took first-place in the 174-pound bracket with a 3-0 record.

Freshman Kyle Gillies (Westland/John Glenn) finished second at 125 pounds with a 2-1 record. Five wrestlers placed third -- junior Kyle Witgen (Romeo) at 157 pounds, senior Connor Sharp (Schoolcraft) at 174 pounds, sophomore Seth Manshum (Portland) at 184 pounds, sophomore Thomas Hall (Fife Lake/Forest Area) at 197 pounds and sophomore Charles Sovel (West Bloomfield/Walled Lake Central) at 285 pounds. Sovel had the most wins of the quintet with five, including three by fall.

Olivet is off until next Saturday, Nov. 23, when it hosts the 2013 Comet Duals. Action inside The Cutler Event Center starts at 10 a.m.