Sparta graduates help wrestling team defeat Chicago, 26-12

Wrestling in front of a large contingent of family and friends, seniors Jason Brew (Sparta), Kyle Vanderhyde (Sparta) and Rob Yahrmarkt (Sparta) helped the Olivet College wrestling team beat University of Chicago, 26-12, tonight at Sparta High School.

Brew, Vanderhyde and Yahrmarkt all came to Olivet four years ago from Sparta and have accumulated more than 240 varsity wins between them. Tonight's match served as a thank you to the three wrestlers for their dedication to the Olivet wrestling program.

Senior Kyle Labrecque (Battle Creek/Lakeview) got the Comets off to a fast start with a 6-1 win at 125 pounds. Sophomore Vince Tucker (Clio), who entered the NWCA rankings for the first time in his career, posted a 13-4 major decision win at 141 pounds.

Yahrmarkt put three team points on the scoreboard with an 8-5 win at 149 pounds. Brew, No. 2 in the NWCA rankings at 157 pounds, had the crowd on its feet with a third period pin (6:03). Vanderhyde, the nation's top ranked wrestler at 174 pounds, defeated No. 6 Troy Carlson by major decision, 14-6.

Junior Joe Bargerstock (Livonia/Churchill) recorded a 7-1 win at 184 pounds. Junior Sean Misko (Casco/Richmond) closed the match with a 7-5 win at 285 pounds.

Olivet will be back on the mats Sunday, Dec. 21, when they participate in the Desert Duals inside the ballrooms at the Flamingo in Las Vegas. Action gets started at 8 a.m. when the Comets face Concordia (Wisc.) University. They will also wrestle Williams (Mass.) College at 10 a.m., Johnson & Wales (R.I.) University at noon and Coe (Iowa) College at 4 p.m. All times are PST.