Wrestling team posts 3-1 record at Comet Duals

OLIVET, Mich. -- The Olivet College wrestling team hosted the 2010 Comet Duals today inside The Cutler Event Center, and finished the day with a 3-1 record. The Comets beat University of Wis.-Whitewater (23-12) and also defeated club teams from Oakland University (35-6) and Grand Valley State University (20-15). Olivet's only loss was against Wartburg (Iowa) College, 27-12.

In their first match against Oakland, the Comets won eight of 10 bouts en route to the 35-6 victory. Olivet got started with a forfeit victory at 125 pounds. Sophomore Kam Olsen (Kentwood/East Kentwood) recorded a second period pin to make the score 12-0. The Comets then got three straight major decision victories at 141 pounds by sophomore Kenny Richmond (Brighton), 16-5; and junior Greg Roberts (Livonia/Churchill) at 149 pounds, 11-2; and senior Kyle Judy (Homer) at 157 pounds, 17-6, to extend their lead to 24-0.

After losing close matches at 165 and 174 pounds, senior Jim Neal (Marysville) posted a 13-4 win at 184 pounds. Senior Aaron Sullenger (Alpena) earned a 5-4 win at 197 pounds, and freshman Andrew Simpson (Tecumseh) closed the match with a 10-1 major decision win.

Wis.-Whitewater entered the day ranked No. 30 in the NWCA Coaches Poll. Olivet jumped on the Warhawks with wins in the first three bouts to take a 12-0 lead. Junior Justin Fleeson (Belleville) won 9-6 at 125 pounds, and senior Adam Wilson (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) won 9-4 at 133 pounds. Senior Vince Tucker (Clio) won by injury default at 141 pounds. After Whitewater got the win at 149 pounds, sophomore James Myers (Wintersville, Ohio/Indian Creek) recorded a 19-9 major decision victory.

After a close 3-2 loss at 165 pounds for Olivet, junior Trevor Tyler (Roscommon) came through with a 9-4 win at 174 pounds. Sophomore Josh Crawford (Birch Run) sealed the Comet victory by posting a 17-3 major decision win at 184 pounds. Olivet lost the last two matches by decision, 3-2 at 197 pounds and 4-1 at 285 pounds.

Grand Valley jumped on the Comets with two decision wins at 125 and 133 pounds. Richmond cut their deficit in half with an 8-7 win at 141 pounds. The Lakers got those three points back with a 9-3 victory at 141 pounds. Myers knotted the team score at 9-9 when he pinned his opponent in the first period at 2:27. Grand Valley answered with a 3-2 win at 165 pounds.

Freshman Nick Licari (Chesterfield Twp./Anchor Bay) put Olivet ahead for good with a 15-5 major decision win at 174 pounds. Crawford had his second major decision win of the day with a 12-3 win at 184 pounds. Junior Justin Leonard (Webberville) put the final three Comet team points on the scoreboard with a 7-1 win at 197 pounds.

After Wartburg took the lead back with a 9-3 win at 149 pounds, Myers won 10-4 at 157 pounds to force the 9-9 tie. The only Olivet win for the rest of the match was at 174 pounds, where Tyler won 6-2.

The Comets are now idle until Saturday, Dec. 4, when they compete at the Ohio Northern University Invitational. Action at the ONU Sports Center starts at 9 a.m.