Wrestlers beat Alfred State and TCNJ to advance to semifinals at Budd Whitehill Duals

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Olivet College wrestling team, ranked No. 7 in the most recent NWCA poll, won two matches today to advance to the semifinals of the 2014 Budd Whitehill Duals, hosted by Lycoming (Pa.) College. The Comets were scheduled to wrestle Muskingum (Ohio) University in their first round match, but the Muskies withdrew from the duals. Per NCAA regulations, Olivet was given a team forfeit victory and advanced automatically to the next round where it defeated Alfred State (N.Y.) College, 43-9. In the quarterfinals, the Comets defeated The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), 22-12.

Against Alfred State, the Comets won the first five bouts, including four by fall, to take a commanding 27-0 lead. Winning by pin were freshman Kyle Gillies (Westland/John Glenn) in only 58 seconds at 125 pounds, senior Michael Gancer (Battle Creek /Harper Creek) in 2:41 at 133 pounds, senior Jeremy Ward (Washington Twp./Romeo) in 4:29 at 149 pounds and senior Kyle Witgen (Romeo) in 3:59 at 157 pounds. The fifth win was by senior Justin Holm (Battle Creek/Harper Creek), 6-0, at 141 pounds.

After senior Rocky Cantu (Rives Junction/Jackson Northwest) lost 10-3 at 165 pounds, senior Connor Sharp (Schoolcraft) sealed Olivet's win by posting a 15-2 major decision win at 174 pounds. At 184 pounds, junior Nick Allen (Scotville/Mason Country Central) quickly recorded a takedown, taking him straight to his back for a pin in only 23 seconds.

Senior Andrew Simpson (Tecumseh) suffered a loss by fall in the first period at 197 pounds. Junior Ryan Steverson (Lake Odessa/Lakewood) held a 6-0 lead at 285 pounds before his opponent suffered an injury and having to forfeit the bout to Steverson.

TCNJ and Olivet split the first two matches. Gillies won 4-3 at 125 pounds, while Gancer suffered a 10-6 loss at 133 pounds. Justin Holm put the Comets back ahead, 7-3, with an 8-0 shutout win at 141 pounds.

At 149 pounds, senior Gage Pederson (Hastings) scored an escape at the start of the second period and was on top for the entire third period to pick-up the riding time point en route to a close 2-0 win. The Lions took a 12-10 lead three consecutive minor decision wins, 3-2, 12-8 and 3-1, at 157, 165 and 174 pounds.

Senior Jeff Holm (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) put Olivet back ahead, 13-12, with a 6-0 victory at 184 pounds. Sophomore Thomas Hall (Fife Lake/Forest Area) won 7-3 at 197 pounds to stretch the Comets' lead to 16-12. At 285 pounds, junior Trevor Timmreck (Birch Run) capped the win by pinning his opponent with 1:11 left in the first period.

Olivet will now face No. 13 Messiah (Pa.) College in the semifinals tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. With today's wins, the Comets can finish no worse than fourth-place, as the losers of the two semifinal matches automatically move into third-place match. The championship round will start at 3:15 p.m.