The third-ranked Wabash wrestling team proved worthy of its preseason honors by posting a 33-7 victory over Olivet College in a season-opening dual at Carroll High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana Thursday evening.
 
The Little Giants, third in the preseason National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, swept eight consecutive matches to capture the victory.
 
Olivet opened with a win at 125 pounds, but Chandler Moore answered with an 11-5 decision at 133 pounds to tie the score at 3-3. Michael Venezia followed with a 9-1 major decision at 141 pounds to put Wabash in front 7-3. Nick Bova scored the next victory for the Little Giants with a one-point 8-7 win at 149 pounds.
 
Two-time All-American Reece Lefever needed less than two minutes to earn his first win of the season, pinning Ross Pennock 1:57 into their match at 157 pounds. Ethan Farmer added four points with an 11-1 major decision at 165 pounds. Conner Lefever picked up the second pin of the evening for Wabash, sticking his opponent at 174 pounds at the 1:33 mark of the match.
 
Riley Lefever, the defending national champion at 184, picked up where he left off last season. He recorded a 16-4 major decision at 184 pounds to give the Little Giants a 30-3 lead over the Comets. Brett Thumm scored the last victory of the night for Wabash with an 11-9 win at 197 pounds.
 
Wabash added five wins in six exhibition matches prior to the start of the varsity contest. Jake Barclay (285 pounds), Mack Neal (141 pounds), Chanc Ravish (149 pounds), Connor Brummett (165 pounds), and Ben Farmer (184 pounds) each tallied victories to begin the season.
 
Wabash will compete at the Concordia University (WI) Open Saturday, November 22 beginning at 9 a.m.