Central Michigan University Athletics
Wrestling Hands Out Postseason Awards
4/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
MOUNT PLEASANT - Wynn Michalak received the Chick Sherwood Award as Central Michigan University's Most Valuable Wrestler at the wrestling program's postseason awards banquet Sunday afternoon.
Michalak, the Chippewas' first national finalist since 1999, finished runner-up at 197 pounds at the 2008 NCAA Championships. He was 30-2 overall as a senior and won his fourth consecutive Mid-American Conference title, becoming just the fourth wrestler in MAC history to win four individual conference championships.
Michalak earns the Chick Sherwood Award for the second time in his career. He shared the honor with current assistant coach Mark DiSalvo as a sophomore in 2006.
Ben Kelto and Trevor Stewart were named co-recipients of the Harry Richards Coaches Award. Kelto was 19-5 overall as a senior, claiming 184-pound titles at the Eastern Michigan Open and Michigan State Open. Kelto also advanced to the semifinals at the Reno Tournament of Champions before placing fifth and finished seventh at Midlands.
Stewart claimed his first MAC title and won three matches at the NCAA Championships despite suffering knee injuries and a broken hand during the course of the season.
Brandon Carter was named the program's Most Improved Wrestler. After finishing third at the MAC Championships as a junior in 2007, Carter rebounded to win his first conference title as a senior in 2008. He also won three matches at the NCAA Championships.
Jarod Trice received the Outstanding Freshman Award. Trice redshirted for the 2007-08 season, but won an individual heavyweight title competing unattached in the freshman/sophomore division at the Michigan State Open. He also placed third at the Eastern Michigan Open and the Kent State Open.
Other awards presented during the banquet were: most takedowns (Christian Sinnott, 104), most falls (Michalak, 13), most near falls (Luke Smith, 18) and most team points (Michalak, 144.5).
CMU won its 10th consecutive MAC championship and seventh consecutive conference tournament title in 2008. The Chippewas capped their season by finishing in a tie for seventh at the 2008 NCAA Championships. Four individuals earned All-America honors at the national tournament: Michalak (second, 197), Christian Sinnott (fourth, 184), Brandon Sinnott (fifth, 174) and Bubba Gritter (seventh, heavyweight).
