Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewa Wrestlers Host Northern Iowa on Sunday
1/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan wrestling team will return home Sunday as it hosts Northern Iowa in a Mid-American Conference dual at McGuirk Arena.
It is CMU's first home meet in more than a month and begins at 2 p.m.
The Chippewas are coming off a road trip last weekend, where they wrestled two dual meets in as many days. They finished 1-1, beating Southern Illinois Edwardsville, 26-9, on Friday and losing to third-ranked Missouri, 23-12, on Saturday. The loss to the Tigers was CMU's first in MAC competition. The Chippewas are 5-5, 3-1.
Northern Iowa is 6-4, 3-0 in the MAC. The Panthers have three wrestlers who are ranked nationally, including returning All-American Dylan Peters (125 pounds).
"They are good team and have some unique things that they do," CMU coach Tom Borelli said. "We have to be aware of those things, but also wrestle our style.
"I think the key is going to be to keep them from getting bonus points. We have to match their intensity and keep them form getting back points and pins."
Two CMU wrestlers who are scheduled to wrestle in Sunday's meet with Northern Iowa are ranked nationally.
Junior Zach Horan, who is coming off an exciting overtime victory over then-sixth-ranked Lavion Mayes of Missouri, is ranked No. 11 at 141 pounds. CMU freshman Colin Heffernan is No. 15 at 149.
Sunday's dual meet against the Panthers begins the last stretch of MAC competition for the Chippewas. CMU will face Kent State, Old Dominion and Eastern Michigan to close out the conference schedule. The Kent State (Feb. 1) and Old Dominion (Feb. 15) are scheduled for McGuirk Arena.
"Starting with Missouri this part of the MAC schedule is the toughest," Borelli said. "Northern Iowa was a top 15 team last year and Old Dominion is in the top 25 so hopefully we've improved enough to handle that."
