Muskegon, Mich. - The Alma College wrestling team opened the 2017-18 campaign on Saturday (Nov. 4), participating in the Ben McMullen Open at Muskegon Community College.
Senior Taylor McPhail (Muskegon, Mich./Mona Shores) was the top finisher for the Scots, winning the 197-pound bracket. Sophomore Brendan Ladd (Ortonville, Mich./Brandon) was also a finalist, falling in the championship round of the 141-pound bout.
No team scores were kept at the event.
How It Happened
- At 133 pounds, senior Aaron Parr-Besemer (Berkely, Mich./Berkley) won his first match before falling in his first consolation match. He was eliminated by freshman Chase Beecher (Clio, Mich./Clio). Beecher won three matches at 133 before falling in the fifth round of wrestle backs.
- Alma has three wrestlers in the 141-pound bracket. Freshmen Blair Boerkoel (Birmingham, Mich./Seaholm) and Mason Preist (Grandville, Mich./Grandville) both fell in both of their matches, while Ladd scored a fall and major decision en route to the championship match, where he was defeated by Lincoln Community College's Christian Kanzler, 6-2.
- At 149 pounds, freshman Jacob Smith (New Bern, N.C./New Bern) won two matches in the consolation bracket before he was eliminated my Muskegon Community College's Dren Bratrum.
- In the 157-pound flight, freshman Zachary Jandereski (Bad Axe, Mich./Bad Axe) fell in his two matches.
- The Scots had three entries in the 165-pound bracket, with freshman Eric Arnegard (Waterford, Mich./Mott) advancing the farthest. Freshman Gus Richter (Durand, Mich./Durand) was eliminated after his first two matches, while freshman Richie Scroggins (Houston, Texas/Bellaire) lost his first match and was sent out by Arnegard. Arnegard made it to the third round of wrestle backs before suffering a fall to Rion May of Macomb Community College.
- At 184 pounds, senior Jeff Kline (Mt. Morris, Mich./Elisabeth Ann Johnson) made it to the semifinals, but suffered a major decision loss to Olivet College's Ryan Clark before being pinned by Triton College's Logan Millizer in the consolation semifinal.
- Taylor McPhail's victory in the 197-pound bracket came after McPhail scored a fall over Olivet's Raden Holmes and then a 21-6 technical fall over Lincoln Community College's Logan Winter. In the championship match, McPhail was awarded the victory after Joliet Junior College's Rodsean Graham defaulted due to injury.
- In the 285-pound matches, freshman Austin Popp (Clinton, Mich./Clinton) went 1-2 in his three matches.
Up Next
The Scots will travel to Angola, Ind., on Saturday, Nov. 11, to take part in the Trine Invitational. The event is scheduled for a 10 a.m. start.
Results
Ben McMullen Open Results for Alma College
133 - Aaron Parr-Besemer
133 - Chase Beecher
- Champ. Round 1 - Chase Beecher (Alma College) received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 - Vinny Piunti (Joliet Junior College) won by fall over Chase Beecher (Alma College) (Fall 0:44)
- Cons. Round 2 - Chase Beecher (Alma College) won by tech fall over Aaron Parr-Besemer (Alma College) (TF 18-1)
- Cons. Round 3 - Chase Beecher (Alma College) won by decision over Dennis Rayford (Olivet College) (Dec 7-1)
- Cons. Round 4 - Chase Beecher (Alma College) won by medical forfeit over Lane Litwiller (Lincoln Community College) (MFF)
- Cons. Round 5 - Freddy Eckles (Niagara County Community College) won by decision over Chase Beecher (Alma College) (Dec 8-2)
College 141 - Blair Boerkoel
- Champ. Round 1 - Palidin Martinez (Lincoln Community College) won by fall over Blair Boerkoel (Alma College) (Fall 1:12)
- Cons. Round 1 - Blair Boerkoel (Alma College) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 - Andre Bourlier (Olivet College) won by tech fall over Blair Boerkoel (Alma College) (TF 16-0)
College 141 - Mason Priest
- Champ. Round 1 - Nick Pipes (Macomb Community College) won by decision over Mason Priest (Alma College) (Dec 5-2)
- Cons. Round 1 - Antwone Johnson (Lincoln Community College) won by decision over Mason Priest (Alma College) (Dec 5-3)
College 141 - Brendan Ladd
- Champ. Round 1 - Brendan Ladd (Alma College) received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 - Brendan Ladd (Alma College) won by decision over Stephan Bastien (Lincoln Community College) (Dec 13-6)
- Quarterfinal - Brendan Ladd (Alma College) won by fall over Andy Hansen (Davenport University ) (Fall 1:11)
- Semifinal - Brendan Ladd (Alma College) won by major decision over Nick Pipes (Macomb Community College) (Maj 13-3)
- 1st Place Match - Christian Kanzler (Lincoln Community College) won by decision over Brendan Ladd (Alma College) (Dec 6-2)
149 - Jacob Smith
- Champ. Round 1 - Jacob Smith (Alma College) received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 - Kaydon Newton (Unattached) won by tech fall over Jacob Smith (Alma College) (TF 20-5)
- Cons. Round 2 - Jacob Smith (Alma College) won by decision over Michael LoBianco (Triton College) (Dec 7-4)
- Cons. Round 3 - Jacob Smith (Alma College) won by decision over Collin Richey-Bilyeu (Muskegon Community College) (Dec 8-6)
- Cons. Round 4 - Dren Bratrum (Muskegon Community College) won by fall over Jacob Smith (Alma College) (Fall 1:35)
157 - Zachary Jandereski
- Champ. Round 1 - Joshua Cooper (Ancilla Community College) won by decision over Zachary Jandereski (Alma College) (Dec 10-4)
- Cons. Round 1 - Zachary Jandereski (Alma College) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 - Andrew Bonner (Joliet Junior College) won by fall over Zachary Jandereski (Alma College) (Fall 4:31)
165 - Gus Richter
- Champ. Round 1 - Grayson Richter (Alma College) received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 - Eric Dobbins (Triton College) won by major decision over Grayson Richter (Alma College) (Maj 13-1)
- Cons. Round 2 - Blake Ross (Muskegon Community College) won by fall over Grayson Richter (Alma College) (Fall 1:14)
165 - Richie Scroggins
- Champ. Round 1 - Dylan Briggs (Olivet College) won by tech fall over Richard Scroggins (Alma College) (TF 18-1)
- Cons. Round 1 - Richard Scroggins (Alma College) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 - Erik Arnegard (Alma College) won by fall over Richard Scroggins (Alma College) (Fall 2:01)
165 - Erik Arnegard
- Champ. Round 1 - Erik Arnegard (Alma College) received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 - Jaelen Jean (Niagara County Community College) won by tech fall over Erik Arnegard (Alma College) (TF 19-4)
- Cons. Round 2 - Erik Arnegard (Alma College) won by fall over Richard Scroggins (Alma College) (Fall 2:01)
- Cons. Round 3 - Rion May (Macomb Community College) won by fall over Erik Arnegard (Alma College) (Fall 6:54)
184 - Jeff Kline
- Champ. Round 1 - Jeffrey Kline (Alma College) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal - Jeffrey Kline (Alma College) won by fall over Daniel Burnley (Lincoln Community College) (Fall 6:08)
- Semifinal - Ryan Clark (Olivet College) won by major decision over Jeffrey Kline (Alma College) (Maj 14-4)
- Cons. Semi - Logan Millizer (Triton College) won by fall over Jeffrey Kline (Alma College) (Fall 1:36)
197 - Taylor McPhail
- Champ. Round 1 - Taylor McPhail (Alma College) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal - Taylor McPhail (Alma College) won by fall over Raden Holmes (Olivet College) (Fall 0:31)
- Semifinal - Taylor McPhail (Alma College) won by tech fall over Logan Winter (Lincoln Community College) (TF 21-6)
- 1st Place Match - Taylor McPhail (Alma College) won by injury default over Rodsean Graham (Joliet Junior College) (Inj. 3:00)
285 - Austin Popp
- Champ. Round 1 - David Carnie (Niagara County Community College) won by major decision over Austin Popp (Alma College) (Maj 12-3)
- Cons. Round 1 - Austin Popp (Alma College) won by decision over Sean Brinkman (Joliet Junior College) (Dec 5-3)
- Cons. Round 2 - Trevor Piggott (Olivet College) won by decision over Austin Popp (Alma College) (Dec 9-5)
