Wrestling team has 2-2 record at Gator “Boots” Duals
The Olivet College wrestling team had a 2-2 record today at the 2015 Gator “Boots” Duals, hosted by Luther (Iowa) College and held at McGavock High School in Nashville, Tennessee.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Olivet College wrestling team had a 2-2 record today at the 2015 Gator "Boots" Duals, hosted by Luther (Iowa) College and held at McGavock High School in Nashville, Tennessee. The Comets defeated Buena Vista (Iowa) University, 40-12; and Ferrum (Va.) College, 27-18; but fell to Luther, 25-9; and University of Mount Union (Ohio), 32-11.
Buena Vista took an early 6-0 lead with a pin at 125 pounds. Sophomore Jared Brickley cut Olivet's deficit down to two points with a 17-4 major decision at 133 pounds. The Beavers stretched their lead to 12-4 with another pin at 141 pounds. The Comets then won the final seven matches. Junior Austin Kelley started the streak with a 4-2 overtime win at 149 pounds to make the score 12-7.
Junior Ross Pennock put Olivet ahead 13-12 with a first-period pin in one minute and 21 seconds at 157 pounds. Junior Kevin Papak edged his opponent, 6-5, at 165 pounds for a 16-12 score. Senior Nicholas Africano claimed a forfeit win at 174 pounds. Junior Rodney Harvey posted a 13-4 major decision at 184 pounds. Senior Thomas Hall at 197 pounds and junior Jesse Judge at 285 pounds capped the Comets' win with forfeit victories.
Against Luther, Olivet won three matches by decision. Junior Michael Schmidt won 6-0 at 125 pounds, Hall claimed a 6-2 win at 197 pounds and Judge earned a 5-1 victory at 285 pounds.
Against Ferrum, Schmidt posted a 15-0 technical fall at 125 pounds. After back-to-back losses, Kelley put the Comets back ahead 8-6 with an 8-4 decision at 149 pounds. Two straight pins for the Panthers gave them an 18-8 lead. Olivet closed the match with four consecutive wins – a 15-8 decision for Africano at 174 pounds, a pin in 1:40 for Harvey at 184, a 14-6 decision for Hall at 197 and a pin in 2:39 for Judge at 285 – to upset Ferrum, who entered the match ranked No. 21 in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association poll.
Mount Union won the first seven bouts to build a 32-0 lead. The Comets ended the match with three straight wins. Harvey got things started with a 16-1 technical fall at 184 pounds. Hall slipped past his opponent, 4-2, at 197 pounds. Judge doubled-up his challenger, 12-6, at 285 pounds.
Olivet is now off until Friday and Saturday, Jan. 8-9, 2016, when it participates in the Bud Whitehill Duals at Lycoming (Pa.) College. Pairings for the duals will be announced when the new NWCA rankings are released on Tuesday, Jan. 5.