Comets beat Saint John's (Minn.), 27-9, and Wis.-Whitewater, 18-16

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Olivet College wrestling team finished in fifth-place at the 2012 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)/Cliff Keen National Duals Jan. 7-8 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, Ill. In their first match this morning, the Comets, ranked No. 10 in the NWCA poll, defeated Saint John's (Minn.) University, 27-9. In the fifth-place match, Olivet beat No. 18 University of Wis.-Whitewater, 18-16. The finish was the best-ever for the Comets at the NWCA National Duals.

Against Saint John's, freshman 125-pounder Esteban Gonzales (Davisburg/Holly) opened the match with a pin in 1:19. Following a loss at 133 pounds, Olivet posted five straight wins. Junior Kenny Richmond (Brighton) was the first to win with an 18-2 technical fall victory at 141 pounds. Sophomore Gage Pederson (Hastings) had a 16-5 major decision win at 149 pounds.

The Comets then won three straight matches via minor decision. Senior Steven Mena (Martin) won 8-3 at 157 pounds. Junior James Myers (Monroe/Indian Creek) earned a 4-2 win at 165 pounds. Senior Trevor Tyler (Roscommon) finished the string of wins with an 11-8 victory at 174 pounds. Junior Logan Renas (Big Rapids) capped the win over the seventh-ranked Johnnies with a 9-4 decision at 285 pounds.

Whitewater and Olivet split the 10 bouts, but two major decision wins for the Comets were the difference in the match. Gonzales avenged a loss in the first round to win his bout, 10-4, at 125 pounds. Junior Kam Olsen (Kentwood/East Kentwood) won by major decision, 12-4, at 133 pounds. The Warhawks tied the match at 7-7 with wins at 141 and 149 pounds. Mena improved to a perfect 5-0 at the duals with a 12-1 win at 157 pounds.

Myers dropped a 7-4 decision at 165 pounds. Tyler put the Comets back up five points, 15-10, with a 16-8 major decision win at 174 pounds. After a loss at 184 pounds, senior Justin Leonard (Webberville) pushed Olivet's lead back to five points, 18-13, with a 2-0 minor decision at 197 pounds. He rode his opponent for the entire second period and recorded an escape point in the third period for the only two points of the match. Junior heavyweight Jake Ceslick (Alpena) may have lost his bout, but he did his job by just losing a minor decision.

Olivet returns to action this Thursday, Jan. 12, with a home match against Manchester (Ind.) College. The Comets are celebrating a Throwback Night, with the match taking place in MacKay Gymnasium, starting at 7 p.m.