Olivet Wrestlers Open Season Winning Three Of Four

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Scott Hirko (Olivet Sports Info.)
11/12/2000


Olivet, Mich.  The Olivet College wrestling team (3-1 overall) opened its 2000-2001 campaign by winning three of four duals at Knox College(Ill.) on Saturday (Nov. 11).     The Fighting Comets dropped a thrilling 16-15 dual to 16th-ranked Upper Iowa. Both teams won five matches each and a major decision (worth four points) determined the outcome. It was the first time the Iowans defeated the Comets in five years.  After the loss, the Comets reeled off wins against Illinois College, 48-9, Missouri Baptist, 43-3, and scored a rare shutout over MacMurray (Ill.), 45-0.    Twenty wrestlers saw some wrestling, with senior John McCurdy (Milford, Mich./Milford) at 125-lbs and junior Dorian Cast (Southfield, Mich./Groves) at 133-lbs winning all four of their outings.  Seniors Scott Campbell (Marlette,  Mich./Marlette) at 141-lbs and Dan Gonzales (Redford Township, Mich./Union) at 174-lbs each were 3-0, while freshmen Dan White (Battle Creek, Mich./Central) at 184-lbs and Jake Slater (Davisburg, Mich./St. Mary's Orchard Lake) at 197-lbs were 2-0. White had the fastest  Comet pin in the duals in :58 seconds.     Of note, senior Dustin Cichocki (Fenton, Mich./Bay City Western) at 165-lbs had three power-packed opponents and defeated two of them, finishing the duals with a 3-1 record.       "For an opener of four matches, I felt we did a fairly good job," said head coach Jare Klein, a member of the NCAA Hall of Fame who is in his 33rd year at Olivet.  "I was pleased with the comeback attitude our athletesdisplayed.  Our total conditioning is a bit suspect.  We need to fine tune our techniques and executiion to make things more effective for a successful season."