Wrestling team drops two matches at Dick Walker Duals

WAVERLY, Iowa – The Olivet College wrestling team lost two matches today at the Dick Walker Duals, hosted by Wartburg (Iowa) College and at the Levick Arena. The Comets fell to University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 21-20, and the host Knights, 44-3.

• The outcome of the match was not decided until the 285-pound bout ended. The Comets and Pioneers split the 10 bouts. Both teams had one win via fall. Olivet's other four wins were a technical fall and three minor decisions. Wisconsin-Platteville's other four wins were three major decisions and one minor decision.
• The Pioneers led 13-0 after winning by fall at 125 pounds, 12-4 major decision at 133 pounds and 5-2 decision at 141 pounds.
• Olivet put its first three points on the scoreboard when senior Hunter Murphy hung on for an 11-8 decision at 149 pounds.
• Wisconsin-Platteville stretched its lead to 17-3 with a 15-7 major decision at 157 pounds.
• The Comets won the next three bouts to level the team score at 17-17.
• Senior Dylan Briggs overwhelmed his opponent with an 18-2 technical fall at 165 pounds.
• Junior Owen Guilford scored a takedown in each of the three periods to hang for a 6-4 decision at 174 pounds.
• At 184 pounds, sophomore Justin Carnahan was down 9-8 at the end of the first period. He opted the down position to start the second period. Carnahan got a quick reversal and pinned his opponent 26 seconds into the second stanza.
• The Pioneers went ahead 21-17 with a 10-1 major decision at 197 pounds.
• At 285 pounds, senior Dominick Wilson registered a 4-0 shutout decision.

• The Knights, ranked No. 2 in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, won 9-of-10 bouts.
• Olivet's lone win came at 184 pounds where Carnahan posted a 10-6 decision, with the difference in the bout being a reversal and four-point near-fall in the first period.
• Briggs lost a close 8-7 decision at 165 pounds.

• The Comets host Baldwin Wallace (Ohio) University and Michigan State University next Saturday, December 18, at the Cutler Event Center. Olivet wrestles BW at 4 p.m., followed by BW versus MSU at approximately 5:30 p.m., and Olivet versus MSU at approximately 7 p.m.