Wrestling team splits four matches at Desert Duals
The Olivet College wrestling team split its four matches today at the Desert Duals in Las Vegas. The Comets, who are ranked No. 9 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, started the day with a tough 33-3 loss to No. 3 Coe (Iowa) and came back to beat Washington & Lee (Va.), 34-10. Olivet then fell to No. 1 Wartburg (Iowa), 27-6 and ended the day with a 26-7 win over No. 13 Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.).
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – The Olivet College wrestling team split its four matches today at the Desert Duals in Las Vegas. The Comets, who are ranked No. 9 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, started the day with a tough 33-3 loss to No. 3 Coe (Iowa) College and came back to beat Washington & Lee (Va.) University, 34-10. Olivet then fell to No. 1 Wartburg (Iowa) College, 27-6 and ended the day with a 26-7 win over No. 13 Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.).
Against Coe, senior Justin Leonard (Webberville) had the Comets' only win (4-3) at 197 pounds. For the Kohawks, seven of the matches were minor decision wins, including two by one point.
Against Washington & Lee, Olivet cruised to the 34-10 win. Freshman Esteban Gonzales (Davisburg/Holly) started the match with a forfeit win at 125 pounds. Following a loss at 133 pounds, junior Kenny Richmond (Brighton) won 9-3 at 141 pounds. Freshman Paul Sawaya (Williamston) posted a 16-5 major decision win at 149 pounds.
After two close defeats, sophomores Connor Sharp (Schoolcraft) and Andy Ottenwess (Grand Rapids/Allendale) won back-to-back major decisions (13-2 and 20-7) at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively. Sophomore Andrew Simpson (Tecumseh) and junior Jake Ceslick (Alpena) closed the match out with forfeit wins at 197 and 285 pounds, respectively.
Against Wartburg, juniors James Myers (Wintersville, Ohio/Monroe) at 165 pounds and Logan Renas (Big Rapids) at 285 pounds posted one-point wins. Myers won 2-1, while Renas had a 5-4 victory.
Against Concordia, the Comets won eight-of-10 bouts. Sophomore Robbie Bidlingmaier (Chesterfield Twp./Anchor Bay) got things started with a 6-0 win at 125 pounds. After a major decision loss, Richmond put Olivet back ahead with his own major decision win, 12-1, at 141 pounds.
Olivet won the next four bouts by decision. Sophomore Gage Pederson (Hastings) won 6-2 at 149 pounds, followed by senior Steven Mena (Martin) at 157 pounds (6-1), Myers (8-5) at 165 pounds and senior Trevor Tyler (Roscommon) at 174 pounds (5-2). Junior Josh Crawford (Birch Run) claimed a 15-7 major decision victory at 184 pounds. Ceslick capped the day with a 3-2 win at 285 pounds.
The Comets will now be idle until Tuesday, Jan. 3, when they host College of Mt. St. Joseph (Ohio) for a dual match inside The Cutler Event Center at 7 p.m.