Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
MAC Championships
Wrestlers Win Third Straight MAC Tournament
3/6/2000 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
March 5, 2000
BUFFALO, NY--The Central Michigan University wrestling team won its third straight Mid-American Conference tournament championship on Sunday at the University at Buffalo.
CMU won the tournament with 88 1/2 points and was followed by Kent (70), Ohio (62), Buffalo (55 1/2), Northern Illinois (37) and Eastern Michigan (24 1/2).
Leading the Chippewas to the title were three MAC champions. Seniors Chris Marshall (Washington D.C.), Jeremy Hardman (Constantine) and Ryan Cunningham (Middleton) all won titles.
Marshall won his second straight MAC championship with a 13-6 win over Tom LeCuyer of Northern Illinois at 141 pounds. Marshall also defeated Mark Wentz of Kent (5-2) to advance to the championship match.
Hardman captured his first MAC title with a 3-1 overtime win against Kent's Sam Murdock at 149 pounds. Hardman had wins over Matt Schraibman of Eastern Michigan (10-2) and Ryan Bentley of Buffalo (7-3) on his way to the title.
Cunningham won the third championship of illustrious career with a 12-2 win over Eastern Michigan's Mike Feeney at 174 pounds. Cunningham defeated Luke Moore of Ohio by a 6-1 count to advance to the championship match.
For his efforts, Cunningham was named the Outstanding MAC Meet Wrestler. He becomes the fifth Chippewa wrestler to earn the honor, joining Harry Richards (1986), Kevin Vogel (1990, 1992) and Casey Cunningham (1999).
Cunningham also picked up MAC Wrestler of the Year honors for his 21-5 overall record and undefeated slate in the conference. He is just the second CMU wrestler to be named MAC Wrestler of the Year. Ryan's brother, Casey Cunningham, earned the honor in 1998 and 1999.
The Chippewas had five other wrestlers who lost in the championship finals. Russell Clark (Holt/Fr.) fell to Kent's Anthony Ralph, 10-9, at 157 pounds, Vernon Cannon (Indianapolis, IN/Sr.) lost to Nick Nemeth of Kent, 8-2, at 165 pounds, Phil Baroni (Massapequa, NY/Sr.) fell to Northern Illinois' David Potter, 5-4, at 184 pounds, Chris Vike (Stoughton, WI/Sr.) lost to Dan Bednar of Ohio, 3-3 in overtime, at 197 pounds and Jack Leffler (Morris, IL/So.) fell to Ohio's Tim Courtad, 3-1, at heavyweight. Clark and Leffler both took second place while Ahmad Sanders (Flint/Jr.) took third at 125 pounds, Jordan Webster (Washington, IL/Fr.) finished fourth at 133 pounds and Baroni was fourth.
Head coach Tom Borrelli was named the MAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career. He also earned the honor in 1992, 1998 and 1999.
