Wrestling team splits four matches at the 2008 Comet Duals

The Olivet College wrestling team split its four matches today at the 2008 Comet Duals inside The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. The Comets beat Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio) College, 41-3, and Thiel (Pa.) College, 41-9. They fell to University of Wisc.-Stevens Point, 28-17, and University of Wisc.-LaCrosse, 25-13.

The Comets got off to a great start by winning nine-of-10 matches en route to a 41-3 victory over Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio) College. The Comets won two matches by forfeit, two by fall, two by major decision and three by minor decision.

Winning by forfeit were senior Kyle Vanderhyde (Sparta) at 174 pounds and junior Andrew Middleton (Romeo) at 285 pounds. Recording falls were freshman 157-pounder Jordan Dusseau (Erie/Erie Mason) in 4:24 and sophomore Aaron Sullenger (Alpena) in 2:42.

The major decision victories were by freshman Justin Fleeson (Belleville) at 125 pounds (14-3), senior Rob Yahrmarkt (Sparta) at 141 pounds (11-2). Freshman Steve Mena (Martin) at 149 pounds (11-4), sophomore Jim Neal (Marysville) at 165 pounds (6-3) and sophomore Joe McAllister (Sault Ste. Marie) at 184 pounds (3-2) all had minor decision wins.

In their next match, Olivet was defeated by University of Wisc.-Stevens Point, 28-17. The Comets had a pair of wins by minor decision, one by technical fall and one by fall. Sophomores Adam Wilson (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) and Vince Tucker (Clio) posted the minor decision wins, 3-0 and 10-9 at 125 and 141 pounds, respectively. Senior Jason Brew (Sparta) won by technical fall, 24-8, at 157 pounds. Senior 174-pounder Kyle Vanderhyde (Sparta) pinned his opponent with 11 seconds in the second period.

The Comets won eight matches, including five first period pins, to beat Thiel (Pa.) College, 41-9. They also had two victories by major decision and the eighth win was by minor decision. Picking-up the pins were Tucker at 141 pounds (2:38), Brew at 157 pounds (2:57), Neal at 165 pounds (1:27), McAllister at 184 pounds (1:34) and junior Joe Yurisich (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) at 197 pounds (1:46). Mena and Vanderhyde tallied identical 12-4 wins at 149 and 174 pounds, respectively. Middleton beat his opponent, 6-2, at 285 pounds.

In its final match, Olivet fell to University of Wisc.-LaCrosse, 25-13. The Comets received wins from Wilson (6-3) at 125 pounds, Yahrmarkt (6-5) at 141 pounds, Brew (16-5) at 157 pounds and Vanderhyde (3-1) at 174 pounds.

Olivet is now idle until Saturday, Dec. 13, when it participates in the 2008 Ohio Northern University Invitational.