Central Michigan University Athletics
Friday, March 18
Detroit, Mich.
Session 3: 11 a.m.
Central Michigan University
at
NCAA Championships
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
CMU Wrestlers Out At NCAA Championships
3/18/2022 4:25:00 PM | Wrestling
DETROIT – Dreams of All-America honors came to an end for the Central Michigan wrestlers on Friday at the NCAA Championships at Little Caesars Arena.
The final three Chippewas that began the day still alive in the three-day tournament were eliminated, ending the season for all three and the collegiate wrestling careers for two.
Matt Stencel (285 pounds), Dresden Simon (141) and Johnny Lovett (157) each lost on Friday and are out of the tournament. Stencel and Simon are seniors; Lovett is a redshirt sophomore. CMU's Corbyn Munson (149), a redshirt junior, was ousted from the tourney on Thursday after dropping two matches.
Stencel, vying to become a three-time All-American, was pinned by Missouri's Zach Elam in 32 seconds in an elimination match. Stencel would have needed to beat Elam and then win his next match to earn All-America honors and a spot on the podium as a top-eight finisher.
Stencel opened the day on Friday with a 4-2 win over Ben Goldin of Penn. Stencel finished 2-2 in the tournament and went 20-6 on the season. He is one of the winningest wrestlers in program history, won a record five Mid-American Conference titles, was a five-time NCAA qualifier, and twice earned All-America honors.
Simon was eliminated with a 9-5 loss to Northern Colorado's Andrew Alirez. Simon opened the day with an 8-7 victory over Parker Filius of Purdue. Simon finished 2-2 in the tournament and 20-7 on the season. He, like Stencel, wrapped up an outstanding career during which he joined CMU's exclusive 100-win club, captured two MAC titles and was an All-American in 2020.
Lovett dropped a 4-3 decision to Brady Berge of Penn State and finished the tournament 1-2. Lovett, who finished 22-8, was wrestling in the national tournament for the second consecutive season.
The final three Chippewas that began the day still alive in the three-day tournament were eliminated, ending the season for all three and the collegiate wrestling careers for two.
Matt Stencel (285 pounds), Dresden Simon (141) and Johnny Lovett (157) each lost on Friday and are out of the tournament. Stencel and Simon are seniors; Lovett is a redshirt sophomore. CMU's Corbyn Munson (149), a redshirt junior, was ousted from the tourney on Thursday after dropping two matches.
Stencel, vying to become a three-time All-American, was pinned by Missouri's Zach Elam in 32 seconds in an elimination match. Stencel would have needed to beat Elam and then win his next match to earn All-America honors and a spot on the podium as a top-eight finisher.
Stencel opened the day on Friday with a 4-2 win over Ben Goldin of Penn. Stencel finished 2-2 in the tournament and went 20-6 on the season. He is one of the winningest wrestlers in program history, won a record five Mid-American Conference titles, was a five-time NCAA qualifier, and twice earned All-America honors.
Simon was eliminated with a 9-5 loss to Northern Colorado's Andrew Alirez. Simon opened the day with an 8-7 victory over Parker Filius of Purdue. Simon finished 2-2 in the tournament and 20-7 on the season. He, like Stencel, wrapped up an outstanding career during which he joined CMU's exclusive 100-win club, captured two MAC titles and was an All-American in 2020.
Lovett dropped a 4-3 decision to Brady Berge of Penn State and finished the tournament 1-2. Lovett, who finished 22-8, was wrestling in the national tournament for the second consecutive season.
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