Sunday, January 15
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
2 p.m.
Central Michigan University
26
vs
11
SIUE
CMU's Ben Cushman pins his opponent on Sunday during the Chippewas' dual meet victory over SIUE.
Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography
Wrestlers Roll Up Bonus Points for Second Consecutive MAC win
1/15/2023 5:34:00 PM | Wrestling
Cushman's pin highlights victory over SIUE
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan wrestling team scored bonus points in five of its six match victories on Sunday in posting a 26-11 Mid-American Conference dual meet victory over SIU Edwardsville at McGuirk Arena.
It was the Chippewas' second MAC dual victory of the weekend after their 23-18 win over Northern Illinois on Friday.
"This helps us a lot," said CMU coach Tom Borrelli, whose team improved to 2-5, 2-1 MAC. "If we hadn't have been successful this weekend it would have been hard to turn the season around. I think we can do that now."
The two victories are further evidence that Borrelli's Chippewas have turned the corner as they look ahead to the second half of the season, the MAC Championships, and the NCAA Championships.
Three of the Chippewas' five losses came to ranked teams: No. 1 Penn State, No. 9 North Carolina State, and No. 21 North Carolina.
"I think it prepared us for MAC competition," Borrelli said. "At the time I didn't think so, at the time I thought, 'Oh my gosh, we might be in over our head a little bit.'
"But now looking at things this weekend, I think it helped us. I'm excited with the improvements that our guys are making and they're gaining confidence."
Unlike on Friday against NIU when CMU dropped the first three matches, the Chippewas started fast against SIUE (2-5, 0-4).
Sean Spidle (125 pounds) posted a technical fall victory to open the dual, and then Vince Perez (133) followed with a major-decision win to stake the Chippewas to a 9-0 lead.
"That kind of lets everybody settle down and be themselves a little bit instead of being anxious," Borrelli said. "I was really impressed with Vince today; he shot and shot and shot and finished a lot of nice takedowns and Sean was real good on top today."
After close decision losses at 141 and 149, the Chippewas got a right-the-ship 11-6 victory from veteran Corbyn Munson at 157 to up their lead to 12-6.
Munson trailed, 4-0, early in the bout and then scored eight second-period points, getting a two-point near fall and then a four-point near fall plus a reversal, to take command.
"Any time your guy is behind and wins it motivates everyone," Borrelli said. "I think that got everyone going."
Tracy Hubbard (165) and Alex Cramer (174) followed with major-decision wins, and then senior Ben Cushman (184) provided the biggest highlight of the dual, a first-period pin that gave CMU an insurmountable 26-6 lead.
The Chippewas take a break from MAC competition when they go to Duke (3-4) for a nonconference dual on Thursday, Jan. 19, and then head to Campbell for the Chippewa Challenge, where they will face the host Camels along with CSU Bakersfield and American.
All three of CMU's Chippewa Challenge opponents are coached by former CMU wrestlers – Jason Borrelli (American), Tom Borrelli's son; Scotti Sentes (Campbell), and Luke Smith (Bakersfield).
Central Michigan 26, SIU Edwardsville 11
125 pounds: Sean Spidle (CMU) tech fall Davian Guanajuato, 6:00
133: Vince Perez (CMU) major dec. Aaron Schulist, 13-5
141: Saul Ervin (SIUE) dec. Ja'Kerion Merritt, 4-1
149: Caleb Tyus (SIUE) dec. Johnny Lovett, 5-4
157: Corbyn Munson (CMU) dec. Caine Tyus, 11-6
165: Tracy Hubbard (CMU) major dec. Bradley Gillum, 12-2
174: Alex Cramer (CMU) major dec. Chase Diehl, 11-2
184: Ben Cushman (CMU) pinned Sergio Villalobos, 1:24
197: Ryan Yarnell (SIUE) dec. Cameron Wood, 9-2
285: Colton McKiernan (SUIE) dec. Bryan Caves, 4-0
*SIUE one team point deduction
It was the Chippewas' second MAC dual victory of the weekend after their 23-18 win over Northern Illinois on Friday.
"This helps us a lot," said CMU coach Tom Borrelli, whose team improved to 2-5, 2-1 MAC. "If we hadn't have been successful this weekend it would have been hard to turn the season around. I think we can do that now."
The two victories are further evidence that Borrelli's Chippewas have turned the corner as they look ahead to the second half of the season, the MAC Championships, and the NCAA Championships.
Three of the Chippewas' five losses came to ranked teams: No. 1 Penn State, No. 9 North Carolina State, and No. 21 North Carolina.
"I think it prepared us for MAC competition," Borrelli said. "At the time I didn't think so, at the time I thought, 'Oh my gosh, we might be in over our head a little bit.'
"But now looking at things this weekend, I think it helped us. I'm excited with the improvements that our guys are making and they're gaining confidence."
Unlike on Friday against NIU when CMU dropped the first three matches, the Chippewas started fast against SIUE (2-5, 0-4).
Sean Spidle (125 pounds) posted a technical fall victory to open the dual, and then Vince Perez (133) followed with a major-decision win to stake the Chippewas to a 9-0 lead.
"That kind of lets everybody settle down and be themselves a little bit instead of being anxious," Borrelli said. "I was really impressed with Vince today; he shot and shot and shot and finished a lot of nice takedowns and Sean was real good on top today."
After close decision losses at 141 and 149, the Chippewas got a right-the-ship 11-6 victory from veteran Corbyn Munson at 157 to up their lead to 12-6.
Munson trailed, 4-0, early in the bout and then scored eight second-period points, getting a two-point near fall and then a four-point near fall plus a reversal, to take command.
"Any time your guy is behind and wins it motivates everyone," Borrelli said. "I think that got everyone going."
Tracy Hubbard (165) and Alex Cramer (174) followed with major-decision wins, and then senior Ben Cushman (184) provided the biggest highlight of the dual, a first-period pin that gave CMU an insurmountable 26-6 lead.
The Chippewas take a break from MAC competition when they go to Duke (3-4) for a nonconference dual on Thursday, Jan. 19, and then head to Campbell for the Chippewa Challenge, where they will face the host Camels along with CSU Bakersfield and American.
All three of CMU's Chippewa Challenge opponents are coached by former CMU wrestlers – Jason Borrelli (American), Tom Borrelli's son; Scotti Sentes (Campbell), and Luke Smith (Bakersfield).
Central Michigan 26, SIU Edwardsville 11
125 pounds: Sean Spidle (CMU) tech fall Davian Guanajuato, 6:00
133: Vince Perez (CMU) major dec. Aaron Schulist, 13-5
141: Saul Ervin (SIUE) dec. Ja'Kerion Merritt, 4-1
149: Caleb Tyus (SIUE) dec. Johnny Lovett, 5-4
157: Corbyn Munson (CMU) dec. Caine Tyus, 11-6
165: Tracy Hubbard (CMU) major dec. Bradley Gillum, 12-2
174: Alex Cramer (CMU) major dec. Chase Diehl, 11-2
184: Ben Cushman (CMU) pinned Sergio Villalobos, 1:24
197: Ryan Yarnell (SIUE) dec. Cameron Wood, 9-2
285: Colton McKiernan (SUIE) dec. Bryan Caves, 4-0
*SIUE one team point deduction
Players Mentioned
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ 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