Amaker First, CMU Third at Keystone Classic

PHILADELPHIA – Chandler Amaker won the 165-pound weight class to lead the Central Michigan wrestling team to a third-place finish on Sunday in the Keystone Classic at the Palestra Arena at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Chippewas finished with 137 points. Lock Haven, which, like CMU, is a member of the Mid-American Conference, won the tournament with 149.5. Virginia Tech, which is ranked seventh nationally, was second with 139.5.

Eight teams comprised the field.

"We've got a good core group of guys, a solid team," first-year CMU coach Ben Bennett said. "We've got a lot to work with, and that's not just our starters, but our second stringers. We had some weights where two guys placed.

"Where we're at in the season, we feel pretty good about things. It's not where we want to be at the end of the season, but I think we have a lot to work with. The guys are progressing and continuing to figure out how to have success, which is what you want. They understand they have to keep working and getting better and it's good to see them go out and do well."

Amaker, a redshirt junior, went 3-0 on the day. He opened with a 6-0 win over Kylan Montgomery of Virginia Tech and then posted a 5-2 sudden victory over Lock Haven's Caden Dobbins in the semifinals. He topped Jackson Spires of Virginia Tech, 5-3, in the title match.

Amaker began the season as a backup to Tyler Swiderski, who was injured at the season-opening Michigan State Open. Dobbins placed fourth last season at the MAC Championships and is ranked fourth in the MAC this season. Amaker improved to 7-3 on the season.

"The thing with (Amaker), he always wrestles hard, but we talked with him about being a little more strategic," Bennett said. "This weekend he did a little better with wrestling a little smarter while still getting after it and I think it made a big difference in his results.

"He should feel pretty good about himself. Any time you can go win a college tournament – at this level it's not easy to do. As a coaching staff it gives us confidence. When people around you have confidence in you and you're doing well, it helps you as a wrestler. He should be feeling good about himself. He understands he has to keep working, but this tournament, it's a step in the right direction for him, definitely."

Three other Chippewas – Johnny Lovett (157), Adrien Cramer (184) and Bryan Caves (285) – reached the championship match in their respective weight classes.

Lovett dropped a 10-8 decision to Jude Swisher of Penn in his title match and finished 3-1 on the day; Cramer (3-1) fell, 4-1 in sudden victory to Colin Fegley of Lock Haven in his championship match; and Caves (2-1) lost on a 19-4 technical fall to Virginia Tech's Hunter Catka in the final.

Twelve of the 14 Chippewas who competed in the tournament placed. CMU's Alex Cramer, the No. 1 seed at 174, did not wrestle.

CMU got third place finishes from Mason Shrader (149), Mason Alessio (174) and Luke Cochran (197); fourths from Andrew Austin (133) and Cameron Wood (197); a fifth from Kaden Chinavare (125); and eighths from Grant Stahl (125) and Cody Brenner (184).

The Chippewas return to the mat on Friday, Dec. 6 with a dual meet at No. 22 Oklahoma and then wrestle at No. 20 Little Rock on Sunday, Dec. 8.

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Players Mentioned

Mason Alessio

Chandler Amaker

Andrew Austin

Cody Brenner

Bryan Caves

Kaden Chinavare

Luke Cochran

Adrien Cramer

Alex Cramer

Johnny Lovett

Mason Shrader

Grant Stahl

Tyler Swiderski

Cameron Wood