CMU Wrestlers Drop 3 at Chippewa Challenge

Sunday, January 22

Buies Creek, N.C.

11 a.m.

Central Michigan University

CSU Bakersfield

Photo by: Sam Janicki

Photo by: Sam Janicki

Photo by: Sam Janicki

1/22/2023 5:18:00 PM | Wrestling

Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

CMU's Cramer, Munson, Lovett finish the day unbeaten

By: Andy Sneddon

BUIS CREEK, N.C. – The Central Michigan wrestling team went 0-3 on Sunday in the second annual Chippewa Challenge at Campbell's Gore Arena.

The Chippewas (3-8) return to Mid-American Conference competition with a dual meet at Ohio on Sunday, Jan. 29. The Bobcats are 3-6, 3-1 MAC. CMU is 2-1 in MAC duals.

The Chippewa Challenge brought together four programs – CMU, Campbell, Cal State Bakersfield and American -- in honor of legendary CMU coach Tom Borrelli.

Campbell, CSU Bakersfield and American are led by former CMU wrestlers who wrestled for Borrelli, who is in his 32^nd season in charge of the Chippewa program.

Borrelli's son, Jason, heads the program at American; Scotti Sentes is the head man at Campbell; and Luke Smith coaches CSU Bakersfield.

Tom Borrelli led the Chippewas to three wins and the title last season in the inaugural Challenge at McGuirk Arena.

On Sunday, the Chippewas fell, 21-16, to Smith's CSU Bakersfield squad; 18-17 to Jason Borrelli's American team; and 23-15 to Sentes' Fighting Camels.

Three Chippewas went undefeated on the day, led by Alex Cramer at 174 pounds.

Cramer opened with a 7-2 win over CSU Bakersfield and then followed with an 18-5 major-decision victory over American and closed with a 16-1 technical fall against Campbell.

Cramer's technical fall came with 3 seconds remaining in the first period. It was his ninth consecutive victory as he improved to 21-8 on the season. He has scored bonus points in four of those nine straight wins.

CMU's Corbyn Munson (157) and Johnny Lovett (149) also went unbeaten on Sunday.

Munson finished 3-0 to run his win streak to nine and improve to 21-8. He opened with a 4-2 win over CSU Bakersfield and then posted an 11-4 win over American. He closed with an 11-2 major against Campbell.

Lovett went 2-0, opening with a 10-1 major against American and closing with a 6-3 victory against Campbell, upping his record to 11-9 on the year.

The Chippewas' Tracy Hubbard (165) and Bryan Caves (285) both finished 2-1 on the day. Hubbard's wins came on a 10-2 major against CSU Bakersfield and a 10-3 decision against American.

Caves, a redshirt freshman, won 9-2 against CSU Bakersfield and 3-1 against American. He dropped an 8-5 decision to Campbell's Taye Ghadiali, a two-time NCAA Championships qualifier who is ranked 15^th nationally.

CSU Bakersfield 21, Central Michigan 16
125: Sean Spidle (C) dec. Eddie Flores, 9-2
133: Chance Rich (B) major dec. Vince Perez, 11-3
141: Angelo Martinoni (B) tech. fall Ja'Kerion Merritt, 15-0, 7:00
149: Josh Brown (B) dec. Mason Shrader, 13-7
157: Corbyn Munson (C) dec. Brock Rogers, 4-2
165: Tracy Hubbard (C) major dec. Braden Smelser, 10-2
174: Alex Cramer (C) dec. Albert Urias, 7-2
184: Jacob Hansen (B) pinned Ben Cushman, 6:34
197: Mateo Morales (B) dec. Cameron Wood, 9-4
285: Bryan Caves (C) dec. Jake Andrews, 9-2

American 18, Central Michigan 17
125: Maximillian Leete (A) dec. Sean Spidle, 5-2
133: Jack Maida (A) pinned Vince Perez, 1:06
141: Raymond Lopez (A) dec. Ja'Kerion Merritt, 7-1
149: Johnny Lovett (C) major dec. Devon Capato, 10-1
157: Corbyn Munson (C) dec. Jack Nies, 11-4
165: Caleb Campos (A) dec. Tracy Hubbard, 3-2
174: Alex Cramer (C) major dec. Lucas White, 18-5
184: Ben Cushman (C) dec. Colin Shannon, 6-2
197: Connor Bourne (A) dec. Cameron Wood, 5-3
285: Bryan Caves (C) vs. William Jarrell, 3-1

Campbell 23, Central Michigan 15
125: Anthony Molton (C) pinned Sean Spidle, 1:13
133: Gabriel Hixenbaugh (C) major dec. Vince Perez, 16-5
141: Shannon Hanna (C) major dec. Jimmy Nugent, 22-13
149: Johnny Lovett (CMU) dec. Chris Rivera, 6-3
157: Corbyn Munson (CMU) major dec. Hagen Heistand, 11-2
165: Tracy Hubbard (CMU) dec. Brant Cracraft, 10-3
174: Alex Cramer (CMU) tech. fall Patrick Adams, 16-1, 2:57
184: Caleb Hopkins (C) dec. Ben Cushman, 6-3
197: Levi Hopkins (C) dec. Cameron Wood, 5-1
285: Taye Ghadiali (C) dec. Bryan Caves, 8-5