From Alma College athletic department
In front of a ruckus crowd inside the Art Smith Arena, the No. 14 Alma College Wrestling team welcomed program rival No. 24 Olivet College to campus for a match recently. The Scots jumped out to an early 9-0 lead before the Comets would battle back to tie the score at 10-10 with just four bouts remaining. Led by No. 5 Sr. Matt Tuttle (Reading/Reading) and No. 8 Jr.Jamie Jakes (Dearborn/Divine Child), Alma would end the match on a 19-0 run to close out Olivet 29-10 in a battle of nationally-ranked opponents.
The Comets struck first on Thursday night, jumping out to a 3-0 lead after earning a decision at 184.
Sr. Jared Groeneveld (Allendale/Allendale) would quickly respond at 197, earning a 5-1 decision to tie the match up at 3-3.
At heavyweight, Jr. Trevor Maresh (Northville/Northville) would get a huge 9-1 major decision to earn four points and give Alma its first lead of the match at 7-3.
Sr. Tyler Foley (New Hudson/South Lyon East) earned the Scots three points at 125, before the Comets would put three points on the board to head into intermission with the score 10-6 in favor of Alma.
Following intermission, Olivet would earn a major decision to knot the score up at 10-10 with four bouts remaining.
Sr. James Carey (Ithaca/Ithaca) would set the Scots run in motion at 149, earning the 4-2 decision to give Alma the lead back at 13-10.
At 157, Jr. Shawn Brewer (New Boston/Huron) kept the Scots momentum rolling with a dominant 9-1 major decision to extend the Alma advantage to 17-10 with two bouts remaining.
With the victory hanging in the balance, the Scots turned to their two ranked wrestlers to close the deal inside the Art Smith Arena.
At 165, Tuttle showed why he is considered one of the best in the country, claiming an impressive victory by pin to put the Scots up 23-17.
With the fans at a fever pitch, Jakes stepped on the mat expecting to take on the No. 6 wrestler at 174, only to find out that the Comets subbed him out at the last minute. Undaunted, Jakes took to the mat and closed out Olivet in style, pinning his opponent to give the Scots the 29-10 victory at home.