ALMA, MICH. -- The Trine University wrestling team rallied from a 17-0 deficit to beat Alma (Mich.) College, 24-21, in Alma, Mich.
Alma captured the first four individual matches and accumulated a 17-0 overall match lead. Trine then began its rally with technical fall victory at 157 pounds by freshman Riley Rasler (LaGrange, Ind./Prairie Heights) who defeated his opponent by a score of 21-6 to earn five team points.
Alma then tallied its final points of the match with a major decision to extend the overall margin to 21-5. The Thunder then scored 19 unanswered points in the final four individual bouts that was started with a pin by sophomore Jacob Taylor (Battle Creek, Mich./Battle Creek Central) at 174 pounds who defeated his opponent in a time of 1:02 and made the team score, 21-11.
Trine followed up the pin with a major decision by sophomore Austin Farrell (Hopkins, Mich./Allegan) at 184 pounds with a 13-5 win to earn four team points and narrow the gap to 21-15. The Thunder then evened the match at 21-21 with a forfeit at 197 pounds.
The two teams entered the final match with sophomore Zach Saylor (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) and Alma's Austin Popp squaring off at heavyweight. Taylor edged out his opponent to win by decision, 2-1, and captured three points to give the Thunder the overall match victory, 24-21.
Trine will compete in another dual match on Tuesday, Jan. 9 when it travels to Adrian, Mich. to take on Adrian College. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Alma vs. Trine
Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018
Art Smith Arena
Attendance: 101
RESULTS
125 - Austin Wieczorek (Alma) major decision Clinton Wells (Trine), 11-2 (Alma 4, Trine 0)
133 - Chase Beecher (Alma) major decision Davynn Schneider (Trine), 13-1 (Alma 8, Trine 0)
141 - No. 3 Brendan Ladd (Alma) major decision Caleb Maddox (Trine), 14-2 (Alma 12, Trine 0)
149 - Jake Anderson (Alma) technical fall Efrain Amezquita (Trine), 16-1, 5:00 (Alma 17, Trine 0)
157 - Riley Rasler (Trine) technical fall Gus Richter (Alma), 21-6, 2:31 (Alma 17, Trine 5)
165 - Joe Vondrasek (Alma) major decision Brandon Minear (Trine), 15-6 (Alma 21, Trine 5)
174 - Jacob Taylor (Trine) pinned Erik Arnegard (Alma), 1:02 (Alma 21, Trine 11)
184 - Austin Farrell (Trine) major decision Wesley Barnes (Alma), 13-5 (Alma 21, Trine 15)
197 - Anthony Neal (Trine) wins via forfeit. (Alma 21, Trine 21)
285 - Zach Saylor (Trine) decision Austin Popp (Alma), 2-1 (Trine 24, Alma 21)