Central Michigan University Athletics
Friday, December 7
Charlottesville, Va.
7 p.m.
Central Michigan University
at
Virginia
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
Chippewa Wrestlers Hit The Road
12/6/2018 8:16:00 PM | Wrestling
Duals at Virginia, Maryland on tap this weekend
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan wrestling team returns to the dual-meet mat this weekend when it travels to Virginia on Friday (7 p.m.) and to Maryland on Sunday (2 p.m.).
The Chippewas dropped their season-opening dual to fifth-ranked Michigan, 32-12, on Nov. 11 at McGuirk Arena.
Though neither Virginia (3-2) nor Maryland (0-1) is ranked, both pose a good test, and a good gauge, for the Chippewas, who start just two upperclassmen.
"We have two quality opponents, one ACC team (Virginia) and one Big Ten team (Maryland)," CMU coach Tom Borrelli said. "I just want to see us believe in ourselves and believe that we can compete with those teams and wrestle as hard as we can and see what happens."
LAST TIME OUT
The Chippewas competed last weekend with a prestigious field in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. They finished 26th in a 44-team field that included nearly a dozen ranked teams.
No CMU wrestler placed, but five won at least two matches each, and two others won one match apiece. CMU's best showings, not unexpectedly, came from Jordan Atienza (184 pounds) and Matt Stencel (285).
Atienza, the lone senior on the Chippewa roster, finished 4-2; Stencel, a sophomore and a returning national qualifier, went 3-2.
Overall, it was a good tournament for a relatively young Chippewa squad, Borrelli said, as the Chippewas squared off, and frequently held their own, with some of the best wrestlers in the nation.
"I think they figured out that they can compete," he said. "They are competing with the best people in the country. I think that is where it starts."
RANKINGS
Just one Chippewa, Stencel, is ranked individually this week. The sophomore from Oregon, Ohio is 19th at 285. Stencel was ranked 17th last week.
SCOUTING
Four Virginia wrestlers are ranked, including sophomore Jay Aiello who is 11th at 197. Aiello, who was unranked heading into the Las Vegas Invitational, placed third in the event, going 6-1 and leading the Cavaliers to a 16th-place finish in the team standings.
Virginia's other ranked wrestlers are Louie Hayes, 16th at 125; Sam Kirvus, 17th at 141; and Cam Coy, 17th at 165.
Two Maryland wrestlers are ranked: Alfred Bannister is 18th at 149, and Youssif Hemida is fourth at 285.
Maryland dropped its season-opening dual to Penn, 26-6; it is scheduled to entertain Navy in a dual on Friday. Virginia's two losses have come to No. 21 Wyoming, 21-9; and to No. 12 Nebraska, 21-15.
NEXT
The Chippewas return to McGuirk Arena for the Mid-American Conference-opening dual with Northern Illinois on Friday, Dec. 21. It will be CMU's first home event since the Nov. 11 meet with Michigan.
The Chippewas dropped their season-opening dual to fifth-ranked Michigan, 32-12, on Nov. 11 at McGuirk Arena.
Though neither Virginia (3-2) nor Maryland (0-1) is ranked, both pose a good test, and a good gauge, for the Chippewas, who start just two upperclassmen.
"We have two quality opponents, one ACC team (Virginia) and one Big Ten team (Maryland)," CMU coach Tom Borrelli said. "I just want to see us believe in ourselves and believe that we can compete with those teams and wrestle as hard as we can and see what happens."
LAST TIME OUT
The Chippewas competed last weekend with a prestigious field in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. They finished 26th in a 44-team field that included nearly a dozen ranked teams.
No CMU wrestler placed, but five won at least two matches each, and two others won one match apiece. CMU's best showings, not unexpectedly, came from Jordan Atienza (184 pounds) and Matt Stencel (285).
Atienza, the lone senior on the Chippewa roster, finished 4-2; Stencel, a sophomore and a returning national qualifier, went 3-2.
Overall, it was a good tournament for a relatively young Chippewa squad, Borrelli said, as the Chippewas squared off, and frequently held their own, with some of the best wrestlers in the nation.
"I think they figured out that they can compete," he said. "They are competing with the best people in the country. I think that is where it starts."
RANKINGS
Just one Chippewa, Stencel, is ranked individually this week. The sophomore from Oregon, Ohio is 19th at 285. Stencel was ranked 17th last week.
SCOUTING
Four Virginia wrestlers are ranked, including sophomore Jay Aiello who is 11th at 197. Aiello, who was unranked heading into the Las Vegas Invitational, placed third in the event, going 6-1 and leading the Cavaliers to a 16th-place finish in the team standings.
Virginia's other ranked wrestlers are Louie Hayes, 16th at 125; Sam Kirvus, 17th at 141; and Cam Coy, 17th at 165.
Two Maryland wrestlers are ranked: Alfred Bannister is 18th at 149, and Youssif Hemida is fourth at 285.
Maryland dropped its season-opening dual to Penn, 26-6; it is scheduled to entertain Navy in a dual on Friday. Virginia's two losses have come to No. 21 Wyoming, 21-9; and to No. 12 Nebraska, 21-15.
NEXT
The Chippewas return to McGuirk Arena for the Mid-American Conference-opening dual with Northern Illinois on Friday, Dec. 21. It will be CMU's first home event since the Nov. 11 meet with Michigan.
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