Central Michigan University
Eastern Michigan Open
CMU's Heffernan First at Eastern Michigan Open
11/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The Central Michigan wrestling team sent six wrestlers to championship matches Saturday as it kicked off its 2016-17 season at the Eastern Michigan Open.
Junior Collin Heffernan was the lone Chippewas to win his title match, defeating Caden McWhirter of Northern Illinois by fall to claim the 157-pound crown.
Heffernan finished the day with a 5-0 including two technical falls and a major decision.
CMU's Brent Fleetwood (125), Mason Smith (141), Justin Oliver (149), C.J Brucki (174) and Jordan Ellingwood (184) all posted second-place finishes in the tournament. No team scores were kept.
Fleetwood fell to Austin Assad of Michigan, 5-3, in double overtime. Smith fell, 9-4, to Michigan State's Javier Gasca.
Oliver, a sophomore and returning All-American, faced Ohio State sophomore Micah Jordan in a much-anticipated final matchup at 149.
Jordan defeated Oliver by major decision, 15-7. Both Oliver and Jordan rank in the top 10 nationally according to several organizations.
Brucki finished the day with a 3-1 record falling to Myles Amine of Michigan, 13-6, in the final.
Ellingwood, a junior and returning Mid-American Conference champion, was edged by Michigan's Domenic Abounader, 1-0, in the final. Abounader is ranked in the top 10 nationally and Ellingwood in the top 20.
CMU's Austin Severn (197) went 3-1 and Newton Smerchek (heavyweight) each went 4-1 to claim third-place finishes. The Chippewas' Logan Parks (165) finished in fourth place with a 3-2 record.
Additionally, five other wrestlers placed in the top eight for CMU: Dresdon Simon placed fifth at 141, Tyrus Kemp placed sixth at 197 and Drew Hildebrandt and Matt Stencel placed eighth at 125 and 285-pounds.
The Chippewas host Virginia in a non-league duel on Sunday, Nov.13, at McGuirk Arena.
Players Mentioned
