Wrestling team loses to Central Michigan, 44-0

MOUNT PLESANT, Mich. – In its first competition in 310 days, the Olivet College wrestling team fell to Central Michigan University, 44-0, this afternoon at McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant.

Final Score: Central Michigan 44, Olivet 0
Location: McGuirk Arena; Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Records: Olivet 0-1 overall, Central Michigan 1-0 overall

• The Chippewas won all 10 bouts, scoring bonus points in six of them.

• The closest matches came at 149 and 174 pounds, as both were two-point decisions.
• At 149, junior Hunter Murphy lost 10-8 to Corbyn Munson. After going down 6-0 at the end of the first period, he came back to take an 8-7 lead early in the third period. But Munson scored the final three points of the match for the 10-8 win.
• At 174 pounds, sophomore Owen Guilford suffered a 12-10 loss. Trailing 11-6 to start the third period, he scored a reversal and two penalty points to make the score 11-10. The riding time point at the end of the match made the score 12-10.
• Other minor decision losses were by freshman 141-pounder Dylan Phelps (10-5) and junior 184-pounder Adam Hall (5-0).

• Today's match was only the second all-time meeting between the Comets and Chippewas. CMU won that dual match, 30-18, during the 1965-66 season.

• "I was very happy with the energy the guys had on the mat today, as well as the preparation they had leading up to the match. We are thankful the opportunity to get back on the mat doing what we love to do. We are for thankful that Central Michigan gave us the chance to compete because many schools aren't wrestling right now.
• "Overall, the areas of we have not had a chance to work on is where we were exposed. The weight cut and bottom position are two of those areas. The positive from today was the guys who fought to get in their best position, so they could score on some the best wrestlers in Division I.
• "Owen Guilford went out and scored right away, and then got into some trouble after getting exposed on the bottom position. But we were proud of him with how he made an in-match adjustment and almost won the match.
• "Hunter Murphy went down big early on, and then put himself back into position to win his match. Which is the kind of fight that we want to see out of our guys.
• "Donovan King was a testament of being confident in your best area. He put the No. 3-ranked wrestler on his back and gave himself an opportunity to pin the guy. That is the kind of confidence we want our guys to walk away with from a match like this."

• The Comets are scheduled to host the 2021 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Individual Championships Saturday, January 30. Action is tentatively set to start at 9 a.m., and no fans will be allowed to attend. Fans will be able to follow the matches on trackwrestling.com.