Central Michigan University Athletics
Friday, February 7
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
7 p.m.
Central Michigan University
vs
Buffalo
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
CMU Wrestlers Host Two MAC Foes
2/6/2020 7:38:00 PM | Wrestling
Buffalo, Kent State come to McGuirk for league duals
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan wrestling team begins the homestretch of the regular season this weekend when it entertains two Mid-American Conference opponents in dual meets at McGuirk Arena.
The Chippewas will take on Buffalo on Friday (7 p.m.) and then will face Kent State on Sunday (2 p.m.). CMU closes the regular season with a nonconference dual at McGuirk on Friday, Feb. 21 (7 p.m.) against Michigan State.
The MAC Championships are scheduled for March 7-8 at Northern Illinois in DeKalb, Ill.
Where They Stand
The Chippewas are 5-4, 5-2 MAC and have won their last three duals, all against MAC foes. Buffalo is 7-8, 3-4, and Kent State is 6-10, 2-5.
The Bulls have lost their last two duals, 20-17, to Kent State, and 17-16 to Clarion. The Golden Flashes followed their victory over Buffalo with a 16-15 loss to Cleveland State.
Rankings
The Chippewas are fourth in the February MAC rankings, while Buffalo is tied with Ohio for ninth and Kent State is 11th in the 15-team league.
Individually, four Chippewas are ranked nationally by flowrestling.com. Matt Stencel is fourth at 285 pounds, Drew Hildebrandt (125) is ninth, Dresden Simon (141) is 15th, and Logan Parks (157) is 18th.
Hildebrandt and Stencel are both ranked first in the MAC in their respective weight classes, while Simon is second, and Parks and Landon Pelham (197) are both sixth. The league ranks the top six wrestlers in each weight class.
Leaders
Simon is tied for first in the nation with 10 major-decision victories, while Stencel is tied for third with 12 pins.
Hildebrandt leads the Chippewas with 25 victories against three losses. He is 9-0 in duals including 7-0 in MAC duals. Stencel is 23-4, Simon is 22-8. Pelham and Parks are both 15-10, while Drew Marten (133) is 16-11.
Stencel and Hildebrandt are both riding six-match win streaks.
Scouting Buffalo
The Bulls' top wrestlers are Derek Spann (133) and Troy Keller (165). Both are ranked No. 1 in the MAC and Spann is ranked 20th nationally.
Spann, a junior who finished second in the MAC and qualified for the NCAA Championships a year ago, is 15-4 with seven technical falls on the season. He is tied for 10th nationally in that category.
Keller (14-3) is the defending MAC champion at 165 and was also a national qualifier in 2019.
Scouting Kent State
The Golden Flashes feature two nationally ranked wrestlers in Tim Rooney (133) and Andrew McNally (174). Both are 19th nationally and third in the MAC.
McNally, a junior, is 27-7 on the season. His win total is tied for fifth in the nation and he is tied for eighth with eight major-decision victories. He was the runner-up at the MAC Championships a year ago and was a national qualifier.
Rooney, a senior, is 21-9. He was third in the MAC Championships last season and qualified for the NCAA Championships.
Kent State's Spencer Berthold (285) is 13-17. Ten of his wins have come via the pin. He is tied for 10th in the nation in that category.
The Chippewas will take on Buffalo on Friday (7 p.m.) and then will face Kent State on Sunday (2 p.m.). CMU closes the regular season with a nonconference dual at McGuirk on Friday, Feb. 21 (7 p.m.) against Michigan State.
The MAC Championships are scheduled for March 7-8 at Northern Illinois in DeKalb, Ill.
Where They Stand
The Chippewas are 5-4, 5-2 MAC and have won their last three duals, all against MAC foes. Buffalo is 7-8, 3-4, and Kent State is 6-10, 2-5.
The Bulls have lost their last two duals, 20-17, to Kent State, and 17-16 to Clarion. The Golden Flashes followed their victory over Buffalo with a 16-15 loss to Cleveland State.
Rankings
The Chippewas are fourth in the February MAC rankings, while Buffalo is tied with Ohio for ninth and Kent State is 11th in the 15-team league.
Individually, four Chippewas are ranked nationally by flowrestling.com. Matt Stencel is fourth at 285 pounds, Drew Hildebrandt (125) is ninth, Dresden Simon (141) is 15th, and Logan Parks (157) is 18th.
Hildebrandt and Stencel are both ranked first in the MAC in their respective weight classes, while Simon is second, and Parks and Landon Pelham (197) are both sixth. The league ranks the top six wrestlers in each weight class.
Leaders
Simon is tied for first in the nation with 10 major-decision victories, while Stencel is tied for third with 12 pins.
Hildebrandt leads the Chippewas with 25 victories against three losses. He is 9-0 in duals including 7-0 in MAC duals. Stencel is 23-4, Simon is 22-8. Pelham and Parks are both 15-10, while Drew Marten (133) is 16-11.
Stencel and Hildebrandt are both riding six-match win streaks.
Scouting Buffalo
The Bulls' top wrestlers are Derek Spann (133) and Troy Keller (165). Both are ranked No. 1 in the MAC and Spann is ranked 20th nationally.
Spann, a junior who finished second in the MAC and qualified for the NCAA Championships a year ago, is 15-4 with seven technical falls on the season. He is tied for 10th nationally in that category.
Keller (14-3) is the defending MAC champion at 165 and was also a national qualifier in 2019.
Scouting Kent State
The Golden Flashes feature two nationally ranked wrestlers in Tim Rooney (133) and Andrew McNally (174). Both are 19th nationally and third in the MAC.
McNally, a junior, is 27-7 on the season. His win total is tied for fifth in the nation and he is tied for eighth with eight major-decision victories. He was the runner-up at the MAC Championships a year ago and was a national qualifier.
Rooney, a senior, is 21-9. He was third in the MAC Championships last season and qualified for the NCAA Championships.
Kent State's Spencer Berthold (285) is 13-17. Ten of his wins have come via the pin. He is tied for 10th in the nation in that category.
Players Mentioned
/ 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