Wrestling: Comets overpower Manchester, 33-13

N. MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Olivet College wrestling team won 7-of-10 bouts, all in succession, to beat Manchester (Ind.) University, 33-13, tonight inside the Stauffer-Wolfe Arena in North Manchester, Indiana.

The match started at 125 pounds, where sophomore Michael Schmidt lost a 5-4 overtime decision. The Spartans extended their lead to 9-0 when freshman Trevor Skinner was pinned around the midway point of the second period of the 133-pound bout.

Sophomore Curtis Blackwell scored the first three team points for the Comets with a 9-7 decision at 141 pounds. He jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first period and hung on for the win with two escapes in the final period.

Senior Kyle Witgen tied the match at 9-9 with a first-period pin at 149 pounds. He scored a takedown 24 seconds into the bout before putting his opponent on his back for the pin at the one minute and 38 second mark.

Junior Anthony Long and sophomore Ross Pennock earned forfeit wins at 157 and 165 pounds, respectively, to make the score 21-9.

Senior Nick Allen slipped past Dylan Lauffer for a 5-4 win at 174 pounds. Allen was losing 4-2 to start the second period when Lauffer chose the down position to start the second stanza, but was never able to get out. Allen elected to start the third period in the down position. A minute into the period, he scored the reversal to tie the bout at 4-4 and then used the riding time point at the end to pick-up the win.

Just like Witgen, sophomore Rodney Harvey recorded a first-period pin at 184 pounds. Harvey was a little quicker, scoring the takedown 20 seconds into the bout and then getting the fall one minute and eight seconds later.

Junior Eric Boyd capped Olivet's win with a 4-0 shutout win at 197 pounds. He scored the only points he would need on a takedown with four seconds remaining in the opening period. Senior Ryan Steverson lost 8-0 at 285 pounds.

The Comets are back in action Saturday at the Alma College Open.