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Release Date:

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Wrestlers Win Big at Ben McMullen Open

Henry Ford College wrestler Diallo Matsimela placed first at the Ben McMullen Open in Muskegon on Nov. 5

HFC was one of five teams from the National Collegiate Wrestling Association’s (NCWA) Great Lakes Conference (GLC) to participate in the Ben McMullen Open in Muskegon on Nov. 5, grappling its way to the top.

Scoring high at this open was the Hawks with one champion (Diallo Matsimela), two runners-up (Chris Brown and Trey Gower), and two fourth-place finishers (David Knapp and Aaron Heinonen).

The other teams included Ferris State University (FSU) in Big Rapids; Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in Allendale; Mott Community College in Flint; and the University of Toledo (U-T). These five teams competed against varsity National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 3 (D3) and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) programs, which accounted for 15 semifinalists; a finalist in eight of the 10 weight classes; claimed nine of the 20 finalist spots; and crowned four champions.

“I’m very proud of my boys. They wrestled with plenty of drive and plenty of heart,” said HFC Wrestling Coach Grant MacKenzie.

These five teams are slated to compete at the Mott Bear Open in Flint on Sunday, Nov. 20.