CINCINNATI - In preparation for the NCAA regional wrestling meet on February 25, the Trine University wrestling team finished fifth at the Mid-States Conference Tournament on Saturday, February 11.
The Thunder finished the day with 67 points, as Wabash won with 218. Trine used the meet as a last chance opportunity for some wrestlers to prepare for the regional meet. Junior Elias Larson (Chicago, Ill./Marion Catholic) did not participate in the meet, but was named the Mid-States Wrestler of the Year finishing the regular season with just one loss to a Division III opponent.
Max Begovich turned in the Thunder’s top performance finishing runner-up in the 197 weight class going 3-1. Begovich won all three of his matches by pin fall, with his fastest coming at just 1:19 in the first round. In the finals, Begovich fell to Olivet’s Andrew Simpson 3-1.
In the same class, Mack Green (Buchanan, Mich./Buchanan), a freshman, picked up a fourth place finish. Green went 4-2 on the day picking up a pin over Alma and a major decision over Olivet. Green fell in the third place match to Wabash by a score of 4-2.
At 149 pounds, junior Forrest Romer (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) finished third going 3-1 on the day. Romer picked up his first by pin fall with nine seconds left in the opening period. Romer fell in his next match before winning the final two by decision.
In the heavyweight division, sophomore James West (Berne, Ind./South Adams) took home a fourth place finish with a record of 4-2. West won his first match by pin fall before falling 6-2 in the quarterfinals. West won his next two matches by pin fall followed by a 6-3 decision.
Freshman Brandon Preston (Logansport, Ind./Logansport) finished fifth at 125 pounds with a 3-2 record. Preston won the first match of the day in convincing fashion with a 17-9 major decision. Preston picked up an 11-6 decision before winning the fifth place match by pin fall at 3:28.
At 141 pounds, junior Nick Odom (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central ) picked up the second fastest pin of the tournament in his opening match taking down his opponent in just 27 seconds. Odom won his next match also by pin fall before falling in overtime. Odom was hurt in following match, forcing him to bow out of the tournament early.
Sophomore Shane Hendrickson (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial) also picked up a win in the tournament, pinning his opponent at 2:28 in the first round.
Begovich and West shared the title of the most pins in the least amount of time as both wrestlers picked up three pins in combined time of 5:25. As a team, the Thunder picked up the second most pins, 12, just one behind Alma.
The NCAA Regional meet will be held at Case Western on February 25 beginning at 9:00 a.m.