Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU's Hildebrandt, Stencel, Simon Earn All-America Honors
4/18/2020 4:32:00β―PM | Wrestling
Central Michigan sets MAC pace with three All-Americans
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. β They didn't get a chance to wrestle in the national tournament, but they're still among the elite of the elite in college wrestling.
Β
Central Michigan's Drew Hildebrandt, Dresden Simon and Matt Stencel have earned All-America honors from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Hildebrandt (125 pounds) and Stencel (285) were named to the All-America First Team, while Simon (141) earned a spot on the second team. All three are juniors.
Β
With the cancellation of the NCAA Championships because of coronavirus pandemic, the NWCA took the unprecedented step of bestowing All-America honors based on each wrestler's season-long body of work.
Β
The NWCA chose eight wrestlers in each weight class for its All-America First Team; four in each class earned second team honors, and four more in each class received honorable mention. In any other year, a wrestler finishing in the top eight in each weight class at the NCAA Championships is an All-American.
Β
"We're used to proving it on the mat and placing in a certain spot to earn that," CMU coach Tom Borrelli said. "This year we weren't able to do that. It's recognition for a great season."
Β
It brings to 44 the number of times a CMU wrestler has earned All-America recognition in Borrelli's 29 years in charge of the program. It marks the first time since 2011 that CMU has had as many as three All-Americans.
Β
"I think they're all three going to have a big year (next season)," Borrelli said. "In any season there are ups and downs, peaks and valleys. They'll all be well scouted from here on out in their careers. All three of them have tremendous confidence in themselves and that's a huge part of success, knowing how good you are."
Β
Only two other MAC wrestlers -- Rider's Jesse Dellavecchia (157) and Missouri's Brock Mauller (149) β were named to the first team. Two other MAC wrestlers earned second-team honors, bringing the total to seven MAC representatives combined on the first team and the second team. Three of those seven are Chippewas. Seven MAC wrestlers received honorable mention.
Β
In 2019, Stencel placed seventh at the NCAA Championships. He is CMU's first repeat All-American since Ben Bennett in 2013.
Β
Earlier this week, Stencel was named the Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Year. He finished 30-4, ranked second in the nation with 15 pins, won his third-consecutive MAC title, was ranked fourth nationally, and was seeded fifth for the NCAA Championships. The Oregon, Ohio native has qualified for the NCAA Championships in each of his three seasons as a Chippewa.
Β
"We felt like he was in tremendous shape and was really capable of winning the whole thing this year," Borrelli said of Stencel, who won 19 of his last 20 matches including his final 13 consecutively to close the 2019-20 season. "I think he's matured a lot. He's become a team leader. If he continues to make the same progress, he should be hard to beat."
Β
Simon, who hails from Dansville, came on like gangbusters in '19-20, earning the Outstanding Wrestler Award when he rolled to the title at the MAC Championships in early March. He tied for fourth in the nation with 11 major-decision victories and finished 29-8, qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the first time in his career. He also had three victories by pin and two by technical fall. He was ranked 12th nationally and was seeded 12th for the NCAA Championships.
Β
"He came as far as anybody on our team this year," Borrelli said. "He gained a ton of confidence in himself as the year went on."
Β
Hildebrandt, who qualified for the NCAA Championships for the second-consecutive season, posted a team-high 31 wins (against three losses), tying for ninth nationally in number of wins. He had eight pins and seven wins by major decision and was ranked eighth nationally and seeded sixth for the NCAA Championships.
Β
Hildebrandt, who hails from Granger, Ind., closed the season on a 12-match win streak; six of those wins came with bonus points (five pins, one major). He also had a 15-match win streak during the season and his .912 win percentage in 2019-20 ranks as the fifth best in program history
Β
"I think he probably was the hardest wrestler on our team to beat," Borrelli said. "He was very, very difficult to take down all year; I don't know that he gave up very many takedowns at all."
Β
Β
Β
Central Michigan's Drew Hildebrandt, Dresden Simon and Matt Stencel have earned All-America honors from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Hildebrandt (125 pounds) and Stencel (285) were named to the All-America First Team, while Simon (141) earned a spot on the second team. All three are juniors.
Β
With the cancellation of the NCAA Championships because of coronavirus pandemic, the NWCA took the unprecedented step of bestowing All-America honors based on each wrestler's season-long body of work.
Β
The NWCA chose eight wrestlers in each weight class for its All-America First Team; four in each class earned second team honors, and four more in each class received honorable mention. In any other year, a wrestler finishing in the top eight in each weight class at the NCAA Championships is an All-American.
Β
"We're used to proving it on the mat and placing in a certain spot to earn that," CMU coach Tom Borrelli said. "This year we weren't able to do that. It's recognition for a great season."
Β
It brings to 44 the number of times a CMU wrestler has earned All-America recognition in Borrelli's 29 years in charge of the program. It marks the first time since 2011 that CMU has had as many as three All-Americans.
Β
"I think they're all three going to have a big year (next season)," Borrelli said. "In any season there are ups and downs, peaks and valleys. They'll all be well scouted from here on out in their careers. All three of them have tremendous confidence in themselves and that's a huge part of success, knowing how good you are."
Β
Only two other MAC wrestlers -- Rider's Jesse Dellavecchia (157) and Missouri's Brock Mauller (149) β were named to the first team. Two other MAC wrestlers earned second-team honors, bringing the total to seven MAC representatives combined on the first team and the second team. Three of those seven are Chippewas. Seven MAC wrestlers received honorable mention.
Β
In 2019, Stencel placed seventh at the NCAA Championships. He is CMU's first repeat All-American since Ben Bennett in 2013.
Β
Earlier this week, Stencel was named the Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Year. He finished 30-4, ranked second in the nation with 15 pins, won his third-consecutive MAC title, was ranked fourth nationally, and was seeded fifth for the NCAA Championships. The Oregon, Ohio native has qualified for the NCAA Championships in each of his three seasons as a Chippewa.
Β
"We felt like he was in tremendous shape and was really capable of winning the whole thing this year," Borrelli said of Stencel, who won 19 of his last 20 matches including his final 13 consecutively to close the 2019-20 season. "I think he's matured a lot. He's become a team leader. If he continues to make the same progress, he should be hard to beat."
Β
Simon, who hails from Dansville, came on like gangbusters in '19-20, earning the Outstanding Wrestler Award when he rolled to the title at the MAC Championships in early March. He tied for fourth in the nation with 11 major-decision victories and finished 29-8, qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the first time in his career. He also had three victories by pin and two by technical fall. He was ranked 12th nationally and was seeded 12th for the NCAA Championships.
Β
"He came as far as anybody on our team this year," Borrelli said. "He gained a ton of confidence in himself as the year went on."
Β
Hildebrandt, who qualified for the NCAA Championships for the second-consecutive season, posted a team-high 31 wins (against three losses), tying for ninth nationally in number of wins. He had eight pins and seven wins by major decision and was ranked eighth nationally and seeded sixth for the NCAA Championships.
Β
Hildebrandt, who hails from Granger, Ind., closed the season on a 12-match win streak; six of those wins came with bonus points (five pins, one major). He also had a 15-match win streak during the season and his .912 win percentage in 2019-20 ranks as the fifth best in program history
Β
"I think he probably was the hardest wrestler on our team to beat," Borrelli said. "He was very, very difficult to take down all year; I don't know that he gave up very many takedowns at all."
Β
Β
Players Mentioned
2026 MAC Championships Ben Bennett Interview
Saturday, March 07
2026 MAC Championships Andrew Austin Interview
Saturday, March 07
Chatting Chippewas - Ben Bennett
Wednesday, March 04
Wrestling Insider - 1.8.26
Thursday, January 08