Wrestling Intersquad Season Opener

OLIVET, Mich. — The University of Olivet wrestling team, known to most by OWC (The Olivet Wrestling College) opened its season with the annual Red vs. White Intersquad Meet on Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25. This tradition gives coaches an early look at their roster before official competition begins. The meet takes place over two days and serves as both an evaluation of the team and how they will be fitting together for the season ahead. On Friday, every able-bodied wrestler steps onto the mat for preliminary matches to earn positioning and show how ready they are to battle. Then, on Saturday, the coaching staff organizes the more decisive matches. These pairings are based on Friday’s results as well as last season's standings and give coaches a clearer understanding of how wrestlers might fall into the lineup for upcoming meets. For the event the OWC family got to bring back old faces, introduce new ones to the team and display what each wrestler has been working on in the off season. But with the respect for their brotherhood, and a willingness to demonstrate their abilities, the excitement of the intersquad battle can mean different things for wrestlers.

Saturday’s decision matches featured bouts across ten weight classes, with several competitive and close contests that highlighted both returning veterans and new faces. At 125 lbs., junior Sam Schrieber defeated Jayden Barnes, while Trenden Bashore earned a win over Ke’daiz Dean at 133 lbs. In the 141 lbs. match, Josh Graybeal bested Kaydn Young, and at 149 lbs., Gabriel Gibbons came out on top against Aden Baynes.

The middleweight matchups saw Darren McLeod defeat Noah Hall at 157 lbs., followed by Julian Terranova’s victory over Noah Nichols at 165 lbs. Kyan Larson took the win over Othniel Honablue in the 174 lbs. class, and Jack Ward defeated Andrew White at 184 lbs. At 197 lbs., Gideon Loewen beat Steven Andreone, while the final heavyweight bout featured Mason Knight winning over Shane Edwards at 285 lbs.

Junior Mason Knight from North Branch High School, wrestling in the heavy weight division with his 29 MIAA wins, said, “It kind of shows the coaches how the depth chart is going to look for the different weight classes.” He said, “While the placements aren’t definite, the standings let coaches get a feel for how the team will look in our future meets.”

Senior Darren McLeod, from North Branch High School, who wrestles the 157-weight class with 60 MIAA wins, echoed those thoughts. He said, “It’s kind of a simulation for the coaches. They get to see the incoming freshmen wrestle in a meet format for the first time, and they will be able to get sort of an understanding for how our future meets might pan out.”

Head Coach Brandon Brissette said, “It just shows us where we’re at currently. Obviously, we see who put good work in in the off season. It gives us a guide for what technique the guys are picking up so that we can Taylor our teaching.” He said, “You can never be content right now.” in regard to the progress the team has made. “There is just so much to work on with such a young group because, it's not like we have many returners that have competed for us in the big matches.”

Junior Sam Schrieber who has seven MIAA wins in limited time due to injuries, out of Anchor Bay High School, who wrestles at 125 said, "Everyone's win out there didn’t truly mean much in the sense of the season. We know that anything can happen throughout the season.” He said, “It was mostly to get an understanding for what kind of work guys have been doing, who can make weight and who can’t, who is healthy enough and who isn’t.”

It is clear from the student-athletes’ point of view that the Intersquad Meet has an unusual emotional balance between proving your worth to the team and making their first match of the season fun. It’s a competitive arena and can at times be a personal staple depending on the wrestler. Each match pits teammates against one another to show what they have worked on in the off season, forcing them to compete intensely while also trying to maintain respect and their known camaraderie.

McLeod said, “all kind of eerie.” He said, “Nobody really wants to beat their friend. But in the end, we all know what we are fighting for. You want to prove to everyone there that you deserve to wrestle for our team in that spot.”

Knight also shared similar thoughts, noting how the energy on and around the mat differs from a typical meet.

Knight said, “It’s much different than any of our other meets. There’s not an opponent section to cheer against you. So, it’s essentially silent, which is really kind of uncomfortable.”

With the meet carrying a different weight for each member of the team, the idea of the meet is not to add tension to the team’s bond but to strengthen. Things like returning alumni, family and new faces all tie together a lighthearted experience.

Brissette said, “My favorite part this year was the alumni that got to come and coach the kids. That way we as coaches can sit back and really just watch and get a good feel for the athletes. But of course, getting to meet the families and introduce the team and my coaches is always nice.”

While the meet is an overall evaluation for the coaches, it is safe to say that the wins and losses have a personal meaning for some of the wrestlers. For McLeod, his victory was especially significant. After missing his entire junior season due to a shoulder injury, he entered the meet determined to prove that he was ready to return.

McLeod said, “I was really looking forward to proving myself again,” He added, “Because I feel like with the injury, and not being able to showcase my ability last year, I had to come out and show my value to the team.”

Schreiber’s win, while he expresses that the result of each win is indefinite, carried weight for him as well.

Schriber said, “The win kind of meant a little more than I think it should have. Just because I’ve been out and injured all last season, the win let me have a lot more confidence in my style of wrestling.”

Brissette said, “The one thing about the wrestle offs, they are a part of the training regimen. Some of the guys were just ready to rock at their usual weight class. Other guys who haven't wrestled for the team yet, they got that simulation in. But it’s just a training tool too.” He said, “Instead of throwing a guy freshly recovered from a prior injury out there for a real meet, they would still be able to get to wrestle in the beginning of the season. To get that match feel and for us to see how they look.”

Looking ahead, McLeod said he’s excited to prove doubters wrong after the team graduated eight of its ten senior's last season.

“On paper we look ‘too young,’ some could say,” McLeod said. “Some supporters aren’t expecting much. But I think we’re going to prove a lot of people wrong. I think I can say we are just as skilled and just as hungry as we were last year.”

McLeod also expresses his excitement over how committed this team is to their shared values saying, “Every single guy that we got to see wrestle on Saturday, whether they won or lost, truly battled until the end. They fought with what we’ve chosen as our sort of slogan: attitude, effort, fight, and belief.”

Brissette said, “A lot of families are getting to see all the guys wrestling for the first time. The families get to be more comfortable around the other families and come together as a team before it’s ‘us vs them’."

With such excitement surrounding this season opener, the team looks forward to working together to take down opponents, rather than battling between themselves.

Brissette said, “On Nov. 22 we have four big duels at home. And Jared Cline (UO Hall of Fame wrestling coach) will be honored for his birthday. Student support for this event would be super cool for the OWC family to see.”

Wrestling's next match is at Trine (Ind.) Invitational on Saturday, Nov. 8 starting at 9 a.m.