Wrestling team wins Wis.-Whitewater Border Brawl

WHITEWATER, Wis. – With a perfect 4-0 record, the Olivet College wrestling team won the team title today at the University of Wis-Whitewater Border Brawl. The Comets defeated Lakeland (Wis.) College, 34-13, Wis.-Stevens Point, 30-6, Wis.-Oshkosh, 28-8, and Wis.-Eau Claire, 36-10.

Against Lakeland, Olivet won 7-of-10 bouts. After giving up a pin at 125 pounds, junior Kam Olsen (Kentwood/East Kentwood) won 17-4 at 133 pounds. Junior Kenny Richmond (Brighton) got a pin of his own in 4:02 at 141 pounds. Sophomore Gage Pederson (Hastings) kept the winning going with a 12-0 major decision at 149 pounds.

The Comets then lost the next two bouts. Freshman Nick Allen (Scotville/Mason County Central) and senior Justin Leonard (Webberville) sandwiched forfeit wins at 174 and 197 points, respectively, around a 16-2 major decision win by junior Josh Crawford (Birch Run) at 184 pounds. Junior Jake Ceslick (Alpena) ended the match with an 8-0 shutout win at 285 pounds.

Against Stevens Point, Olivet lost only two bouts by minor decision. Sophomore Robbie Bidlingmaier (Chesterfield Twp./Anchor Bay) got things started with a 9-0 major decision at 125 pounds. After losses at 133 and 141 pounds, Pederson won 14-4 at 149 pounds. Senior Steven Mena (Martin) escaped with a one-point win, 8-7, at 157 pounds.

Junior James Myers (Monroe/Indian Creek) posted a 13-0 major decision win at 165 pounds, and senior Trevor Tyler (Roscommon) pinned his guy in 4:36 at 174 pounds. Three straight minor decisions – 6-2 by Crawford at 184 pounds, 6-1 by Leonard at 197 pounds and 5-2 by Ceslick at 285 pounds – capped the Comets' win.

Olivet also won 8-of-10 bouts against Oshkosh. In fact, the Comets did not give up a point in the first three bouts, as Bidlingmaier won 3-0 at 125 pounds; Olsen won 6-0 at 133 pounds; and Richmond won 4-0 at 141 pounds. Pederson pinned his opponent in 3:53 at 149 pounds.

Following a 23-7 loss at 157 pounds, Olivet put another string of three minor decision wins -- 5-4 by Myers at 165 pounds, 10-6 by Tyler at 174 pounds and 6-3 by Crawford at 184 pounds. Leonard posted a 15-3 major decision win to seal the win.

Against Eau Claire, the Comets won seven bouts, scoring bonus points in six of the wins. Bidlingmaier and Olsen earned forfeit wins to start the match at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively. In his first match of the day, sophomore Justin Holm (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) won 11-3 at 141 pounds.

After suffering a 7-4 loss at 149 pounds, Olivet then got back-to-back pins from freshman Dan Fleet (Ada/Lowell) in 4:05 at 157 pounds and Myers in 40 seconds at 165 pounds. Allen won a 19-3 technical fall at 174 pounds. Leonard stayed perfect on the day with a 3-2 win at 197 pounds.

The Comets will participate in the Pete Willson Invitational at Wheaton (Ill.) College next Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27-28. Action starts Friday morning at 11 a.m. CT, and concludes Saturday at 9 a.m. CT.