Storm wrestling dominates Graceland in season debut

by Brock Borgeson

LAMONI, Iowa – Seven of the nine Simpson College wrestlers who competed won their individual matches on the way to a Simpson 34-9 team victory over Graceland University (0-1) Tuesday night.

Juniors Spencer Ward and Brett Roberts both earned pins. Roberts pinned Graceland’s, Payton Turner just over two minutes in as Ward, wrestling at the 184 weight class, pinned the Yellow Jackets’ Deric Ginther at the 5:54 mark.

One of Simpson’s two losses came in a forfeit at the 125 pound weight class. Graceland’s lone contested win came in the 141 weight class from Logan Coleman, who won on a decision against Simpson’s Dalton Kenig.

Simpson (1-0) would go on to sweep all of the matches in the 149-285 weight class.

Freshman and Florida native, Devan Berrian, knotted the meet up 1-1 with his first career victory coming off of a major decision in the 133 class.

Another significant individual victory came from Bryce Wignall who earned bonus points for the Storm with a technical fall, 3:20 into play.

After a two-year hiatus from the team, senior Brian Haynes got his comeback off right, defeating Dakota Britt, 8-5.

Other victors included:

149 – Jason Clark (SIM) dec, Dakota Hill, 12-10

197 – Eric Quador (SIM) maj. dec. Deo Williams 11-0

285 – Colby Vlieger (SIM) dec. Ryan Paige, 7-1

Simpson will hope to ride the decisive victory into Saturday as they head up to Decorah, Iowa to head coach Nate Hansen’s alma mater, Luther College, for the Luther Open.