Wrestling team has 1-3 record at Gator ‘Boots’ Duals

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Olivet College wrestling team competed at the 2022 Gator 'Boots' Duals, hosted by Luther College at McGavock High School. The Comets, ranked No. 19 in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association dual meet rankings, fell to No. 8 University of Wis.-Whitewater, 30-9; York (Pa.) College, 25-24; and No. 11 Baldwin Wallace (Ohio) University, 44-3; before ending the day with a 24-18 win over University of the Ozarks (Ark.).

• The Warhawks earned wins in eight of the 10 bouts.
• Sophomore Ramiro Guerrero put the first three points on the team ledger for the Comets with an 11-7 minor decision at 157 pounds.
• Senior Donovan King capped the match with a first-period pin at 2:09 of the 285-pound bout.

• The Comets and Spartans split the 10 bouts. A technical fall victory for York at 197 pounds was the difference in the match.
• The Spartans jumped out to a 20-0 lead with four straight wins to open the match.
• Olivet countered with four wins to pull within two points, 20-18. Guerrero started the streak with a 15-8 decision at 157 pounds. Senior Kam Bush posted 15-3 major decision at 165 pounds. Senior Owen Guilford won by fall in 1:40 at 174 pounds. Junior Justin Carnahan earned a 21-3 technical fall win at 184 pounds.
• York won the 197-pound bout by a 20-5 score to seal its win.
• King ended the match by pinning his opponent in 29 seconds.

• King had the lone victory for the Comets, as he shutout Matthew Werts, 7-0.

• The Comets and Eagles each won five bouts. The difference in the match was Olivet scored bonus in all five wins, while Ozarks had only two bonus-point victories.
• The Eagles took a 3-0 lead with a 3-2 decision at 125 pounds.
• Freshman Emilio Cabrera put Olivet ahead 4-3 with a 17-5 major decision at 133 pounds.
• Ozarks seized the lead back with a 6-4 decision at 141 pounds.
• Sophomore Tyler Herrema gave the Comets a two-point lead, 8-6, with a 13-5 major decision at 149 pounds.
• The Eagles won the next two bouts, 21-8 and 18-3 to go ahead 15-8.
• Junior Mitchell Reynolds closed the gap to 15-12 with an 11-1 major decision at 174 pounds.
• Ozarks stretched its lead back to six points, 18-12, following a 10-6 win at 184 pounds.
• Senior Hiram Robinson tied the match with a pin at 4:17 of the 197-pound bout.
• King won the match for the Comets when he posted a first-period pin at 1:27. With the win, King finished the day with a 4-0 record.

• The Comets begin their quest for a fifth straight Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) title January 3, when they wrestle at Alma College. Action begins at 7 p.m. from the Art Smith Arena.