WHITEWATER, Wis. - Three Trine University wrestlers went undefeated at the Wis.-Whitewater Border Brawl as the Thunder went 1-2 as a team in the dual matches. Trine’s record now sits at 3-12 on the year in dual matches.
Both of the Thunder’s losses came to nationally ranked teams. In their opening match the Thunder fell to 13th ranked Wis.-Whitewater 29-11. Trine then fell to 6th ranked Wis.-Stevens Point in the second round 27-17. The Thunder closed out the duals with a 27-20 victory over Wis.-Oshkosh.
At 157 pounds, senior All-American Elias Larson (Chicago, Ill./Marion Catholic) continued his reign as the top ranked wrestler in Division III as he picked up two wins on the day to remain undefeated against Division III opponents. Larson took down Cedric Gibson from Wis.-Whitewater in the first round 7-4 before defeating Jamey Simmons from Wis.-Stevens Point 8-2.
Fellow senior Ryan Pieper (Onsted, Mich./Onsted) showed why he is ranked eighth in the 174 weight class as he easily handled his three opponents. Against Wis.-Whitewater, Pieper defeated Ryan Aprahamian 9-6. In what was one of the most anticipated matches of the day, Pieper showed no doubt as he dismantled Ryan Conat from Wis.-Stevens Point, the sixth ranked wrestler in their division, by technical fall 18-3. Pieper closed out the day pinning Ben Frieler from Wis.-Oshkosh in the first period at 1 minute 57 seconds.
In the 125 class, 25th ranked sophomore Brandon Preston (Logansport, Ind./Logansport) also made quick work of his three opponents, not giving up a single point. Preston took care of Joe Meylor from Wis.-Whitewater by technical fall 17-0 and then Lance Fabry of Wis.-Stevens Point 5-0. Preston would also wrap-up his day with a pin fall, taking down Parker Peterson from Wis.-Oshkosh just 1:02 into their match.
Four other Trine wrestler picked up wins on the day. At 149 pounds, freshman Jon Blanton (Alexandria, Ind./Alexandria) defeated Mason McMullen from Wis.-Oshkosh 6-0. In the 141 division, Jon’s brother Josh Blanton (Alexandria, Ind./Alexandria) fell to two nationally ranked opponents before edging out Justin Schienebeck from Wis.-Oshkosh 10-9.
In the two highest classes, both sophomore Mac Green (Buchanan, Mich./Buchanan) and junior Shane Hendrickson (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial) fell to two nationally ranked wrestlers. Green though would pick up a victory at 197 pounds over Korey Kleinhans of Wis.-Oshkosh 3-1. In the heavyweight division, Hendrickson would seal the victory for the Thunder over Wis.-Oshkosh as he pinned Dakota Daniels at 4:23 of their match.
In a flighted match, Anders Douglas (Monticello, Ind./Twin Lakes) picked up a win in the 133 weight class, defeating Eric Tokarski from Olivet 6-2.
Trine will travel to Wheaton (IL) for the two-day Pete Wilson Invitational beginning February 1.
