Wrestling team captures team title at Al Hanke Invitational

The Olivet College wrestling team captured the team title today at the 26th Annual Al Hanke Invitational, which was hosted by Elmhurst (IIl.) College. The Comets tallied 121 points and were the only school to have nine wrestlers place in the top six. Concordia (Minn.) College was second with 110.5 points, followed by the host Bluejays with 109.5 points.

Olivet had one first-place, one second-place, three third-place, one fourth-place, two fifth-place and one sixth-place finish. Leading the way was freshman Ben Hitchcock (New Lothrop/ Montrose), who posted a 4-0 record en route to winning the 141-pound championships. He pinned his first round opponent in 2:44, won 10-3 in the quarterfinals and 10-6 in semifinals. In the championship, Hitchcock defeated No. 1 seed Ben Anderson from Concordia, 3-2.

The runner-up finish was by sophomore Joey Yurisich (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) at 197 pounds. After winning his first two matches by pin (0:38 and 2:11), Yurisich lost the championship match to Concordia's Tony Neumann, 18-7.

Third-place finishes were by junior Kyle Labrecque (Battle Creek/Lakeview) at 125 pounds, senior Nick Wolf (Charlotte/Olivet) at 157 pounds and sophomore Sean Misko (Richmond) at 285 pounds. Labrecque won his first two matches, 3-1 and 13-3, and lost in the semifinals, 3-2. He came with a pair of 4-0 victories in the consolation bracket to place third. Following a loss in the championship bracket, Wolf and Misko reeled off four straight wins to win their third-place match. Misko had three wins by pin (1:08, 1:25, 1:55).

Senior 174-pounder Dayne Fletke (Middleville/Thornapple Kellogg) finished in fourth-place after recording a 2-2 record. The fifth-place finishes were by senior Daron Cruickshank (Inkster/John Glenn) at 165 pounds and sophomore Joe Bargerstock (Livonia/Churchill) at 184 pounds. At 133 pounds, freshman Adam Wilson (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) placed sixth.

The Comets are back in action when they travel to wrestle against the University of Chicago Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. CT.