PICTURED ABOVE: Matt McCrary won four matches at the 174-pound weight class at the MSOE Invitational on Saturday.

Milwaukee, Wis.- The Wheaton wrestling team went 3-2 in a series of dual meets at the MSOE Invitational in Milwaukee on Saturday in their first action of 2013. The Thunder defeated UW-Eau Claire 24-15, UW-Oshkosh 28-24 and Maranatha Baptist Bible College 48-0 while falling to Lakeland College and MSOE. Wheaton is now 3-4 in dual meets this year.  The Thunder will return to tournament action on Saturday, January 12, when they participate in the Manchester College Spartan Mat Classic.

Dan Olsen (PICTURED LEFT) highlighted the Thunder victory against UW-Eau Claire by earning a 6-3 decision against nationally-ranked opponent Matt Rieckhoff at the 184-pound weight class. Also against UW-Eau Claire, Dan Mitchell earned an 8-2 decision against Steven Fisher at 149 and Toby Mosley won a 3-1 decision over Brandon Stradel at 157. Darren Faber made his season debut at 197 with a 7-4 decision over Luke Ortscheid. Matt McCrary won his match at 174 with a fall of Jared Flaata at the 4:48 mark.

Wheaton's match with UW-Oshkosh featured a series of short-lasting falls. After forfeits at 125, 133, and 141, Mark Savenok won a 13-5 major decision over Mason McMullen. McCrary pinned Ben Frieler at the :45 mark at 174 and Olsen followed with an 18 second pin of Jay Howarth at 184. Faber's pin of Keith McLeod at 197 sealed the match for the Thunder.

Wheaton's win over Maranatha Baptist Bible came with only three matches. Tom Foy, Isaac Bray and Olsen each won their matches at 133, 157 and 184 respectively with a pin.

In their 28-11 loss to Lakeland, Wheaton's victories came via a 13-3 major decision by Mark Savenok at 149, a 16-6 major decision by Olsen  at 184 and a decision victory by McCrary at 174.

Wheaton's 27-23 loss to MSOE came despite the Thunder sweeping the heavyweights. Mitchell's 5-4 decision over Matt Ostovich was Wheaton's lone victory in the lower weights. The Thunder would win the upper weights with an 8-2 decision victory by McCrary at 174, a 19-3 tech fall by Olsen at 184, at 1:27 pin by Faber (PICTURED RIGHT) at 197 and a pin by Kyle Patton at 285.

Head Coach Jim Gruenwald noted of his team's performance, "I was surprised that we lost to Lakeland and disappointed that we lost to MSOE, but as a whole I thought the guys wrestled well." He added, "We had some great moments. Dan Olsen beat the sixth-ranked guy in Division III, Matt Rieckhoff of UW-Eau Claire. Dan is a warrior on the mat and competes all the time."

Wheaton returns to action on Saturday, January 12 at the Manchester College Spartan Mat Classic.