Central Michigan University Athletics
Sunday, February 3
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
2 p.m.
Central Michigan University
15
vs
19
Ohio
Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf
Chippewas Fall To Ohio
2/3/2019 5:17:00 PM | Wrestling
Youngsters Lieber, Bergelin claim first home dual victories
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan won five matches on Sunday, but a Chippewa forfeit at 125 pounds and a major decision for Ohio at 141 was the difference as the Bobcats topped CMU, 19-15, in a Mid-American Conference dual at McGuirk Arena.
The loss dropped CMU to 3-6, 2-3 MAC. Ohio is 5-4, 3-1.
"We're really working hard at getting better," CMU coach Tom Borrelli said. "We've got a lot of guys in our lineup who haven't turned the corner yet, but they're trying. They're working hard, they're giving us their effort.
"Starting a dual meet by giving up six points is really tough. We've done that the last two home duals and it's hard to be successful (with that). I feel like if that doesn't happen, maybe we're right there."
The Chippewas got decision victories from Brock Bergelin (133), Collin Lieber (174), Jordan Atienza (184), Landon Pelham (197) and Matt Stencel (285).
Ohio's Cameron Kelly, who is ranked 19thnationally, posted a 13-4 major-decision victory over Drew Marten at 141. The extra point for the major -- four team points as opposed to three for a decision win -- plus the six-point forfeit at 125 proved too much for the Chippewas to overcome.
YOUNGSTERS SHINE
The victories by Bergelin and Lieber were the first of their respective careers in a home dual, a major steppingstone for a young wrestler. Both are redshirt freshmen.
"I see them getting better fundamentally," Borrelli said. "I'm not saying there's not a lot of things that we can work on, we've got to get better off the bottom. We've talked a lot about that in the room, but we're just not real polished there yet."
Both Bergelin and Lieber got the first takedown in their respective matches, a key to being successful, Borrelli has long said. Lieber recorded three takedowns, while Bergelin posted two, and both wrestlers picked up a riding-time point.
LIEBER SHINES
Lieber won for the second time in his last three matches, improving to 8-13. His match was tied, 4-4, after one period and then Lieber scored the next six points as he posted an 11-4 victory.
"The first period we were kind of scrambling around a lot," Lieber said. "I could tell in the second period, I got an escape right away, he was a lot more tired than I was. That's the difference sometimes between a win or a loss, if you're in better shape. A lot of guys have the same skill set; it's just who's in better shape wins.
"I can finally feel the work that I'm putting in in the room paying off. I can go and get after my takedowns more now. Hoping this win will help me build confidence going into the postseason."
TOUGH LOSS
Borrelli said the key match of the meet was at 157, where Ohio's Zac Carson topped Logan Parks, 7-4. Parks is 0-4 lifetime against Carson, who transferred to Ohio this season from Eastern Michigan.
The match was tied, 3-3, entering the third period.
"If Logan wins his match, and he's capable of winning that match … I felt we were the aggressor in the match," Borrelli said. "We took the shots, we just didn't finish the shots. We finish those shots we might win this dual meet."
After winning six consecutive matches, Parks (16-10) has dropped his last three, two of them by one point.
"I know Logan's real frustrated," Borrelli said. "He hasn't been wrestling great his last three or four times out. He hasn't backed off. He's attacking, he's trying to finish his shots. He got outscrambled once or twice today."
TAKEAWAY
Though the Chippewas have dropped four of their last five duals, Borrelli said he has not questioned the work or the desire of his wrestlers.
"Our guys are fighting for each other," he said. "They're trying. We're just not quite ready yet, in all 10 weight classes. You have to win five or six matches to win a dual meet. We're just not quite ready for that yet. By the end of the year we might be ready to do better in the MAC (Championships).
"I'm pretty sure we're going to have a good spring and a good summer because I think these guys are frustrated and I think they're just as frustrated as the coaching staff. We've got a long ways to go, but our kids are working hard. That's all you can ask."
NEXT
CMU goes to Buffalo and then to Kent State next weekend for a pair of MAC duals. The Chippewas wrestle at Buffalo on Friday, Feb. 8 (7 p.m.) and at Kent State on Sunday, Feb. 10 (1 p.m.).
Ohio 19, Central Michigan 15
125: Shakur Laney (O) won by forfeit.
133: Brock Bergelin (C) dec. Trevor Giallombardo, 6-3
141: Cameron Kelly (O) major dec. Drew Marten, 13-4
149: Alec Hagan (O) dec. Dresden Simon, 9-6
157: Zac Carson (O) dec. Logan Parks, 7-4
165: Colt Yinger (O) dec. Blake Montrie, 8-4
174: Collin Lieber (C) dec. Logan Stanley, 11-4
184: Jordan Atienza (C) dec. Derek Walker, 7-2
197: Landon Pelham (C) dec. Derek Hillman, 9-3
285: Matt Stencel (C) dec. Zack Parker, 6-3
The loss dropped CMU to 3-6, 2-3 MAC. Ohio is 5-4, 3-1.
"We're really working hard at getting better," CMU coach Tom Borrelli said. "We've got a lot of guys in our lineup who haven't turned the corner yet, but they're trying. They're working hard, they're giving us their effort.
"Starting a dual meet by giving up six points is really tough. We've done that the last two home duals and it's hard to be successful (with that). I feel like if that doesn't happen, maybe we're right there."
The Chippewas got decision victories from Brock Bergelin (133), Collin Lieber (174), Jordan Atienza (184), Landon Pelham (197) and Matt Stencel (285).
Ohio's Cameron Kelly, who is ranked 19thnationally, posted a 13-4 major-decision victory over Drew Marten at 141. The extra point for the major -- four team points as opposed to three for a decision win -- plus the six-point forfeit at 125 proved too much for the Chippewas to overcome.
YOUNGSTERS SHINE
The victories by Bergelin and Lieber were the first of their respective careers in a home dual, a major steppingstone for a young wrestler. Both are redshirt freshmen.
"I see them getting better fundamentally," Borrelli said. "I'm not saying there's not a lot of things that we can work on, we've got to get better off the bottom. We've talked a lot about that in the room, but we're just not real polished there yet."
Both Bergelin and Lieber got the first takedown in their respective matches, a key to being successful, Borrelli has long said. Lieber recorded three takedowns, while Bergelin posted two, and both wrestlers picked up a riding-time point.
LIEBER SHINES
Lieber won for the second time in his last three matches, improving to 8-13. His match was tied, 4-4, after one period and then Lieber scored the next six points as he posted an 11-4 victory.
"The first period we were kind of scrambling around a lot," Lieber said. "I could tell in the second period, I got an escape right away, he was a lot more tired than I was. That's the difference sometimes between a win or a loss, if you're in better shape. A lot of guys have the same skill set; it's just who's in better shape wins.
"I can finally feel the work that I'm putting in in the room paying off. I can go and get after my takedowns more now. Hoping this win will help me build confidence going into the postseason."
TOUGH LOSS
Borrelli said the key match of the meet was at 157, where Ohio's Zac Carson topped Logan Parks, 7-4. Parks is 0-4 lifetime against Carson, who transferred to Ohio this season from Eastern Michigan.
The match was tied, 3-3, entering the third period.
"If Logan wins his match, and he's capable of winning that match … I felt we were the aggressor in the match," Borrelli said. "We took the shots, we just didn't finish the shots. We finish those shots we might win this dual meet."
After winning six consecutive matches, Parks (16-10) has dropped his last three, two of them by one point.
"I know Logan's real frustrated," Borrelli said. "He hasn't been wrestling great his last three or four times out. He hasn't backed off. He's attacking, he's trying to finish his shots. He got outscrambled once or twice today."
TAKEAWAY
Though the Chippewas have dropped four of their last five duals, Borrelli said he has not questioned the work or the desire of his wrestlers.
"Our guys are fighting for each other," he said. "They're trying. We're just not quite ready yet, in all 10 weight classes. You have to win five or six matches to win a dual meet. We're just not quite ready for that yet. By the end of the year we might be ready to do better in the MAC (Championships).
"I'm pretty sure we're going to have a good spring and a good summer because I think these guys are frustrated and I think they're just as frustrated as the coaching staff. We've got a long ways to go, but our kids are working hard. That's all you can ask."
NEXT
CMU goes to Buffalo and then to Kent State next weekend for a pair of MAC duals. The Chippewas wrestle at Buffalo on Friday, Feb. 8 (7 p.m.) and at Kent State on Sunday, Feb. 10 (1 p.m.).
Ohio 19, Central Michigan 15
125: Shakur Laney (O) won by forfeit.
133: Brock Bergelin (C) dec. Trevor Giallombardo, 6-3
141: Cameron Kelly (O) major dec. Drew Marten, 13-4
149: Alec Hagan (O) dec. Dresden Simon, 9-6
157: Zac Carson (O) dec. Logan Parks, 7-4
165: Colt Yinger (O) dec. Blake Montrie, 8-4
174: Collin Lieber (C) dec. Logan Stanley, 11-4
184: Jordan Atienza (C) dec. Derek Walker, 7-2
197: Landon Pelham (C) dec. Derek Hillman, 9-3
285: Matt Stencel (C) dec. Zack Parker, 6-3
Players Mentioned
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
Wrestling vs Northern Illinois
Friday, January 17
Ben Bennett Insider - 11.15.24
Friday, November 15
Maroon and Gold Intrasquad Highlights
Monday, November 04
Wrestling Halloween Video - 10.31.24
Thursday, October 31