Wrestling team has perfect 3-0 record at Wis.-Whitewater Border Brawls

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The Olivet College wrestling team lost only nine total bouts in three matches to post a perfect 3-0 record today at the University of Wis.-Whitewater Border Brawls. The Comets defeated North Central (Ill.) College, 39-10; Concordia (Wis.) University, 36-12; and University of Wis.-Eau Claire, 22-18.

Olivet scored bonus points in six of its eight wins against North Central. Freshman Christian Lawhorn got the match started with an 18-0 technical fall win at 125 pounds. Sophomore Jared Brickley did all of his scoring in the first period to win 3-1 at 133 pounds. Junior Curtis Blackwell scored takedown 14 seconds into the 141-pound bout and then got the 66 seconds later.

The Cardinals won the 149 and 157-pound bouts to cut their deficit down to four points, 14-10. The Comets then won final five bouts. Freshman Tyler Grimsley posted a 12-3 major decision at 165 pounds. Senior Nicholas Africano then used the riding time at the end of the 174-pound bout to win 5-4.

Junior Rodney Harvey and senior Thomas Hall registered back-to-back pins at 184 and 197 pounds, respectively. Harvey recorded his fall in 4:24, and Hall had his pin with 28 seconds remaining in the first period. Junior Jesse Judge earned a forfeit victory at 285 pounds.

The Comets picked-up the first 12 points on Concordia when Lawhorn and Brickley received forfeit victories at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively. At 141 pounds, Blackwell added six more points to the total with another first-period pin, this one in one minute and 49 seconds. After two losses, junior Kevin Papak won a 10-6 decision at 165 pounds. The Falcons won the 174-pound bout with a 10-2 major decision.

At 184 pounds, Harvey got those four points back plus two more, as he pinned his man in five minutes and 51 seconds. Hall won his second bout of the day with a 10-3 decision at 197 pounds. Judge capped Olivet's win with a pin in one minute and 46 seconds at 285 pounds.

Against Wis.-Eau Claire, junior Michael Schmidt and Brickley won back-to-back major decisions, 9-1 and 11-3, to start the match at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively. The Blugolds grabbed a 9-8 lead with 13-5 major decision at 141 pounds and a 16-0 technical fall at 149 pounds.

Olivet took the lead back, 11-9, after junior Ross Pennock won an 8-2 decision at 157 pounds. Grimsley scored a takedown midway through the overtime period to eke out a 14-12 win at 165 pounds. Wis.-Eau Claire pulled to within two points, 14-12, with a 4-3 decision at 174 pounds. Harvey stretched the Comets' lead back to six points, 18-12, when he won a 17-5 major decision at 184 pounds. Hall sealed Olivet's victory by virtue of a 19-6 major decision at 197 pounds.

The Comets will next wrestle Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29-30, at the Pete Willson Invitational, hosted by Wheaton (Ill.) College.