Lakeland College

Muskies Take Second at MSOE Invite

Athletics - posted on 12/3/2005

The Lakeland Muskies wrestling team took second place, with 88 points, out of eight teams at the MSOE invitational on Saturday, Dec. 3. The Muskies had two wrestlers win the championship at their weight class in senior Lee Sparks (197) and sophomore Calvin O'Neal (174).

"We were in third place the whole day until the last round when the guys turned it around," said head coach Pete Rogers. "They just stepped it up another level. We had five who took third and two that took fourth. We also had two champions."

O'Neal was the number two seed in the 174 weight class. In the first round O'Neal wrestled against Danny Houck from Wheaton and walked away with a 17-5 decision. He won his next three matches to capture the championship with a 7-4 victory over the number one seed Justin Seichter of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

"O'Neal had some tough guys in his bracket," said Rogers. "He came through to win a couple tough matches. He is still undefeated at 9-0 right now and he is continuing to do well."

Sparks won three straight matches on his way to the championship in the 197 weight class. The number one seed defeated Derek Knobeloch of Knoxville 18-8 and recorded pins over Eric Dardanes of Lawrence and Tucker Surbrook of Olivet, the eventual champions of the entire event.

"Lee Sparks had an awesome day," said Rogers. "He won a major decision in his first match and pinned his next two opponents to finish in first on the day. By doing so he was able to raise his record to 4-1 on the season."

The Muskies had five wrestlers take third place in freshmen David Copp (125), Casey Klister (133), Chris Klister (141) Mitch Nooyen (157) and sophomore Paul Hartt (184).

The Muskies will be back in action on Dec. 6 as they take on Northland Baptist and conference foe Maranatha Baptist at 7 p.m. at the Wehr Center.

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