Wrestlers go 2-1, Finish 2nd in Chippewa Challenge

Sunday, January 14

Bakersfield, Calif.

4 p.m. ET

Central Michigan University

CSU Bakersfield

CMU redshirt sophomore Cameron Wood went 2-1 -- earning bonus points in both victories -- on Sunday at the Chippewa Challenge at Cal State Bakersfield.

Photo by: For Cenral Michigan University

1/14/2024 11:19:00 PM | Wrestling

By: Andy Sneddon

In BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Five Central Michigan wrestlers went unbeaten on Sunday as the Chippewas finished second in the 3^rd annual Chippewa Challenge at Cal State Bakersfield's Icardo Center.

CMU went 2-1 in the event, which pits four programs with deep ties to Chippewa wrestling. Each of the head coaches of three other teams – CSU Bakersfield, Campbell and American – wrestled at CMU for Tom Borrelli, who is now in his 33^rd season in charge of the program.

Coach Scotti Sentes' Campbell squad handed CMU its lone loss on the day, 20-14, and walked away with the Challenge title for the first time, going a perfect 3-0.

CMU won the inaugural Challenge, contested at McGuirk Arena, in 2021. American, coached by Borrelli's son, Jason, captured the crown last season. CSU Bakersfield is led by Luke Smith. In addition, three CMU assistant coaches -- Ben Bennett, Colin Heffernan and Matt Stencel -- wrestled at CMU for Borrelli as did Campbell associate head coach Wynn Michalak and director of operations Dresden Simon.

Campbell (6-3) opened with a 26-9 win over American and then defeated CSU Bakersfield, 39-3, to complete a 3-0 day.

The Chippewas (2-5) opened with a 40-3 win over the host Roadrunners, and then downed American, 22-12, in their final dual.

Corbyn Munson (149 pounds) went 3-0 on the day to lead the Chippewas, while Jimmy Nugent (141), Johnny Lovett (157) and Tyler Swiderski (165) each finished 2-0. CMU's Ja'Kerion Merritt (141) posted a win in his only bout.

Not unexpectedly, the title was decided in the CMU-Campbell dual. The Camels won six matches, including the final three. The Camels' lineup included four ranked wrestlers, all of whom were NCAA Championships qualifiers last season. Campbell finished second in the Southern Conference Tournament in 2023.

There were four major-decision matches, two by each team. Lovett and Alex Cramer recorded the CMU majors. The Chippewas dropped two overtime matches and another by one point.

"I think for the most part we're getting better, we're wrestling better," Tom Borrelli said. "We had our opportunities to beat Campbell, we just didn't make it happen. We had a real close match at 125, a real close match at 165, a real close match at 184, and if those matches go our way, we win the dual meet pretty handily.

"We're getting better. (Campbell) was a good bit better than us last year and they've got a pretty experienced team. I think they've got six or seven five- or six-year guys in their lineup. We've just got to break through. We haven't quite broken through yet."

The Chippewas recorded a combined 12 bonus-point victories on the day. Against CSU Bakersfield, they got pins from Vince Perez (133) and Mason Shrader (157); technical falls from Merritt, Munson and Cameron Wood (197), and a major decision from Cody Brenner (184).

The Chippewas won six matches against American. Four of those wins were majors from Lovett, Swiderski, Cramer and Wood.

"To win dual meets, especially evenly matched dual meets, it comes down to bonus points," Borrelli said. "When you're getting the bonus-point wins your chances of winning are going way up."

Wood, a redshirt sophomore, overcame an early deficit for a 13-4 win against American. His victory, his fourth in his last six bouts, clinched the dual as he improved to 8-10 on the season. He has scored bonus points in all eight of his victories.

"He was on his back (early) and we didn't know if he was going to get pinned or not and he fought off his back and ended up taking the kid down and turning him," Borrelli said. "Those guys in our lineup that are working really hard at getting over the hump, anytime those guys have success, it's important."

The Chippewas entertain Edinboro on Sunday, Jan. 21 (2 p.m.) in their Mid-American Conference-opening dual at McGuirk Arena.

Central Michigan 40, CSU Bakersfield 3
125: Sean Spidle (C) dec. Richard Castro-Sandoval, 5-3. CMU 3, CSUB 0
133: Vince Perez (C) pin Santino Sanchez, 4:25. CMU 9, CSUB 0
141: Ja'Kerion Merritt (C) tech. fall Wanderlei Whittington, 17-2, 7:00, CMU 14, CSUB 0
149: Corbyn Munson (C) tech. fall Brock Rogers, 19-3, 6:05, CMU 19, CSUB 0
157: Mason Shrader (C) pin Jacob Peralta, 5:00, CMU 25, CSUB 0
165: Tyler Swiderski (C) dec. Guillermo Escobedo, 13-7, CMU 28, CSUB 0
174: Augie Garcia (CSUB) dec. Alex Cramer, 8-2, CMU 28, CSUB 3
184: Cody Brenner (C) major dec. Braden Smelser, 10-1, CMU 32, CSUB 3
197: Cameron Wood (C) tech. fall Khristian Dove, 15-0, 5:00, CMU 37, CSUB 3
285: Bryan Caves (C) dec. Jake Andrews, 2-0, CMU 40, CSUB 3

Campbell 20, Central Michigan 14
125: Anthony Molton (Campbell) dec. Sean Spidle, 3-1 TB-1, Campbell 3, CMU 0
133: Domenic Zaccone (Campbell) major dec. Vince Perez, 19-9, Campbell 7, CMU 0
141: Jimmy Nugent (CMU) dec. Wynton Denkins, 17-16, Campbell 7, CMU 3
149: Corbyn Munson (CMU) dec. Justin Rivera, 5-0, Campbell 7, CMU 6
157: Johnny Lovett (CMU) major dec. Chris Earnest, 14-6, CMU 10, Campbell 7
165: Dom Baker (Campbell) dec. Tracy Hubbard, 4-1 SV-1, CMU 10, Campbell 10
174: Alex Cramer (CMU) major dec. Riley Augustine (Camp.), 12-0, CMU 14, Campbell 10
184: Caleb Hopkins (Campbell) dec. Cody Brenner, 6-5, CMU 14, Campbell 13
197: Levi Hopkins (Campbell) dec. Cameron Wood, 5-0, Campbell 16, CMU 14
285: Taye Ghadiali (Campbell) major dec. Bryan Caves, 13-4, Campbell 20, CMU 14

Central Michigan 22, American 12
125: Jack Maida (A) dec. Sean Spidle, 3-2, AU 3, CMU 0
133: Maximillan Leete (A) dec. Vince Perez, 5-4, AU 6, CMU 0
141: Jimmy Nugent (C) dec. Raymond Lopez, 17-13, AU 6, CMU 3
149: Corbyn Munson (C) dec. Jack Nies, 4-0, CMU 6, AU 6
157: Johnny Lovett (C) major dec. Kaden Milheim, 14-2, CMU 10, AU 6
165: Tyler Swiderski (C) major dec. Ryan Zimmerman, 19-8, CMU 14, AU 6
174: Alex Cramer (C) major dec. Lucas White, 12-1, CMU 18, AU 6
184: Connor Bourne (A) dec. Cody Brenner, 7-3, CMU 18, AU 9
197: Cameron Wood (C) major dec. Caleb Beaty, 13-4, CMU 22, AU 9
285: William Jarrell (A) dec. Bryan Caves, 5-0, CMU 22, AU 9