Wrestling team posts 1-2 record at Comet Duals
The Olivet College wrestling team posted a 1-2 record at its own Comet Duals today inside The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. The Comets, ranked No. 12 in the preseason National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, started the day with a 26-15 loss to No. 10 Ohio Northern University and 25-13 loss to No. 6 University of Wis.-La Crosse. Olivet ended the day with a 32-6 win against Heidelberg (Ohio) University.
OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College wrestling team posted a 1-2 record at its own Comet Duals today inside The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. The Comets, ranked No. 12 in the preseason National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, started the day with a 26-15 loss to No. 10 Ohio Northern University and 25-13 loss to No. 6 University of Wis.-La Crosse. Olivet ended the day with a 32-6 win against Heidelberg (Ohio) University.
Against Ohio Northern, junior 133-pounder Michael Gancer (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) won 5-2 to tie the match at 3-3. Senior 141-pounder Kenny Richmond (Brighton) put the Comets ahead 7-3 with a 16-1 technical fall victory. Junior 149-pounder Gage Pederson (Hastings) made the score 11-3 with an 11-1 major decision.
Olivet stretched its lead to 14-3 when sophomore 157-pounder Kyle Witgen (Romeo) posted a 7-2 win. The Polar Bears earned the come-from-behind win with wins in the final five matches, with two wins by fall, one by tech fall and two by minor decision.
Wis.-La Crosse went ahead 3-0 after a win at 125 pounds. Senior 133-pounder Kam Olsen (Kentwood/East Kentwood) handed the lead to the Comets with a 14-5 win. The Eagles grabbed the lead back with a close 2-0 victory at 141 pounds. Pederson answered for Olivet by pinning his opponent with nine seconds left in the second period to make the score 10-6. Wis.-La Crosse surged ahead with four straight wins to take a 19-10 lead.
Senior 197-pounder Logan Renas (Big Rapids) won 5-3 to keep the Comets' chance of an upset win alive, but a pin for the Eagles' Billy Mayer ended that chance.
After losing the first two matches to Heidelberg, Olivet won the final eight matches. Richmond got the streak going with a 9-0 major decision win. Pederson won his third match of the day with a 17-9 major decision. Witgen posted a 9-3 win. Junior 165-pounder Rocky Cantu (Rives Junction/Jackson Northwest) defeated his opponent, 4-1.
Senior 174-pounder Josh Crawford (Birch Run) won by pin in 5:25. Junior 184-pounder Andy Ottenwess (Grand Rapids/Allendale) kept the streak going, winning 11-4. Renas came through with a 10-2 major decision win. Senior 285-pounder Jake Ceslick (Alpena) capped the win with a pin in 5:37.
The Comets have the next two weeks off from competition and return to the mats Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Ohio Northern Invitational.