WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - The Trine University wrestling squad split their weekend going 2-2 at the 2012 Budd Whitehill National Duals hosted by Lycoming College. Two wrestlers, junior All-American Elias Larson (Chicago, Ill./Marion Catholic) and freshman Branden Preston (Logansport, Ind./Logansport) each were a perfect 4-0 over the two days. The Thunder are now 6-7 in dual meets on the season.
On Friday (January 13) the Thunder narrowly missed pulling off the upset over #21 Messiah College as they fell 21-16. In the second match of the day, Trine again fell to a nationally ranked team, this time it was a 27-12 decision to 27th ranked The College of New Jersey.
Saturday saw the Thunder turn things around as they took down Oswego State 28-18 and finished off the weekend with a 26-12 decision over host Lycoming.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, ranked 12th nationally, won its second Whitehill National Duals title, beating No. 22 Springfield, 27-9, in the championship match.
Preston, wrestling at 125 pounds, earned the Thunder’s first victory of the weekend as he pinned Messiah’s Danny Lethbridge in 3:56. Preston dominated two of his opponents, with his closest match coming in a 9-7 win over Joe DiCarlo of TCNJ.
Larson, the top ranked wrestler at 157 pounds, continued his near perfect season with dominating performances. Larson earned a major decision over #16 Chris Hardenberg of Messiah and followed that up with an 8-6 decision over #7 John Darling of TCNJ. Larson finished his weekend pinning his opponent from Oswego in just 1:49 and earning a major decision over Lycoming 10-3.
Ranked 12th at 165 pounds, senior George Markou (Peru, Ind./Peru) went 3-1 with his only loss of the weekend coming to #21 Rico Plummer of Messiah by one point, 5-4. Markou recovered earning a 10-3 win over TCNJ followed by two quick pins at 1:30 and ended the tournament with the quickest pin in any of Trine’s matches in just 1:06.
Fellow senior Jason Alber (Manchester, Mich./Manchester) also finished 3-1 on the weekend. Like his classmate, Alber’s lone loss came at the hands of Messiah, and #11 Matt Cross 8-3. Alber recorded a pin over Oswego at 5:46 and followed it up with a shutout win of Lycoming.
Ninth ranked Ryan Pieper (Onsted, Mich./Onsted), a junior at 184 pounds, had a rough weekend as he went 2-2, falling to two other nationally ranked wrestlers including the top wrestler in his class. Pieper fell to #10 Tim Stewart of Messiah 9-3 and then to top ranked Mike Denver of TCNJ 9-6. Pieper ended the weekend on a high note, earning both wins via major decisions by scores of 12-0 and 14-3.
At the 141 weight class, junior Nick Odom (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) went 2-2 on the weekend gaining a 3-0 win over Messiah and a 7-2 victory over Lycoming.
Junior Forrest Romer (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) at 149 earned a 10-3 victory over Lycoming. At 197, freshman Mack Green (Buchanan, Mich./Buchanan) picked up a win against Oswego 7-1. In the heavyweight division sophomore Shane Hendrickson (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial) netted a shutout win over Messiah 3-0.
Trine will head to Wisconsin-Whitewater for the Border Brawls on January 21 beginning at noon.
