Wrestling team posts 3-1 record at Desert Duals in Las Vegas

Pederson posts 4-0 record, with three pins at 149 pounds

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – The Olivet College wrestling team posted a 3-1 record today at the 2012 Desert Duals inside the Flamingo Resort in Las Vegas. The Comets, ranked No. 10 in the last National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) poll, started the day with a 29-3 loss to No. 1 Wartburg (Iowa) College before bouncing back to win three straight matches – 25-13 over No. 4 Coe (Iowa) College, 34-9 over No. 28 Loras (Iowa) College and 42-3 over unranked Washington & Lee (Va.) University.

Wartburg's lineup against Olivet featured seven wrestlers in the top 10 NWCA individual rankings, including three No. 1 wrestlers and two more at No. 2. The Comets' only win came at 149 pounds, where junior and No. 4 ranked Gage Pederson (Hastings) beat top-ranked Kodie Silvestri, 8-6.

At 133 pounds, senior Kam Olsen (Kentwood/East Kentwood) fell by a point, 6-5, to the No. 1 ranked wrestler. At 285 pounds, senior Jake Ceslick (Alpena) dropped a close 4-2 decision to the second-ranked wrestler.

Against Coe, Olivet won six of 10 matches, including the first four. Sophomore Esteban Gonzales (Davisburg/Holly) got things started with an 11-3 major decision win at 125 pounds. Olsen followed with a 10-2 major decision at 133 pounds.

Senior 141-pounder Kenny Richmond (Brighton) posted a 5-0 shutout win. Pederson won by pin in 4 minutes, 4 seconds at 149 pounds. After a 6-5 loss at 157 pounds for the Comets, senior 165-pounder James Myers (Monroe/Indian Creek) put them ahead 22-3 with a 16-1 technical fall victory. Junior Andy Ottenwess (Grand Rapids/Allendale) capped Olivet's win with a 6-1 win at 184 pounds.

Against Loras, the Comets won seven of 10 matches, including four by pin. Gonzales began the match with a first period pin in 2 minutes, 18 seconds. Richmond posted a 9-6 win. Pederson then won by pin in 5 minutes, 35 seconds. Sophomore Dan Fleet (Ada/Lowell) won by major decision, 9-0, at 157 pounds.

Sophomore Nick Allen (Scottville/Mason County Central) recorded a pin in only 32 seconds at 174 pounds, and sophomore Jeff Holm (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) followed with a first-period pin in 1 minute, 28 seconds at 184 pounds. Senior Logan Renas (Big Rapids) won 7-3 at 197 pounds.

A loss at 285 pounds prevented the Comets from sweeping all 10 weight classes against Washington & Lee. Junior Henry McKeown (Bellevue/Olivet) won by pin in 4 minutes, 11 seconds at 125 pounds. Olsen posted a 13-3 major decision. Richmond improved to 3-1 on the day with a 9-1 major decision win.

Pederson stayed perfect for the day with his third straight pin, this one in 4 minutes, 36 seconds. Fleet won by forfeit. Sophomore Kyle Witgen (Romeo) recorded a 6-1 win at 165 pounds, while Allen won 8-2.

Ottenwess defeated his opponent, 6-0. Senior Andrew Simpson (Tecumseh) ended his day with a 15-0 technical fall victory at 197 pounds.

The Comets are now off until the start of the New Year when they compete at the Waynesburg (Pa.) University Jan. 5, 2013.