Central Michigan University
Missouri
Chippewas Fall at Missouri
1/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Eighth-ranked Missouri won seven matches, one by major decision and another by technical fall on Sunday in handing Central Michigan a 24-8 loss in a Mid-American Conference dual at the Tigers' Hearnes Center.
The 16th-ranked Chippewas, who on Friday defeated Michigan State in a nonconference dual, are 3-2, 1-2 MAC. Missouri, the four-time defending MAC champion, is 9-2, 6-0.
"We've got to get tougher, that's all there is to it," CMU coach Tom Borrelli said. "There were situations where we got out-toughed. We have to work on that, get better at that. Very rarely are the matches, especially when both guys are ranked, blowouts and you have to be tough enough to grind out the wins.
"I like our people. We have the right people. They just don't quite know what's expected yet, they don't quite know how to seal the deal yet. That's why you wrestle these matches and (the athletes) either make the changes or they don't, and if they don't they're in the same situation in March."
CMU's victories, all by decision, came from Brent Fleetwood (125 pounds), CJ Brucki (174) and Jordan Ellingwood (184).
Fleetwood, who is unranked, upset 18th-ranked Barlow McGhee, the defending MAC champion, with an overtime takedown for a 4-2 win. It was Fleetwood's third-consecutive victory as he improved to 15-6. He scored a major-decision win on Friday at Michigan State.
Ellingwood's 2-1 win over Matt Lemanowicz also came in extra time. The 16th-ranked Ellingwood, a junior and the defending MAC champion at 184, scored an escape in extra time, improving to 18-6, including 4-1 in duals.
Brucki notched his 20th win of the season with an 8-3 victory over Dylan Wisman. Brucki, who is ranked 19th, shares the team lead in wins with Justin Oliver and Colin Heffernan.
Wisman scored a takedown 46 seconds into the match. Brucki escaped and then got a takedown with 4 seconds left in the first period to take a 3-2 lead, which he never relinquished. He clinched the win with a takedown with 15 seconds remaining.
"He's probably the best example on our team right now of someone who wrestles hard for seven minutes and grinds out a win," Borrelli said of Brucki. "He kept building on his lead. That's the type of grit we've got to develop."
The Chippewas return to McGuirk Arena next weekend for two MAC duals. They entertain Old Dominion on Friday, Jan. 27 (7 p.m.) and Northern Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 29 (2 p.m.). Old Dominion is 4-7, 1-4 MAC; Northern Illinois is 5-5, 1-3.
Missouri 24, Central Michigan 8
125: Brent Fleetwood (CMU) dec. Barlow McGhee, 4-2, SV-1
133: John Erneste (M) dec. Corey Keener, 11-6
141: Jaydin Eierman (M) dec. Mason Smith, 5-3
149: Lavion Mayes (M) dec. Justin Oliver, 11-4
157: Joey Lavallee (M) dec. Colin Heffernan, 3-1, SV-1
165: Daniel Lewis (M) tech. fall Logan Parks, 16-0,
174: CJ Brucki (CMU) dec. Dylan Wisman, 8-3
184: Jordan Ellingwood (CMU) dec. Matt Lemanowicz, 2-1, TB-1
197: J'Den Cox (M) major dec. Austin Severn, 11-2
285: Austin Myers (M) dec. Newton Smerchek, 6-2
Players Mentioned
