Maroon & Gold Ends in a Tie
10/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — The Central Michigan wrestling team hit the mat for the first time Sunday, competing in the annual Maroon and Gold scrimmage at McGuirk Arena.
The meet ended in a 16-16 tie.
The intrasquad meet serves as a measuring stick as to where the team stands heading into the regular season, according to Tom Borrelli, who is entering his 25th year at the helm of the program.
"We are kind of trying to gauge our guys as to whether they have enough composure to do the things we've been working on in practice in competition," Borrelli said. "I told the guys in the locker room before the match that I just wanted them to open up and wrestle and be as aggressive as possible and not really worry about winning or losing."
The Chippewas introduced several new faces to the program Sunday, and also returned some familiar ones.
Freshman Logan Parks (157 pounds) and Mason Smith (149) wrestled their first matches for the Chippewas. Parks fell to senior Lucas Smith, 5-1; Mason Smith lost to sophomore Justin Oliver, 17-8.
Lucas Smith is was one of three former NCAA qualifiers making their respective return to the mat for CMU this season. Mike Ottinger (174) and Corey Keener (133) also made their returns. All missed last season due to injury. Two other Chippewas, senior Zach Horan (141) and sophomore Jordan Ellingwood (184), are also past NCAA qualifiers.
"I think it's real important for our team to have them back," Borrelli said of Ottinger, Keener and Smith. "It gives everybody in our lineup a lot of confidence, knowing that those guys are all capable of doing well."
Horan is a two-time Mid-American Conference champion and a three-time NCAA qualifier. Ellingwood qualified for the NCAA Championships last year as a freshman.
Sophomore Colin Heffernan (149), also an NCAA qualifier last spring, and junior Jordan Wohlfert (165) did not participate in Sunday's event. Wohlfert finished 18-14 last year as a starter.
There was no match at 165 on Sunday.
"We are a little dinged up at both of those weight classes," Borrelli said. "We didn't think this was right time to have those guys (Heffernan and Wohlfert) wrestle.
"They will be fine for the beginning of the year, hopefully by the seventh (November), but today wouldn't have been good to have them wrestle."
The Chippewas open the regular season with two open tournaments, Nov. 7 at the Eastern Michigan and Nov. 15 at the Michigan State Open.
CMU begins MAC competition with a dual meet at Northern Illinois on Dec. 3 before hosting Big Ten opponent Michigan State in its home opener on Dec. 6.
Maroon 16, Gold 16
125: Brent Fleetwood (Gold) dec. Carter Ballinger, 6-4
133: Corey Keener (Maroon) major dec. Kyle Noonan 9-1
141: Zach Horan (Maroon) pinned Adam Nichols
149: Justin Oliver (Gold) major dec. Mason Smith, 17-8
157: Lucas Smith (Gold) dec. Logan Parks, 5-1
165: No match
174: Mike Ottinger (Maroon) dec. CJ Brucki, 3-1 SV
184: Austin Severn (Gold) dec. Jordan Ellingwood, 3-2
197: Jackson Lewis (Gold) dec. Tyrus Kemp, 3-0
HWT: Newton Smerchek (Maroon) dec. Adam Robinson, 3-1 SV
Players Mentioned
