Wrestling: Allen finishes with 4-0 record, Comets split four matches at National Duals

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Olivet College wrestling team split four matches today at the 2015 NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals, held inside the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Comets slipped past New York University, 19-16, in a preliminary round match before falling to No. 2 seed Wartburg (Iowa) College, 31-6, in the first round. Olivet then defeated Heidelberg (Ohio) University, 21-12, in the second round of the consolation bracket and then lost 26-9 to Ithaca (N.Y.) University.

The outcome of the match against NYU came down to the final bout where senior Ryan Steverson posted an 8-2 win at 285 pounds. For the match, Olivet won 6-of-10 bouts. Sophomore Michael Schmidt used an escape point to start the third period to win, 1-0, at 125 pounds. After a major decision loss at 133 pounds, freshman Dominick Trevino put the Comets back ahead 6-2 with a 4-2 win at 141 pounds. A takedown halfway through the opening period was the difference in the bout.

The Violets surged ahead 13-6 with a 3-2 minor decision at 149 pounds and a second-period pin at 157 pounds. Olivet tied the match at 13-13 after senior Dan Fleet won 3-1 at 165 pounds and senior Nick Allen posted a 10-0 shutout win at 174 pounds. Fleet also had a takedown in the middle of the first period for the winning points.

NYU grabbed the lead back on a 6-2 minor decision at 184 pounds. The Comets forced a 16-16 deadlock when junior Thomas Hall edged his opponent, 6-5, at 197 pounds. An escape for Hall in the final 30 seconds decided the bout. Steverson had two takedowns in the third period to help him pull away for the win.

Wartburg, ranked No. 2 in the latest NWCA poll, won 8-of-10 bouts against the Comets. Picking-up wins for Olivet were Schmidt (11-5) at 125 pounds and Allen (3-1) at 174 pounds. Schmidt scored two takedowns and a two-point near fall early in the first period to set-up his win. Allen strung together an escape and takedown in the final period to win his bout.

Olivet cruised to the win over Heidelberg by winning 6-of-10 bouts. Schmidt got the bout started with a 6-0 shutout decision at 125 pounds, followed by a 3-1 win for senior Matt Darling at 133 pounds. A takedown 18 seconds into the bout was the difference in the bout.

Heidelberg picked-up a 4-3 win at 141 pounds. The Comets responded with won four straight wins – 5-4 by senior Kyle Witgen at 149 pounds; 4-2 by senior Jacob Gould at 157 pounds, 1-0 by Fleet at 165 pounds and injury default by Allen at 174 pounds. The three minor decision wins were decided on points earned the final period of the bout. The Student Princes closed the match with three consecutive wins.

Ithaca dominated Olivet by winning 7-of-10 bouts. Trailing 3-2 to start the third period of the 149-pound bout, Witgen elected to start the period in the neutral position. The choice was the right one, as he scored a takedown to take the lead and then sealed the win with a three-point near fall.

Allen needed a takedown in the first overtime period to win 4-2 at 174 pounds. Hall benefited from an escape point in the third period to win his bout, 4-3, at 197 pounds.

With today's 2-2 record, the Comets have been eliminated from the National Duals. Olivet is back on the mats next Thursday, Jan. 15, for a dual match at Alma College. Action inside the Art Smith Arena gets under way at 7:30 p.m.