Central Michigan University Athletics
Friday, December 21
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
7 p.m.
Central Michigan University
vs
Northern Illinois
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
Chippewa Wrestler Return To Home Mat
12/20/2018 2:18:00 PM | Wrestling
CMU takes on Northern Illinois on Friday
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan wrestling team returns to the McGuirk Arena mat on Thursday for a dual meet with Northern Illinois. It is the Chippewas' first Mid-American Conference dual of the season.
CMU is 1-2 in duals, while the Huskies are 2-4. The Chippewas went 1-1 two weeks ago in duals at Virginia and at Maryland. CMU lost to the Cavaliers, 22-18, and defeated the Terrapins, 26-9.
NIU has lost three consecutive duals, including to No. 17 Illinois and to No. 22 Utah Valley. The Huskies also dropped a dual earlier this season to No. 20 North Dakota State.
The Chippewas go to the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill. on Dec. 29-30 and then return to McGuirk Arena on Jan. 4 for a MAC dual with Old Dominion.
"I think the MAC season will tell us a lot about how much we've improved," said CMU coach Tom Borrelli, whose lineup is decidedly on the younger side with eight underclassmen in the starting lineup. "At the Michigan State Open (Nov. 3), we wrestled Northern Illinois in a number of matches and a lot of those matches didn't go our way. We have a chance to redeem ourselves on Friday."
Just one wrestler who is expected to take to the mat on Friday, CMU 285-pounder Matt Stencel, is ranked nationally. Stencel, a sophomore, is ranked 16th by The Open Mat.
Four Chippewas are ranked individually in the December MAC rankings. Stencel and senior Jordan Atienza (184) are both ranked second, while junior Logan Parks (157) and sophomore Drew Hildebrandt (125) are both ranked fourth.
The Huskies' Brit Wilson (174) and Kenny Moore (165) are ranked second and fourth, respectively, in their weight classes.
In the MAC team rankings, CMU is tied for fifth with Kent State and league newcomer SIUE. NIU is ranked eighth.
CMU is 1-2 in duals, while the Huskies are 2-4. The Chippewas went 1-1 two weeks ago in duals at Virginia and at Maryland. CMU lost to the Cavaliers, 22-18, and defeated the Terrapins, 26-9.
NIU has lost three consecutive duals, including to No. 17 Illinois and to No. 22 Utah Valley. The Huskies also dropped a dual earlier this season to No. 20 North Dakota State.
The Chippewas go to the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill. on Dec. 29-30 and then return to McGuirk Arena on Jan. 4 for a MAC dual with Old Dominion.
"I think the MAC season will tell us a lot about how much we've improved," said CMU coach Tom Borrelli, whose lineup is decidedly on the younger side with eight underclassmen in the starting lineup. "At the Michigan State Open (Nov. 3), we wrestled Northern Illinois in a number of matches and a lot of those matches didn't go our way. We have a chance to redeem ourselves on Friday."
Just one wrestler who is expected to take to the mat on Friday, CMU 285-pounder Matt Stencel, is ranked nationally. Stencel, a sophomore, is ranked 16th by The Open Mat.
Four Chippewas are ranked individually in the December MAC rankings. Stencel and senior Jordan Atienza (184) are both ranked second, while junior Logan Parks (157) and sophomore Drew Hildebrandt (125) are both ranked fourth.
The Huskies' Brit Wilson (174) and Kenny Moore (165) are ranked second and fourth, respectively, in their weight classes.
In the MAC team rankings, CMU is tied for fifth with Kent State and league newcomer SIUE. NIU is ranked eighth.
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