The 2003-04 wrestling season got underway on Saturday for the Wabash team. The Little Giants competed in the Olivet Duals, finishing the weekend with wins over Rose-Hulman and Bethel.
The Little Giants opened the day with a 30-12 loss against Lycoming. Freshman Garrett Pino (Indianapolis, IN/Lawrence North) won his first match in a Wabash uniform, defeating Lycoming’s John Ambs 16-11 at 141 pounds. Wabash 165-pounder Kevin Meyer (SO/Columbus, IN/Columbus North) was a 5-2 winner over Clint Swartz.
All-American Chris Healy (JR/Jasper, IN/Jasper) earned his first win of the season, defeating Eric Miller 4-2 at 174 pounds. Senior Marcus Ellison (Indianapolis, IN/Warren Central), out for wrestling for the first time after working as an volunteer assistant coach at Crawfordsville High School, won his match at heavyweight, defeating Al Fluman 10-6.
The Little Giants beat Rose-Hulman 31-19 in the second match of the day. Reece Collins (SR/Princeton, IN/Princeton) pinned Rose’s Christian Gage in the 133-pound match after Wabash wrestler Tim Hunt (SO/Munster, IN/Munster) earned a forfeit at 125 pounds to take an early 12-0 lead. Pino added an 11-9 win at 149 pounds, followed by a win by pin by junior Adam Miller (Pendleton, IN/Pendleton Heights) at 157 pounds. Danny Creasap (JR/Indianapolis, IN/Lawrence Central) pinned Mark Tappendorf 2:29 into their match at 165 pounds. Healy won easily against Collin Wyse, taking a 19-7 victory to give Wabash the team win.
SUNY-Cortland defeated the Little Giants 26-9 in the third set of duals. Healy and Ellison were the only individual winners for Wabash. Healy claimed an 8-1 victory over Billy Sisley, while Ellison equaled that performance with an 8-1 in against Joe Congero.
Wabash dropped a hard-fought 23-19 decision against the host Olivet Comets. The Little Giants picked up a win at 157 pounds with a 9-3 victory by Miller over Mike Daubenmeyer. Meyer and Healy captured wins at 165 and 174 pounds. Freshman Keith Garrard (New Castle, IN/New Castle) took a 16-11 victory at 184 pounds over Jeff Wright for his first win as a Wabash wrestler. Ellison picked up his first career pin 2:59 into his match at heavyweight against Ryan Morris.
The Little Giants finished the day on a high note against Bethel College of Indiana, winning 25-20. Miller worked his way to a pin at 2:11 against Tim Cocanower at 157 pounds. Meyer won an 8-4 decision at 165 pounds.
Healy finished the weekend with a perfect 5-0 record after pinning Brian Hravboski 2:36 seconds into their 174-pound match. Garrard and Ellison completed the victory string for the Little Giants. Garrard won 14-6 against Cameron Morrow. Ellison pinned Zach Pierson at 5:42.