Olivet College wrestling team wins 2022 MIAA Championship

ANGOLA, Ind. – The Olivet College wrestling team has captured the 2022 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Championship with four dual meet victories today at Trine (Ind.) University. The Comets beat Alma College (35-18), Adrian College (25-18), Albion College (33-21) and Trine (23-15).

• The Comets earned wins in 7-of-10 bouts, including three forfeit victories.
• Olivet was forced to forfeit the 125-pound bout.
• Freshman Robert Davids overcame an 8-2 deficit to post a 10-8 win at 133 pounds. A two-point near fall in the third period was the difference in the bout.
• Senior Reese Wallis leveled the score with a 4-0 minor decision victory at 141 pounds.
• The Scots won the 149 and 157 bouts to go up 15-6.
• Senior Dylan Briggs pinned his opponent at 4:41 of the 165-pound bout to close the team score to 15-12.
• Junior Owen Guilford used a first period pin in 43 seconds of the 174-pound bout to put Olivet ahead 18-15.
• The Comets closed the match with three forfeit wins – sophomore Justin Carnahan at 184 pounds, sophomore Hiram Robinson at 197 pounds and senior Dominick Wilson at 285 pounds.

• The outcome of the match was not decided until the conclusion of the final bout. Olivet won 6-of-10 bouts, scoring bonus points in three.
• After forfeiting the 125- and 133-pound bouts, Wallis won an 11-3 major decision.
• The Bulldogs seized a 12-4 lead with a 4-2 decision at 149 pounds.
• The Comets won the next four bouts to 19-12. Freshman Ramiro Guerrero pinned his opponent 32 seconds into the second period of the 157-pound bout, Briggs claimed a 10-3 minor decision victory, Guilford eked out a 4-3 decision and Carnahan earned a 9-5 victory.
• Adrian won by pin at 197 pounds to close the gap to 19-18.
• With five seconds left in the second period of the 285-pound bout, sophomore Donovan King pinned Isaiah Espinoza.

• The Comets picked-up wins in 6-of-10 bouts, including three forfeits.
• The Britons earned the forfeit win at 125 pounds before two Comets – Davids and Wallis had their own forfeit wins.
• Albion tied the score with a pin at 157 pounds.
• Olivet took a 21-12 lead after senior Channing Perry received the forfeit win at 157 pounds and Briggs won a 9-3 decision.
• Senior Liam Kinjorski pinned his opponent at 1:23 in the 174-pound bout to push the Comets' lead to 27-12.
• The Britons put nine team points on the scoreboard with a pin at 184 pounds and 3-0 decision at 197 pounds.
• Wilson capped Olivet's win with a pin in the final 30 seconds of the opening period.

• Olivet won 6-of-10 bouts against Trine.
• The Thunder led 9-0 behind a forfeit win at 125 pounds and decision victory at 133 pounds.
• Freshman Tyler Herrema got the Comets on the scoreboard with a 10-2 major decision at 141 pounds.
• Sophomore Christian Lenon made the score 9-7 with a 9-6 minor decision at 149 pounds.
• Trine went ahead 12-7 with a 5-1 decision at 157 pounds.
• Olivet took a 17-12 lead with back-to-back technical falls – 15-0 for Briggs and 18-3 for Guilford.
• The Thunder closed the gap to two points in the team score with a 9-4 decision at 184 pounds.
• Sophomore Michael Minne stretched the Comets' lead to 20-15 with a 7-2 decision at 197 pounds. The winning points were a takedown and four-point near fall in the third period.
• King ended the match with a 6-1 decision.

• The Comets have now won 14 MIAA wrestling championships in school history, including five straight (1984, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022).
• Olivet now has a 17-8 record all-time against Alma.
• The Comets have a 20-1 all-time record against Trine.
• Olivet has a 22-10 all-time record against Adrian. Ironically after losing the first 10 matches against the Bulldogs, the Comets have now won 22 straight against them.
• Olivet has a 6-4 all-time record against Albion.

• A select group of wrestlers will compete Saturday, February 12, at the Mid-States Invitational at Ohio Northern University. The Comets will then participate in 2022 NCAA Division III Wrestling Regional Friday and Saturday, February 25-26, at Adrian College. The top three finishers in each weight class will advance to the 2022 NCAA Division III Championship.