Wrestling team has 2-0 record at Thunder Duals

The Olivet College wrestling team had a 2-0 record today at the inaugural Tri-State (Ind.) University Thunder Duals at Hershey Hall in Angola. The Comets (7-3) defeated Mount Union (Ohio) College, 37-6, and the host Thunder, 28-25.

Against Mount Union, Olivet won eight-of-10 matches. The breakdown of wins was two by forfeit, one by pin, one by technical fall, two by major decision and two by minor decision.

Freshmen Blair Mellish (Silverwood/North Branch) at 125 pounds and Sean Misko (Richmond) at 285 pounds each won by forfeit. At 165 pounds, sophomore Jason Brew (Sparta) pinned his opponent in 5:38. Adding a riding point at the end of the 133-pound bout, freshman Blake Gardner (Mount Morris) earned the tech fall win, 20-5.

Seniors Ken Andrews (Swartz Creek) at 157 pounds and Jeff Wright (Escanaba) at 197 pounds each earned a major decision win, 10-2 and 18-4, respectively. Winning by minor decision were sophomore Kyle Vanderhyde (Sparta) at 174 pounds, 7-2; and junior Daron Cruickshank (Inkster/John Glenn) at 184 pounds, 11-4.

Against Tri-State, Olivet trailed 25-18 entering the last two bouts. Junior Tucker Surbrook (Potterville) picked-up a major decision win, 9-1, to make the team score, 25-22. Misko then recorded a second period pin (3:49), which enabled the Comets to gain the 28-25 victory. The other winning Olivet wrestlers were Mellish with a pin in 2:45 along with Andrews and Brew each by forfeit.

For the first time in school history, Olivet will compete in the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals Meet next Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 13-14 at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Rapids. The invitation only tournament features 16 schools from each NCAA level (I, II and III). The Comets will wrestle against only Division III schools.