by Paige Ross, Sports Information Student Assistant

Angola, Ind. — The Alma College wrestling team won its season-opening contest on Saturday (Nov. 5), defeating host Trine University by a 26-17 margin.

The Scots dominated the meet, starting with a pin in the first match and scoring multiple regular decisions and major decisions throughout the meet in front of a crowd of nearly 100 people.

Brendan Ladd (Ortonville, Mich./Brandon) made his collegiate debut at 125 pounds, scoring the first take down of the match and holding on to defeat Brenden Stevens with a pin at 6:42 of the third period.

Alma forfeited for the 133-pound weight class allowing Trine to tie the score up at 6-6.

In the 141-pound match, Jeffery Helm (Trine) got the ride time advantage to score a major decision of 10-2 over sophomore Travis DeRossett (Gibraltar, Mich./Gibraltar).

Trine scored in the 149-pound match when Caleb Maddox posted a 13-0 major decision over senior Anthony Lesko (Tecumseh, Mich./Tecumseh) before sophomore Jared Fleming (Williamston, Mich./Williamston) answered for Alma at 157 pounds when he scored an 8-4 decision over Nick Miller.

For the 165-pound match, freshman Mitch Franklin (Clio, MI/Birch Run) took the forfeit that put Alma in the lead, 15-14.

Junior Taylor McPhail (Muskegon, MI/Mona Shores) put the Scots up 19-14 when he scored an 11-2 major decision in the 174-pound match against Trevor Allbert.

Division III honorable mention Trent Hullett (Jackson, MI/Parma Western) took the 184-pound bout over Austin Farrell with a 16-2 major decision. He gained eight points in the second period and continued his momentum into the final period, tallying two points on a take down, four back points and the ride time advantage point.

In the 197-pound bout, JayCee Jensen won for Trine with the decision of 8-4 by only allowing Chance Smith (Hamilton,MI/Hamilton) to gain four escape points.

For the final match of the day, freshman Aaron Kelley (Byron, Mich./Bryon) had his collegiate debut with a 5-4 decision against Joe Stasiak at 285 pounds.

The Scots take the mat again on Saturday, Nov. 12, when they travel to Arkadelphia, Ark., to participate in the Hatcher Duals.

Results

125 - Brendan Ladd (Alma) pinned Brenden Stevens, 6:42 (Alma 6, Trine 6)

133 - Drew Clark (Trine) forfeit (Alma 6, Trine 6) 141 - Jeffery Helm (Trine) major dec. Travis DeRossett, 10-2 (Alma 6, Trine 10)

149 - Caleb Maddox (Trine) major dec. Anthony Lesko, 13-0 (Alma 6, Trine 14)

157 - Jared Fleming (Alma) dec. Nick Miller, 4-8 (Alma 9, Trine 14)

165 - Mitch Franklin (Alma) forfeit (Alma 15, Trine 14)

174 - Taylor McPhail (Alma) major dec. Trevor Allbert, 11-2 (Alma 19, Trine 14)

184 - Trent Hullett (Alma) major dec. Austin Farrell, 16-2 (Alma 23, Trine 14)

197 - JayCee Jensen (Trine) dec. Chance Smith, 8-4 (Alma 23, Trine 17)

285 - Aaron Kelley (Alma) dec. Joe Stasiak, 5-3 (Alma 26, Trine 17)

Quotes

Head Coach Jeremiah Tobias

On the meet...

"Overall I thought we wrestled fairly well for the first dual meet of the year. The guys wrestled tough and hard for seven minutes which is what I was looking for and am glad to see. This gives us a place to start for the year as we are looking to continue to develop and improve through out the season. We have a young lineup this year and for a majority of the guys that are in the lineup it is their first year varsity wrestling so I'm excited to see them go out and perform and see what they need to work on to grow individually and as a team. It is going to be a good year."

On gaining the first win of his head coaching career...

"It feels really good to start the season with a win. I'm excited, this is just the beginning."