Local Sports Journal
For the second week in a row, the Muskegon Community College Jayhawk wrestling squad was the only junior college in the house at Olivet. This week, however, the overmatched Jayhawks battled the best the opposing team could put on the mat in dual meets instead of a tournament format.
MCC finished 1-2, but it was not a day Coach Mark Brunger would hold his head down about.
“When Coach Brissette (Olivet head coach) emailed me a month ago asking who we wanted to wrestle my response was simple, we’ll wrestle anyone,” said Brunger. “We are very talented, but really young. In order to learn, we need to be exposed for our mistakes against more seasoned juniors and seniors.”
The No. 19 ranked Jayhawks wrestled Olivet in round one and lost 31-9 winning just two matches in the contest. In the second round, MCC faced Trine University and won all nine contests including an exciting first period pin by 133 pounder Zack Cooper (Freshman/Whitehall) over Trine University Junior Brandon Preston who is ranked No. 8 at 133 pounds in Div. III.
In its last round, MCC dropped a tough dual against No. 11 ranked (NAIA) Indiana Tech by a score of 24-12.
“Against Indiana Tech, we had many opportunities to win matches that could have turned the tide,” said Brunger. “We really got better as the day went on and we learned a lot. We will be improved and ready when we get back on that mat at Niagara,” Brunger added.
Zack Cooper remained unbeaten on the season, stretching his record to 13-0. Other wrestlers with winning records on the day were 165-pound Lukas Gilmore (Freshman/Greenville), 184 Mason Courtright (Freshman/Shelby), 197 Donavan Fouchey (Freshman/Oscoda) and 285 Shawn Chamberlain (Sophomore/Dexter) who were all 2-1 on the day.
MCC resluts:
Olivet College 31 Muskegon CC 9
125 Kyle Gilles (OC) Won by Decision Devane Dodgens (MCC) 9-3
133 Zachary Cooper (MCC) Won by Fall Damian Johnson (OC) 1:48
141 Justin Holm (OC) Won by Forfeit —
149 Gage Peterson (OC) Won by Maj.Decision Elvis Peacock (MCC) 15-5
157 Kyle Witgen (OC) Won by Maj.Decision Jason Peacock (MCC) 18-5
165 Lukas Gilmore (MCC) Won by Decision Eddie Nuttall (OC) 9-4
174 Nick Allen (OC) Won by Maj.Decision Joe Sika (MCC) 12-2
184 Jeff Holm (OC) Won by Decision Steven Malloy (MCC) 5-1
197 Andrew Simpson (OC) Won by Decision Donavan Fouchey (MCC) 4-0
285 Ryan Steverson (OC) Won by Decision Shawn Chamberlain (MCC) 3-2
Muskegon CC 39 Trine 6
125 Devane Dodgens (MCC) Won by Decision Matt Frane (TU) 11-7
133 Zachary Cooper (MCC) Won by Fall Brandon Preston (TU) 2:09
141 Levi Grabor (TU) Won by Forfeit —
149 Elvis Peacock (MCC) Won by Fall Adam Bolles (TU) 1:59
157 Jason Peacock (MCC) Won by Forfeit —
165 Lukas Gilmore (MCC) Won by Fall Isaiah Hill (TU) 4:11
174 Joe Sika (MCC) Won by Forfeit —
184 Steven Malloy (MCC) Won by Decision Shane Henrickson (TU) 3-2
197 Donavan Fouchey (MCC) Won by Decision Mike Conner (TU) 7-4
285 Shawn Chamberlain Won by Fall Matt Beard (TU) :46
Indiana Tech 25 Muskegon CC 12
125 Kris McKinley (ITU) Won by Decision 2OT Devane Dodgens (MCC) 4-2
133 Zachary Cooper (MCC) Won by Decision Mitch Pawlak (ITU) 4-1
141 Travis Barroquill (ITU) Won by Forfeit —
149 Adam Fahs (ITU) Won by Decision Elvis Peacock (MCC) 7-0
157 Chase Hack (ITU) Won by Decision Jason Peacock (MCC) 7-5
165 KaFuba Donzon (ITU) Won by Decision Lukas Gilmore (MCC) 7-3
174 Darryl Grayson (ITU) Won by Maj.Decision Joe Sika (MCC) 11-3
184 Taylor DeLong (ITU) Won by Decision Mason Courtright (MCC) 9-6
197 Donavan Fouchey (MCC) Won by Decision Brandon Sunday (ITU) 3-2
285 Shawn Chamberlain (MCC) Won by Fall Andre Dunn (ITU) :26
Exhibition Matches
184 Mason Courtright (MCC) Won by Fall Collin Rankin (Alma) 2:41
197 Nick Fruits (Trine) Won by Fall Myron Hosey (MCC) 5:48
184 Mason Courtight (MCC) Won by Maj.Decision Durtham Basso (Alma) 16-7
197 Myron Hosey (MCC) Won by Decision Dalton Smallwood (Olivet) 4-2