MUSKEGON, Mich. – The Alma College men's wrestling team opened up their season on Saturday, November 2nd, at Muskegon Community College for the Ben McMullen Open. The Scots had six wrestlers in the competition place top five in the respective weight division, with three placing in the top three.
In the 125 division, Tyler Demory received a first-round bye before dropping his first match of the season. Demory then rebounded with a win by fall over Keenan Pake of Mott Community College in 1:25. Demory then added his second win of the season with a win by major decision over Jimmy Thommen of Muskegon Community College, 13-4, sending him to the third-place match. Demory then continued his streak and won by decision over Ayden Downing from Niagara Community College to claim third place in the 125 class.
Another top five finisher for the Scots was Dominic Megdanoff nin the 133 division. Megdanoff also dropped his first bout of the day, but quickly would change the momentum. Megdanoff would win his first match in the consolation bracket over Daron Kephart from Niagara CC by fall in 1:14. Megdanoff then won his next match over his teammate Colton Kennedy, also by fall in 2:55. Megdanoff's day would come to a close in the third-place match as he would be defeated in a close match by decision, 4-1, placing fourth on the day.
Another Scots wrestler placing in the top five was Rodrick Love, who came in fourth in the 174 division. Love started out his day with a win by major decision over Peter Pena from the Michigan State Club team, 10-0. Love then was defeated in his next match by decision before adding another tally in the win column with a win by fall in 13 seconds over Jahidur Chowdhurry from the MSU club team as well. Love then collected another win, this time by decision over Trevor Streeter of Muskegon CC, 8-5. In the consolation semi-final match, Love again added another win by fall over Caius Harbridge at 5:30. Love would ultimately drop the third-place match to finish fourth for the tournament.
In the 184 division, Luke Martin claimed a third-place finish for the Scots. Martin kicked off his tournament with a win by fall over Mattheos Mitropetros from the MSU Club team in 3:29. Martin then dropped his next match, setting him up in the consolation semi-finals. In the semi-final match, Martin added another victory by fall over Berk Boyer from the MSU Club team in 1:51. Martin then rounded out the tournament with a win by tech fall in the third-place match over Isaiah Brown from The University of Olivet.
Doug Morris was Alma's final fourth-place finisher as he claimed the honors in the 197 division. Morris received a bye in the opening round and was then defeated in his second-round match. In the consolation semi-final match, Morris scored a victory in a tight match by decision over Andrew Baldwin of Muskegon CC by a score of 4-3. In the third-place match, Morris was defeated placing him fourth for the opening tournament of the season.
In the 285 division, Brody Miskimon claimed Alma's final third place finish for the day on the opening weekend. In Miskimon's first match of the day, he kicked off the season with a win by fall over Dennis Weston of Marian University in 1:53. Miskimon would drop bis only match of the day in the semi-final match sending him to the consolation bracket. In the consolation semi-finals, Miskimon scored another victory by fall over Ryan Suender from the Western Michigan University Club team in 1:06. In the third-place bout, Miskimon tallied another victory by fall over Jason Smith from the Grand Valley State University Club team, this time in just thirty seconds, in his final match of the day.
Other Scots claiming victories on the day included freshman Colton Kennedy and Vincent Provo, who recorded their first collegiate victories in a Scots uniform. Carter Melonio also picked up a win in the tournament along with Calvin Huggler, who picked up two for the day.
Alma will return to the mats a week later as they will travel to Angola, Indiana to take place in the Trine Invitational, hosted by Trine University. Matches will begin at 9:30 AM.
