Wrestling team wins twice at Wis.-Whitewater Border Brawls
The No. 9 Olivet College wrestling team won two matches today at the University of Wis.-Whitewater Border Brawls. The Comets started the day with a 23-12 win over Concordia College-Moorhead (Minn.) and then beat University Wis.-Stevens Point, 24-13.
WHITEWATER, Wis. – The No. 9 Olivet College wrestling team won two matches today at the University of Wis.-Whitewater Border Brawls. The Comets started the day with a 23-12 win over Concordia College-Moorhead (Minn.) and then beat University of Wis.-Stevens Point, 24-13.
Olivet, ranked No. 9 in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, won seven bouts against No. 2 Concordia-Moorhead. Senior Robbie Bidlingmaier (Chesterfield Township/Anchor Bay) got the winning started for the Comets with a 6-0 decision at 125 pounds.
After a 3-1 loss at 133 pounds, Olivet won three straight bouts by decision – senior Justin Holm (Battle Creek/Harper Creek), 9-2 at 141 pounds; senior Gage Pederson (Hastings), 7-4 at 149 pounds; and junior Kyle Witgen (Romeo), 6-3 at 157 pounds – to build a 12-3 lead.
The Cobbers won 4-1 at 165 pounds to trim their deficit down to 12-6. The Comets put the match away by winning three consecutive bouts. Junior Nick Allen (Scotville/Mason County Central) and senior Jeff Holm (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) won by decision, 4-2 and 3-1, at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively. Sophomore Thomas Hall (Fife Lake/Forest Area) capped Olivet's win with a 17-0 technical fall win.
The Comets won six bouts against Stevens Point. Senior Henry McKeown (Bellevue/Olivet) won 12-7 at 125 pounds. Following a close 3-1 loss at 133 pounds, Justin Holm posted a 2-1 decision at 141 pounds, and Pederson won by fall with 24 seconds left in the first period to make the score 12-3.
Junior Dan Fleet (Ada/Lowell) started a string of three straight Comet wins by winning 5-3 at 165 pounds. Allen pinned his opponent at the 5:37 mark of the 174-pound bout. Jeff Holm secured Olivet's win with a 3-1 decision at 184 pounds.
"We have had a great dual match season to date," said Olivet Head Coach Brandon Brissette. "We have done a great job at winning matches against nationally-ranked teams. I believe today was the first time Olivet has ever beaten a team ranked as high as second."
The Comets return to the mats next Friday and Saturday, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, at the Pete Willson Invitational, hosted by Wheaton (Ill.) College. Friday's action starts at 11 a.m. CST, and resumes Saturday morning at 9 a.m. CST.