Central Michigan University
Missouri
CMU Wrestlers Fall to 4th-Ranked Missouri
1/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - A good effort, on most accounts.
But it takes more than that against Missouri, which Central Michigan coach Tom Borrelli said "might be the best dual meet team in the country."
The fourth-ranked Tigers remained unbeaten in duals with a 26-9 Mid-American Conference victory over No. 19 Central Michigan Sunday at McGuirk Arena.
It was CMU's first MAC dual loss, leaving it 5-2 overall, 2-1 league. Missouri, which is seeking its fourth consecutive MAC title, is 9-0, 6-0. CMU goes to 10th-ranked Michigan on Friday for a non-conference dual.
The Tigers won seven of the 10 matches, one by pin, two by major decision. Eight of the 10 Missouri wrestlers who took the mat on Sunday are ranked in the top 10 in their respective weight classes.
"First of all, we're wrestling a good team," Borrelli said. "But we still have to figure out how to score points. In most of the matches we didn't get blown out, we just have to figure out how to win."
The Chippewas got victories from Luke Smith (157 pounds), Mike Ottinger (174) and Newton Smerchek (heavyweight).
Three other matches - 133, 141 and 149 - were decided by one point. All three went to Missouri.
"I think you go back and watch the film and figure out how to get to those guys to change those matches," Borrelli said. "That's why you have the regular season, really."
Smith, who is ranked 15th, defeated Le'Roy Barnes, 3-2; Ottinger, who is ranked 11th, topped No. 9 Blaise Butler, 3-2; and Smerchek topped James Romero, 4-0.
Smerchek controlled his match from the get-go, earning a bonus point for riding time. The matches involving both Smith and Ottinger were hotly contested.
Ottinger and Butler were tied, 1-1, in the third period when Ottinger worked a takedown. Butler escaped late, but Ottinger held on to improve to 20-4 on the season.
"The things that make Mike good are that he's really hard to score on, he's in really good shape, he knows how to wrestle well when he's tired -- he's not scared of that," Borrelli said. "He's kind of a 'feel' wrestler. He's not a guy who has one or two moves that he does all of the time, he just feels what the other guy is trying to do to him and he's pretty good at countering that.
"He's really hard to take down and I think he frustrated the kid from Missouri and the kid from Missouri got over aggressive and Mike spun around behind him."
It was Smith's third career victory over Barnes, who, though unranked, came in with a 19-5 record. Smith led 3-0 late in the third period when Barnes managed a reversal to draw within 3-2.
"I felt like I was controlling the pace," said Smith, who is 20-5 on the season. "I need to find a way to get more attacks. I need to find a way to score in all my matches. You just have to go out there and wrestle and see what he gives you. The reversal at the end, I need to finish the match better. Regardless of it mattering or not, I have to finish the matches."
CMU's Zach Horan (141), who is ranked 14th, dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to fifth-ranked Matt Manley; the Chippewas' Corey Keener (133) lost, 5-4, also in overtime, to ninth-ranked Zach Synon; and CMU's Colin Heffernan (149), who is ranked 12th, dropped a 5-4 decision to Lavion Mayes.
"I think at 33 we had a real good chance to win the match," Borrelli said, "at 41 we had a real good chance to win the match, 49 we had a real good chance to win the match. If you make those things happen it's a really competitive dual meet, but we let them get away with those matches.
"I don't think in this sport you have very many moral victories. It's a pretty personal sport. When you get beat, it's a pretty personal defeat. It's like somebody walked into your house and took something out of your house and you just sit there and watch, and you don't do anything about it. It's pretty personal. No other way to put it."
Missouri 26, Central Michigan 9
125 pounds: Barlow McGhee (M) decisioned Brent Fleetwood, 9-4.
133: Zach Synon (M) dec. Corey Keener, 5-4, OT.
141: Matt Manley (M) dec. Zach Horan, 2-1, OT.
149: Lavion Mayes (M) dec. Colin Heffernan, 5-4.
157: Luke Smith (CMU) dec. Le'Roy Barnes, 3-2.
165: Daniel Lewis (M) major dec. Jordan Atienza, 11-0.
174: Mike Ottinger (CMU) dec. Blaise Butler, 3-2.
184: Willie Miklus (M) pinned Jordan Ellingwood, 2:24.
197: J'Den Cox (M) major dec. Jackson Lewis, 16-3.
HWT: Newton Smerchek (CMU) dec. James Romero, 4-0.
Players Mentioned
