Wrestlers Claim 2 Firsts At Journeymen Classic

Sunday, November 14

Manheim, PA.

9 a.m.

Central Michigan University

Journeymen Classic

Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22

11/14/2021 5:01:00 PM | Wrestling

Photo Gallery

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

MANHEIM, Pa. – Central Michigan recorded two firsts and two seconds on Sunday at the Journeymen Classic.

CMU's Johnny Lovett (157 pounds) and Dresden Simon (141) both went 3-0 to win their weight classes under the unique round-robin format.

Wrestlers representing 18 universities and colleges were divided into four-wrestler pools, with each pool comprising wrestlers of similar skill level and experience. The top wrestlers competed in the A Pool in each weight class.

"The best thing about this trip is everybody gets three matches and it's pretty quality competition," CMU coach Tom Borrelli said. "Regardless of whether you're in the A Pool, the B Pool or the C Pool, it's about to a wrestler's skill level."

Lovett and Simon were both A Pool champions, while the Chippewas' Matt Stencel (285) and Corbyn Munson (149) both finished 2-1 to place second in the A Pool in their respective weight classes.

Lovett opened with a 4-1 win over Doug Zapf of Penn and then won by medical forfeit over Josh Humphreys of Lehigh. Lovett defeated Hunter Willits of Oregon State, 4-2, to claim the title.

Simon was dominant, opening with a 15-3 major-decision victory over Julian Sanchez of Army and then posted a 12-7 win over Grant Willits of Oregon State. Simon downed Josh Mason of Bloomsburg, 10-4, in the final.

Stencel finished 1-1, opening with a pin in 2:30 of Gary Traub of Oregon State. Stencel then dropped a 3-1 decision to Jordan Wood of Lehigh in the final.

Munson took a 5-4 victory from Manzona Bryant of Lehigh and then downed Corey Crooks of Oregon State, 8-5. He fell, 6-3, to P.J. Ogunsanya of Army in the title match.

The Chippewas are off until they entertain Rider in a Mid-American Conference dual meet on Friday, Dec. 3 at McGuirk Arena. CMU opened the season a week ago at the Michigan State Open.

"I think both of the competitions we've been in were very good for us," Borrelli said. "Now we have something to focus on moving forward as far as what we need to do to get better. Whether it's skill or conditioning or mat strategy – any of that stuff; we've got something to evaluate."

Ten other Chippewas wrestled at the Journeymen Classic, including Brock Bergelin (125) and Vince Perez (133) in the A Pool.

Bergelin finished 2-1. He opened with an 8-4 win over Diego Sotelo of Harvard and then fell, 7-4, to Carter Bailey. Bergelin closed with a 10-3 win over Shawn Orem of Bloomsburg.

Perez fell on a 15-6 major decision to Jason Shaner of Oregon State and then lost on a 19-2 technical fall to Michael Colaicco of Penn. Perez closed the day with a 9-4 loss to Mark Montgomery of Army.

Also for CMU, Mason Breece (149), Drew Marten (141), Cade Dallwitz (197), Sean Spidle (125) and Tracy Hubbard (165) each finished 2-1, while Alex Jacobs (165), Bret Fedewa (174) and Ja'Kerion Merritt (133) each finished 1-2.

• Breece pinned Matt Laurie of Sacred Heart in 5:54 to open the tournament and then posted a 6-4 SV-1 victory over Kaya Sement of Penn. Breece dropped a 3-1 decision to John Arceri of Buffalo in his final bout.

• Marten defeated Dan Moran of Lehigh, 5-4, in his opening match and then posted a 12-0 major-decision victory over Chris Gomez of Long Island. Marten fell, 7-5, to Thomas Deck of Army in his final bout.

• Spidle opened with a 7-2 victory over Jake Stand Staud of Army and then dropped a 5-1 decision to Jacob Dunlop of Gannon. Spidle closed with a 15-4 major-decision win over Kaelen Francois of Long Island.

• Hubbard opened with a 16-2 major-decision victory over Joseph Metz of Army and then followed with an 8-5 victory over Cam Connor of Penn. Hubbard was pinned in 3:48 by Dalton Harkins of Army in his final bout.

• Dallwitz opened with a 5-1 win over Evan Callahan of Harvard and then posted a 10-4 victory over David Tuttle of Bloomsburg. Dallwitz was pinned in 4:00 in his final bout by Nick Marcenelle of Harvard.

• Jacobs dropped a 2-0 decision to Ashton Eyler of Lock Haven and then fell on a 13-0 major decision to Dillon Keeane of Pitt. Jacobs took a 12-2 major decision from Kyle Matthews of Long Island in his final bout.

• Merritt posted a 12-3 major-decision win over Matthew Morris of of Millersville and then fell, 5-2, to Gabe Strickland of Lock Haven, and then 5-4 to Dillon Murphy of Harvard.

• Fedewa pinned Tanner Culver of Bloomsburg in 6:20 in his opening bout, and then dropped a 3-2 decision to Mateo Olmos of Oregon State and then fell, 3-1, to Mason Reinche of Oregon State.