SOCCER
Wabash defeats Olivet
OLIVET, Michigan — Wabash returned to the winning side of ledger on Sunday with a 2-0 shutout victory over the University of Olivet at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet, Michigan.
Wabash improved to 6-2-0 overall with the win. The shutout win is the second of the season and snapped a two-game losing streak for the Little Giants.
CROSS COUNTRY
Runners sets personal bests
The Wabash College cross country team finished fifth out of 18 teams in its second meet of the 2024 season — the Gil Dodds Invite hosted by Wheaton College in Illinois.
Wabash scored 152 points to secure its fifth-place finish, beating Manchester University in sixth place with 164 points and Wheaton College (Ill.) in seventh with 188 points. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville won the meet with 61 points.
The Little Giants earned four top-50 finishes in a field of 299 competitors.
Senior Brayden Curnutt led the pack once more with an impressive showing of 25:24.50 to finish second place overall. Junior Haiden Diemer-McKinney turned in a 20th-place finish with a mark of 26:19.70. Senior Jacob Sitzman achieved a lifetime best of 26:21.50 to claim 21st overall. Senior Justin Santiago secured the team’s last top-50 spot, placing 43rd overall with an effort of 27:12.30.
Freshman Alex Orihuela concluded the team scoring with a 66th place finish, crossing the line at 27:50.10, running a new personal best from his mark of 27:50.30 two weeks ago at Shelbyville. Senior Will Neubauer made his season debut after battling a minor injury but still produced a time of 28:17.50 to secure 74th overall. Freshman Johnathan Loney finished 77th overall with a new career best of 28:25.80, rounding out the top seven spots for the Little Giants.
The Little Giants return to the course in Terre Haute for the NCAA Division III Pre-National Meet on Oct. 4.
Curnutt repeats as NCAC athlete of the week
Wabash College senior Brayden Curnutt earned North Coast Athletic Conference Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week honors for the second time this season. Curnutt received the award for his performance at Saturday’s Gil Dodds Invitational hosted by Wheaton College.
Curnutt finished fifth out of 299 runners and second among runners competing for one of the 18 teams in Saturday’s event. He completed the race in 25:24.50 for his top time of the season and third-quickest time of his career. Curnutt helped Wabash finish fifth overall.
TENNIS
Shifferly wins singles title
Wabash College junior Cole Shifferly claimed the consolation bracket singles title at the 2024 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Central Region Tournament with a pair of victories Sunday in St. Louis.
Shifferly opened the tournament’s final day against Anthony Markello from John Carroll University. Shifferly advanced to the finals of the consolation bracket draw of the men’s singles bracket with a straight sets 6-4, 6-2 victory to face Owen Reynolds from Rose-Hulman in the finals. Shifferly dispatched his in-state rival in straight sets, winning 7-5, 6-4.
Shifferly finished the tournament with a record of 5-1 for the tournament.
FOOTBALL
Wabash unable to maintain fast start in road loss
PLATTEVILLE, Wisconsin — Wabash raced out to a 14-0 lead at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Saturday in the Little Giants’ final non-conference game of the 2024 season. A Wabash miscue on the opening kickoff of the second half started an avalanche of scoring by the host Pioneers in a 42-21 loss.
Junior defensive back Mike Holsclaw notched two interceptions for Wabash (2-1, 1-0 NCAC). In addition, the defender recorded seven tackles. Jordan Cree added seven tackles, two tackles for losses, and one sack, and Samuel Ringer tacked on five tackles, two tackles for losses, and one sack. Gavin Ruppert paced the Wabash defense with nine tackles for the day.
Brand Campbell led Wabash’s passing attack with 185 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns without throwing an interception. The sophomore signal caller also added one touchdown on the ground.
Xavier Tyler totaled 124 yards to lead the Little Giants’ ground attack in the game, picking up 5.4 yards per carry. Cole Dickerson also tacked on 58 yards on the ground, picking up 9.7 yards per carry.
Carson Chadd reeled in two catches for 70 yards and one score. Connor Thompson caught four passes for 35 yards and one TD.
The Little Giants won the turnover battle in Saturday’s game, forcing two turnovers while coughing the ball up once, with Wabash turning those two takeaways into seven points.
GOLF
Golfers tie for 19th at classic
Wabash trimmed five strokes off its opening round score to tie for 19th place out of 44 teams at the 2024 Midwest Region Golf Classic hosted by Benedictine University at the Brighton Dale Links in Kansasville, Wisconsin.
Wabash shot 300 as a team on Saturday after posting a score of 305 in Friday’s opening round. Junior Sean Bledsoe shot two-under 70 over the final 18 holes Saturday to finish with a total score of 148 to tie for 48th place among a field of 244 competitors. Freshman Lane Notter finished three-over-par for the day and seven-over for the tournament to tie for 84th place.
Robert Pruzin carded back-to-back rounds of 76 on both days of the tournament for a total score of 152 to tie for 91st place. Lewis Dellinger finished with a 79 on Saturday for a two-day total of 155 to tie for 123rd place. Matthew Lesniak turned in an 82 on Saturday to finish with a score of 159 to tie for 162nd place overall.
Wabash shot 605 as a team for the tournament. Carthage College won the event with a two-round score of 566.
Wabash competes in the DePauw Fall Invitational on Sept. 29-30.
