Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Wrestlers Open MAC At Northern Illinois
12/16/2017 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
SETTING THE SCENE
The Central Michigan wrestling team will wrestle three duals in three days beginning today, Saturday, with its Mid-American Conference opener at Northern Illinois (8 p.m.).
The Chippewas will then wrestle two duals on Monday at Purdue, the first against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville at 1 p.m. and the finale against the Boilermakers at 5 p.m.
LAST WEEK
The Chippewas dropped two duals on their trip to the Dakotas, falling to No. 17 South Dakota State, 23-16; and to unranked North Dakota State, 19-16.
WHERE THEY STAND
CMU is 1-3 in duals. The Chippewas slipped to No. 23 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Top 25 this week.
The Chippewas are still without 157-pounder Colin Heffernan, who was injured during the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Dec. 1. Heffernan is expected back in late January.
Five Chippewas are ranked in the InterMat.com top 20 in their respective weight classes. They are Justin Oliver, No. 3 at 149 pounds; Jordan Ellingwood, No. 14 at 184; Heffernan, No. 15; CJ Brucki, No. 15 at 174; and Mason Smith, No. 19 at 141.
SCOUTING
• NIU is 0-2. Both losses came two weeks ago in the Indiana Duals, 33-6, to the host Hoosiers; and 28-12 to Cleveland State. NIU's Brock Hudkins is ranked 20th at 125 pounds by InterMat.com.
• Purdue is 3-0 and ranked 19th by the NWCA. Among their dual victories was a 31-6 decision over No. 22 North Carolina. Three Boilermakers are ranked by InterMat.com. Luke Welch is 18th at 125, and Dylan Lydy (174) and Shawn Streck (285) are both ranked 14th.
• SIUE, which will join the MAC next season, is 1-2 in duals. The Cougars' victory came against Cleveland State, 21-20.
NEXT
The Chippewas go to the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill. on Dec. 29-30.
Players Mentioned
