ANGOLA, Ind.-- Fourth-place finishes by Michael Conner and Kevin Groves highlighted the Trine wrestling team's performance in the Trine Invitational, held Saturday in Keith E. Busse/Steel Dynamics Athletic Recreation Center.
Conner (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) earned his fourth-place finish in the 197-lb. class with a record of 4-2 on the day. The senior won three of his matchs by fall, with all of those pins coming in the first period. Conner advanced to the third-place match with a victory by 2-1 decision in the consolation semifinals, but had to withdraw midway through the third-place bout due to injury. He improved his record to 6-4 on the season.
Groves (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) came on strong after dropping his first match of the day to win three-straight matches to advance to the third-place bout of the 157-lb class. Groves earned back-to-back pins to advance to the consolation semifinals, where he earned an exciting 14-9 decision to advance to the third-place match. Groves took an early lead in the match, but was ultimately pinned. He went 3-2 in his first action of the season.
Joe Stasiak (Mishawaka, Ind./Penn) and Tyler Prater (Homer, Mich./Homer) each saw success in the heavyweight class as each wrestler went 2-2 on the day. Stasiak continued his transition to the class with a win by decision and an impressive pin in just 1:19. Prater's first victory of the day was a marathon as he won by 4-3 decision in the second tiebreaker.
Caleb Maddox (Russiaville, Ind./Western) also picked up a pair of wins for the Thunder in the 133-lb division.. Both of the sophomore's wins came in dominating fashion and included a 20-5 tech fall and a win by fall in 4:20.
David Moore (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion) and Kerry Raab (Moores Hill, Ind./South Dearborn) also earned victories for Trine.
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The Thunder return to action next Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Olivet College Comet Duals. Pairings have yet to be announced. Matches are slated to begin at 10 a.m.
Team results from the Trine Invitational are listed below.
Trine Invitational Team Standings
1. Alma- 165.5
2. Adrian- 90.5
3. University of Chicago- 86
T-4. Muskegon Community College and Manchester- 75
6. Olivet- 36
7. Trine- 30
8. Grand Valley State- 16
9. Indiana Tech- 4
