Wrestling team finishes in second-place at 2008 NCAA Midwest Regional, three advance to national championships

The Olivet College wrestling team crowned three championships en route to a second-place finish (out of 12 schools) today at the 2008 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional, which was hosted by Wabash (Ind.) College. All 10 Comets placed in the top six, and they totaled 140 points, which was 51 points behind Delaware Valley (Pa.) College.

Winning regional titles and advancing to the 2008 NCAA Division III National Championships was junior Jason Brew (Sparta) at 157 pounds, senior Daron Cruickshank (Inkster/John Glenn) at 165 pounds and junior Kyle Vanderhyde (Sparta) at 174 pounds.

Brew posted a 4-0 record. His wins were 18-3 technical fall in the first round, 17-1 technical fall in the quarterfinals, 16-6 major decision in the semifinals and pin in 2:57 in the championship match. Cruickshank had a 3-0 record with wins by default and minor decision (3-2 and 4-2). Vanderhyde finished with three wins. The wins were a 19-3 technical fall in the quarterfinals, 9-4 decision in the semifinals and 17-6 major decision in the championship match.

Sophomore 184-pounder Joe Bargerstock (Livonia/Churchill) placed third with a 3-1 record. He won his first match, 7-3, but dropped to the consolation bracket with a 3-0 loss in the semifinals. In the consolation bracket, Bargerstock won by scores of 9-4 and 3-0.

Fourth-place finishes were by junior Kyle Labrecque (Battle Creek/Lakeview) at 125 pounds and freshman Vince Lahar (Clio) at 149 pounds. Finishing in fifth was sophomore Blake Gardner (Mount Morris) at 133 pounds and sophomore Sean Misko (Richmond) at 285 pounds. Freshman Ben Hitchcock (New Lothrop/Montrose) at 141 pounds and sophomore Joe Yurisich (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) at 197 pounds finished in sixth-place.

The 2008 NCAA Division III National Championships are Friday-Saturday, March 7-8, at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.