ANGOLA, Ind. – Due to COVID-19, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) decided to put all the remaining MIAA duals into one day. On Sunday, the Adrian College men's wrestling team competed against Trine University, Olivet College, and Alma College.
The Bulldogs started the game against Trine and came away with a 38-6 victory. Zach Phifer won by major decision to open the scoring followed by a 12-8 decision win from
Tanner Smith and a 11-2 major decision win from
Zachary Platte.
Landyn VanWyk won by decision at 149, and
Michael Pizzo won by fall at 157 to put Adrian up 20-0.
Zach Altman recorded a pin at 165 followed by a win by decision from
Blake Williams, a fall from
Dylan Wellbaum, and a win by decision from
Isaiah Espinoza to lock up the win.
The Bulldogs went on to face Olivet in the next dual and lost 25-18. Adrian led 9-0 after a win by forfeit at 125 followed by a 5-4 decision win from Smith at 133. The next Adrian win came at 149 with a win from VanWyk to put Adrian up 12-4. Olivet came back to take the lead at 19-12, but Wellbaum picked up a win by fall to put the Bulldogs down one. Adrian couldn't pull it off as Olivet won at 285 to come away with the win.
The final dual of the day for Adrian came against Alma where the Bulldogs blew out the Scots, 37-12. Phifer won by fall at 125 to open the scoring, but Alma was quick to tie. Platte won by decision to retake the lead at 141, and VanWyk followed it up with a 13-3 major decision win. Altman added a decision win at 165 while
Trent Rector recorded a win at 174. Adrian went on to win the last three bouts by forfeit to finish the day.
The Bulldogs finished the year 3-1 in MIAA play. Adrian defeated Albion College earlier in the season before the MIAA announced the new scheduled format.
The Bulldogs next time on the mats will be at the Merillat Sport and Fitness Center as Adrian will be the host of the NCAA DIII Central Regional on February 25-26. The Bulldogs finished the year with an 11-9 record with all nine losses coming against Nationally ranked opponents.
