Head coach Ned Shuck and the Heidelberg University wrestling team traveled north to Olivet, Michigan to compete in the 2012 Olivet College Comet Duals. Heidelberg would face four teams on Saturday, two of which were ranked nationally by the NCAA Division III Coaches poll. The Berg finished the day, 2-2 as a team, losing to a powerful Wisconsin-Whitewater squad and regional foe Olivet, but beating Alma and Trine convincingly.
First, Heidelberg took on the Scots from Alma College. The Berg jumped out to a quick lead winning the first four bouts. Alma picked up their only two victories back-to-back at 157 and 165-pounds. Heidelberg then swept the next four weight classes on their way to a 30-6 victory.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, ranked fifth in the country, was Heidelberg’s second opponent and bested the Student Princes, 19-12. The Warhawks feature five wrestlers ranked in the top ten in the country in their respective weight classes. The Berg wrestled tough but could not overcome the Warhawks challenging lineup.
Following the loss to UW-Whitewater, Heidelberg battled Trine University who they beat 28-23 a year ago at the Comet Duals. The Student Princes seized the first five matches from the Thunder on their way to a 35-10 win.
Entering their final match of the day, 2-1, regional foe and twelfth ranked Olivet College stood in the way of the Berg’s third team victory. Olivet bested the Student Princes in Tiffin a year ago following their 18-18 tie, two years ago at Olivet.
Heidelberg looked to be heading towards a win; taking the first two weight classes from the Comets. However, Olivet roared back taking the next eight weight classes en route to a 32-6 victory.
Freshman 133-pounder Colin McDermitt (Lima/Lima Shawnee) was the only Berg wrestler to leave Olivet unblemished. McDermitt downed his Alma opponent Zac Case by major decision, 9-0, before taking on Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Grant Sutter.
Sutter, ranked fourth in the nation, placed third at the NCAA Division III National Tournament a season ago. However, McDermitt was not intimidated by the veteran’s accolades and topped the talented 133-pounder, 5-4.
McDermitt then squared off with Trine’s Brandon Preston, who he pinned in 0:20. In his final match of the afternoon, Colin battled with Kam Olsen of Olivet. McDermitt beat Olsen by decision, 7-3 to remain unbeaten in the tournament.
Senior 149-pounder Andrew Johnson (Weston/Otsego) and freshman 125-pounder Ryan Hornack (Medina) left Michigan with three wins each.
Johnson pinned his Alma College counterpart in a time of 4:28 then beat Tom Gerszewski of Wisconsin-Whitewter, 5-3. Agaisnt Trine, Johnson pinned Jon Blanton in 0:35, before losing to third ranked Gage Pederson of Olivet in his final match.
Hornack’s day began with an 8-5 decision over Alma’s Collin Lesko followed by his lone loss of the day to fifth ranked Trevor Pruett. Hornack rallied to beat his next two opponents by a score of 5-4 and 6-4 respectively.
Heidelberg’s 197-pounder, Jason Russell (Columbus/West), picked up his first loss of the season at the Comet Duals, losing to sixth ranked Logan Renas of host Olivet, 10-2. Russell handled his first two opponents well, beating them by a combined score of 12-5.
Against Trine, freshman Matt Shurina (Cadiz/Harrison Central) wrestled in place of Russell and recorded a forfeit.
Freshman Travis Luft (Ashville/Teays Valley), sophomore Brennan Kelly (Clinton Township/De La Salle) and junior Chris Osborne (McComb) all recorded two wins and two losses in Olivet.
The Heidelberg grapplers return to the mat on December 1, 2012 when they travel to Ada, Ohio to compete in the Ohio Northern Open. Action from Ada is set to begin at 9:00 a.m.
