Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, January 27
DeKalb, Ill.
2 p.m. ET
Central Michigan University
10
at
22
Northern Illinois
Central Michigan's Alex Cramer (right) posted a 20-5 technical fall victory on Saturday in the Chippewas' dual-meet loss at Northern Illinois.
Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography
Wrestlers Drop MAC Dual at NIU
1/27/2024 5:23:00β―PM | Wrestling
Chippewas return to the mat on Sunday at SIUE
DeKALB, Ill. βΒ Central Michigan dropped seven matches on Saturday in falling to Northern Illinois, 22-10, in a Mid-American Conference wrestling dual at the Huskies' Victor E. Court.
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It was CMU's first MAC dual loss of the season. The Chippewas (3-6, 1-1) go to SIUE on Sunday (2 p.m. ET) for another conference dual with the Eagles (5-2, 3-1).
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NIU improved to 10-2, 4-1, with its first dual win over the Chippewas since 2020 and just its second since 2003.
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NIU won the first three matches by decision in putting the Chippewas into a 9-0 hole. CMU won three of the next four bouts, one on a technical fall, to draw to 12-10.
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But NIU responded by winning the final three bouts to pull away.
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CMU's wins came from its three nationally ranked wrestlers, Corbyn Munson (149 pounds), Johnny Lovett (157) and Alex Cramer (174).
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Five of the Chippewa losses were within three points, and in several of those bouts, CMU led before being overtaken.
"I give a lot of credit to (Northern Illinois)," CMU coach Tom Borrelli said. "They beat us in a lot of real tight matches. They were just tougher than us today and grittier than us today. They outfought us. That's all there is to it.
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"125, we're winning that match, a large portion of that match; 133, the same thing, and they came back and beat us; 165, the same thing. You win those three matches, and the whole dual meet's different. They had the guts to come back and get us."
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β’ Munson, who is ranked 16thΒ by InterMat and eighth by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, posted a 7-1 win over Jaivon Jones, who came in ranked 31stΒ by InterMat and 30thΒ by the NWCA.
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Munson, who is ranked first in the MAC, improved to 19-4 and ran his win streak to five. Jones is ranked fourth in the MAC.
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β’ Lovett, who is ranked 26thΒ (InterMat) and 21stΒ (NWCA), also won his fifth straight and also improved to 19-4, holding off freshman Brett Smith, 5-4.
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β’ Cramer, ranked 28thΒ and 22nd, scored a 20-5 technical fall over Ricardo Salinas. It was Cramer's fourth consecutive victory as he improved to 16-7.
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It marked his fourth tech fall of the season. All four of his wins during his streak have come with bonus points.
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Northern Illinois 22, Central Michigan 10
125: Blake West (N) dec. Sean Spidle, 7-5, NIU 3, CMU 0
133: Michael Kaminski (N) dec. Andrew Austin, 13-10 SV-1, NIU 6, CMU 0
141: Jacob Brya (N) dec. Ja'Kerion Merritt, 5-0, NIU 9, CMU 0
149: Corbyn Munson (C) dec. Jaivon Jones, 7-1, NIU 9, CMU 3
157: Johnny Lovett (C) dec. Brett Smith, 5-4, NIU 9, CMU 5*
165: Tommy Bennett (N) dec. Tyler Swiderski, 5-4, NIU 12, CMU 5
174: Alex Cramer (C) tech. fall Ricardo Salinas, 20-5, 6:12, NIU 12, CMU 10
184: Matt Zuber (N) major dec. Adrien Cramer, 10-2, NIU 16, CMU 10
197: Carter Grewe (N) dec. Cameron Wood, 7-4, NIU 19, CMU 10
285: Jacobi Jackson (N) dec. Bryan Caves, 4-1, NIU 22, CMU 10
*CMU one team point deduction for unsportsmanlike conduct
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It was CMU's first MAC dual loss of the season. The Chippewas (3-6, 1-1) go to SIUE on Sunday (2 p.m. ET) for another conference dual with the Eagles (5-2, 3-1).
Β
NIU improved to 10-2, 4-1, with its first dual win over the Chippewas since 2020 and just its second since 2003.
Β
NIU won the first three matches by decision in putting the Chippewas into a 9-0 hole. CMU won three of the next four bouts, one on a technical fall, to draw to 12-10.
Β
But NIU responded by winning the final three bouts to pull away.
Β
CMU's wins came from its three nationally ranked wrestlers, Corbyn Munson (149 pounds), Johnny Lovett (157) and Alex Cramer (174).
Β
Five of the Chippewa losses were within three points, and in several of those bouts, CMU led before being overtaken.
"I give a lot of credit to (Northern Illinois)," CMU coach Tom Borrelli said. "They beat us in a lot of real tight matches. They were just tougher than us today and grittier than us today. They outfought us. That's all there is to it.
Β
"125, we're winning that match, a large portion of that match; 133, the same thing, and they came back and beat us; 165, the same thing. You win those three matches, and the whole dual meet's different. They had the guts to come back and get us."
Β
β’ Munson, who is ranked 16thΒ by InterMat and eighth by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, posted a 7-1 win over Jaivon Jones, who came in ranked 31stΒ by InterMat and 30thΒ by the NWCA.
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Munson, who is ranked first in the MAC, improved to 19-4 and ran his win streak to five. Jones is ranked fourth in the MAC.
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β’ Lovett, who is ranked 26thΒ (InterMat) and 21stΒ (NWCA), also won his fifth straight and also improved to 19-4, holding off freshman Brett Smith, 5-4.
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β’ Cramer, ranked 28thΒ and 22nd, scored a 20-5 technical fall over Ricardo Salinas. It was Cramer's fourth consecutive victory as he improved to 16-7.
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It marked his fourth tech fall of the season. All four of his wins during his streak have come with bonus points.
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Northern Illinois 22, Central Michigan 10
125: Blake West (N) dec. Sean Spidle, 7-5, NIU 3, CMU 0
133: Michael Kaminski (N) dec. Andrew Austin, 13-10 SV-1, NIU 6, CMU 0
141: Jacob Brya (N) dec. Ja'Kerion Merritt, 5-0, NIU 9, CMU 0
149: Corbyn Munson (C) dec. Jaivon Jones, 7-1, NIU 9, CMU 3
157: Johnny Lovett (C) dec. Brett Smith, 5-4, NIU 9, CMU 5*
165: Tommy Bennett (N) dec. Tyler Swiderski, 5-4, NIU 12, CMU 5
174: Alex Cramer (C) tech. fall Ricardo Salinas, 20-5, 6:12, NIU 12, CMU 10
184: Matt Zuber (N) major dec. Adrien Cramer, 10-2, NIU 16, CMU 10
197: Carter Grewe (N) dec. Cameron Wood, 7-4, NIU 19, CMU 10
285: Jacobi Jackson (N) dec. Bryan Caves, 4-1, NIU 22, CMU 10
*CMU one team point deduction for unsportsmanlike conduct
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