Central Michigan University
Northern Iowa
Patience, Persistence Pay For CMU Wrestlers
1/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Central Michigan wrestling team won seven matches Friday in downing Northern Iowa, 22-11, in a Mid-American Conference dual before some 2,000 at the Panthers' West Gym.
The win ended a two-meet losing streak as the 21st-ranked Chippewas improved to 6-3 overall, 3-1 MAC. Northern Iowa is 3-6, 2-3. NIU was ranked second in the latest MAC poll, while the Chippewas were tied for third.
It was anything but easy for the Chippewas, who are scheduled to wrestle on Sunday in a non-league match at 17th-ranked Iowa State, 7-5.
CMU was called for stalling 12 times in Friday's meet, while the Panthers were called just twice. The Chippewas finished with 17 takedowns to eight for NIU.
"Our kids had to fight through a lot of adversity tonight," CMU coach Tom Borrelli said. "We have another big match on Sunday and a lot of season left. This was our opportunity to really turn the corner and gain confidence in ourselves.
"Everybody wrestled pretty good, and I'm very proud of the way they kept their composure. It was good to see. We were scoring when we needed to score and that's something we've really been working on."
Freshman Justin Oliver got the Chippewas off and running at 149 pounds with a 12-4 major decision victory. It was Oliver's seven consecutive victory, upping his season record to 20-4.
Other CMU wins, all by decision, came from Luke Smith (157), Mike Ottinger (174), Jordan Ellingwood (184), Jackson Lewis (197), Corey Keener (133) and Zach Horan (141).
Keener's 4-2 victory gave the Chippewas a 19-11 lead and all but clinched the meet. It was Keener's first victory since the pre-Christmas Reno Tournament of Champions, and it ended a five-match losing streak.
Both Ellingwood and Lewis also snapped five-match losing streaks.
"Good to see Ellingwood wrestle the way he did, and to see Jackson Lewis wrestle the way he did," Borrelli said. "To see them turn it around and battle in that environment like that, hopefully that will give them both some confidence."
Central Michigan 22, Northern Iowa 11
125 pounds: Dylan Peters (UNI) dec. Brent Fleetwood, 8-3
133: Corey Kenner (CMU) dec. Josh Alber, 4-2
141: Zach Horan (CMU) vs. Trevor Jauch, 4-3
149: Justin Oliver (CMU) major dec. Jake Hodges, 12-4
157: Luke Smith (CMU) dec. Bryce Steiert, 1-0
165: Cooper Moore (UNI) major dec. Jordan Atienza, 9-1
174: Mike Ottinger (CMU) dec. Kyle Lux, 7-5
184: Jordan Ellingwood (CMU) dec. Drew Foster, 10-4
197: Jackson Lewis (CMU) dec. Jared Bartel, 6-1
HWT: Blaize Cabell (UNI) major dec. Newton Smerchek, 15-5
* Meet began at 149 pounds
Players Mentioned
