Wrestling team splits four matches against nationally-ranked teams at Desert Duals

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Facing its toughest competition of the season, the Olivet College wrestling team split four matches today at the 2013 Desert Duals inside the Flamingo Ballroom in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Comets, ranked No. 14 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, lost 26-6 to No. 7 Coe (Iowa) College and 28-9 to No. 1 Wartburg (Iowa) College before defeating #18 Saint John's (Minn.) University, 24-12, and No. 4 SUNY-Cortland, 25-15.

Against Coe, Olivet won two bouts by minor decision. The Kohawks won the other eight bouts, six by minor decision and two by major decision. Winning for the Comets were senior Gage Pederson (Hastings), 12-8, at 149 pounds and senior Jeff Holm (Battle Creek/Harper Creek), 7-4, at 184 pounds.

Against Wartburg, Olivet won three bouts, all by minor decision. The Knights claimed wins in the remaining seven bouts, two by minor decision, four by major decision and one by fall. Earning wins for the Comets were senior Justin Holm (Battle Creek/Harper Creek), 9-2, at 141 pounds; Pederson, 8-2, at 149 pounds; and Jeff Holm, 4-1, at 184 pounds.

Olivet won seven bouts against Saint John's, four by minor decision and three by major decision. The Comets won three straight bouts to start the match, as senior Robbie Bidlingmaier (Chesterfield Twp./Anchor Bay) opened the match with a 16-2 major decision at 125 pounds and senior Michael Gancer (Battle Creek /Harper Creek) and Justin Holm won minor decisions, 3-2 at 133 pounds and 5-0 at 141 pounds, respectively.

After two losses, Olivet sealed its victory with another string of three straight wins. Junior Dan Fleet (Ada/Lowell) won 6-2 at 165 pounds. Junior Nick Allen (Scotville/Mason Country Central) posted an 8-0 shutout win at 174 pounds. Jeff Holm recorded a 12-1 victory at 184 pounds. Junior Trevor Timmreck (Birch Run) put the finishing touches on the win with a 9-7 decision at 285 pounds.

The match against SUNY-Cortland was back-and-forth for the first six bouts. Olivet ended the match away by winning three of the final four bouts, including two by fall. Bidlingmaier won his second straight bout by major decision at 125 pounds. After a Comet loss at 133 pounds, Jeff Holm got those three team points back with a 3-1 victory at 141 pounds.

The Red Dragons grabbed an 8-7 lead after a technical fall victory at 149 pounds. The teams traded close victories in the next two weight classes. Senior Kyle Witgen (Romeo) won 4-2 at 157 pounds, while Fleet lost 6-3 at 165 pounds. Allen gave Olivet the lead back for good, 13-11, with a 9-2 win at 174 pounds.

Jeff Holm stayed perfect on the day when he pinned Nikolas Bellanza with 1:08 left in the first period. Cortland trimmed its deficit in half, 19-15, with a 9-1 major decision at 197 pounds. Timmreck capped the match by pinning Lance Moore with 25 seconds left in the third period.

The Comets will now be idle until Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10-11, 2014, when they compete at the Bud Whitehill Duals, hosted by Lycoming (Pa.) College.  Action both days start at 9 a.m.

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier release showed the Comets having a 1-3 record at the Desert Duals. The release was corrected after it was discovered the results on trackwrestling.com for the match against Saint John's are incorrect.