On Friday evening, the Alma College wrestling team hosted Trine University in a dual match at Art Smith Arena and were victorious over the Thunder by a score of 40-9.
The night was a special one as the Scots honored the only senior on the 2013-14 team - Matt Tuttle (Reading/Reading). He has made especially strong contributions to the new era of Alma College Wrestling. Matt, the son of Larry Tuttle and Leslie Keeling of Reading, will graduate from Alma College with a degree in Integrated Physiology. He plans on pursuing a career in chiropractic care.
Tonight, Matt was rested from his varsity spot due to a minor injury that needs to heal for the last portion of the season.
The Scots opened up with a forfeit victory that gave Fr. Victor Sosa (Wilmington, N.C./Eugene Ashley) the win at 125 pounds. Up next for the Scots was Jr. Casimer Strzynski (Ludington/Ludington) who won on a technical fall, 18-3. At 149 pounds, Fr. Cody Sullivan (Camden, NY/Camden) pinned Trine's Adam Boles for a victory.
Following a forfeit win for the Scots at 157 pounds, Alma took a 23-3 lead into the 165-pound weight class. So. Caleb Huff (Sturgis/Sturgis) then earned a 9-1 major decision victory at that weight class over the Thunder's Isiah Hill. At 174 pounds, Scots So. Jamie Jakes (Dearborn/Divine Child) scored a 18-3 tech fall victory to put the home team up 32-3.
The most entertaining match of the evening happened at 184 pounds where Alma Jr. Jared Groeneveld (Allendale/Allendale) won a 4-3 decision over Trine's Joe Stasiak. That win gave the Scots a commanding 35-3 lead heading into the final two bouts.
The 197-pound match saw the Scots' So. Trevor Maresh (Northville/Northville) win on a 15-0 technical fall. The final bout of the day was between Alma Fr. Jacob Lonergan (St. Louis/St. Louis) and Trine's Mack Green at 285 pounds. The Thunder ended the competition with a pin victory, but Alma won the overall match by a final score of 40-9.
Up next for Alma are the Mid-States Championships hosted by Wabash College on February 15. The competition is scheduld to begin at 9:00 a.m.
