Central Michigan University Athletics

Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
CMU Wrestlers Out At NCAA Championships
3/18/2022 4:25:00β―PM | Wrestling
DETROIT β Dreams of All-America honors came to an end for the Central Michigan wrestlers on Friday at the NCAA Championships at Little Caesars Arena.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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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.
Β
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.
Β
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.
Β
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.
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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.
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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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Players Mentioned
Saturday, March 07
Saturday, March 07
Wednesday, March 04
Thursday, January 08










