Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, January 10
Cedar Falls, Iowa
10 a.m. ET
Central Michigan University
26
vs
10
Harvard
CMU's Jimmy Nugent (left) went 5-0 with four bonus-point victories over the weekend at the NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography
Wrestling Downs Ohio to Finish 5th at NWCA National Duals
1/10/2026 5:09:00 PM | Wrestling
Chippewas provide plenty of highlights and hope as they look to league-opening dual on Jan. 16 at Northern Illinois
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Central Michigan wrestling team won two of three duals on Saturday to finish 3-2 and in fifth place in the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals at the UNI Dome on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa.
The Chippewas, who went 1-1 on Friday, opened on Saturday with a 26-10 over Harvard and then fell, 28-10, to eighth-ranked South Dakota State. They closed with a 23-15 win over Ohio in the fifth-place match.
"We come to this event because we know we're going to get some good competition and see some good, quality teams," CMU coach Ben Bennett said. "At this time of the season, that's what you're looking for. We need to figure out what we've got to continue to improve on."
The Chippewas (6-3) got off to a fast start against Ohio, winning the first five matches and scoring bonus point in four of them in building a 20-0 lead.
"Momentum is a real thing in duals," Bennett said. "And when you see guys on your team that are doing out there and dominating, it gives everyone confidence."
The Bobcats responded with four consecutive wins, one a tech fall and one a major decision, to draw to 19-15 heading into the final bout at 285 pounds. CMU's Bryan Caves posted a major decision victory to seal it.
CMU won seven of the final eight bouts against Harvard. Down 6-0 after dropping a pair of decisions to open the dual, the Chippewas got a major decision win from Nick Blackburn at 141 to cut Harvard's lead to 6-4 and then Jimmy Nugent (149) held on for a 20-17 victory to put CMU in front for good, 7-6.
Against the eighth-ranked Jackrabbits, the Chippewas got a major decision victory from Jimmy Nugent (149) and wins from Adrien Cramer (184) and Luke Cochran (197).
Among the many individual highlights in the tournament for the Chippewas was a huge win from freshman Archer Anderson on Friday over Northern Illinois' Blake West, the defending Mid-American Conference champion at 125 pounds.
"I think Archer is showing flashed that he can wrestle," Bennett said. "There's a lot to clean up, technically, but he's a competitor, has a great attitude, and you know when he goes out there there's going to be fireworks."
Nugent, a redshirt junior, won all five of his bouts on the weekend, one by pin and three by major decision.
CMU's Mason Shrader (157) did not wrestle on Friday and went 2-1 on Saturday, splitting a pair of matches against ranked opponents.
Shrader, who is ranked 30th nationally by InterMat, dropped a tough 4-2 decision to South Dakota State's Cael Swenson and defeated Harvard's Jimmy Harrington, 4-1. Swenson is ranked 18th and Harrington is 22nd.
CMU's Luke Cochran (197) finished 4-1 in the tournament with three of his wins coming by major decision. His lone loss came to Ohio's Zayne Lehman, who is ranked 25th.
"I just feel like a lot of the guys on the team had some moments where you can see it," Bennett said. "You can see it; it's like, hey, you're not that far off, we've just got to keep improving.
"And that's what we tell these guys: Just wrestle, score the next point, focus on scoring the next point, get another takedown, get your riding time, get your escape, just keep wrestling and don't worry so much about winning."
The tournament gave the Chippewas an opportunity to see two MAC opponents that they will face in duels later this season. They go to NIU on Friday, Jan. 16, and entertain Ohio on Jan. 30.
"Obviously it's nice to win duels here, but at the end of the day, this isn't the biggest thing in our season," Bennett said. "We've got to be back to work, watch film, make some adjustments and keep making improvements. That's the most important thing at the end of the day."
The focus now is the rematch with NIU just five days from now and the start of league duals.
"Sometimes losing is the best thing that can happen to you," Bennett said. "You need a little kick in the but to say, 'Hey, we've got to get going a little bit.'
"That's always a good duel with (NIU). They wrestle tough and we know they're going to bring it every time we wrestle; they always do, and that's what you want."
NWCA National Duals
Saturday, Jan. 10
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Central Michigan 23, Ohio 15
125: Archer Anderson (C) dec. Brayden Teunissen, 14-7, CMU 3, Ohio 0
133: Andrew Austin (C) tech. fall Ryan Meek, 19-3, 6:12, CMU 8, Ohio 0
141: Nick Blackburn (C) major dec. Abe Hermes, 11-3, CMU 12, Ohio 0
149: Jimmy Nugent (C) major dec. Sam Bustamante, 8-0, CMU 16, Ohio 0
157: No. 30/23 Mason Shrader (C) major dec. Dominic Sero, 15-6, CMU 20, Ohio 0
165: Jack Lledo (O) dec. Chandler Amaker (C), 7-2, CMU 19*, Ohio 3
174: Garrett Thompson (O) tech. fall Nick Marienfeld, 15-0, 4:05, CMU 19, Ohio 8
184:. No. 15/17 Sal Perrine (O) vs. Adrien Cramer, 4-1 SV, CMU 19, Ohio 11
197: No. 25/26 Zayne Lehman (O) major dec. Luke Cochran, 18-6, CMU 19, Ohio 15
285: No. 32/UR Bryan Caves (C) major dec. Wyatt Schmitt, 14-2, CMU 23, Ohio 15
*CMU one team point deduction for unsportsmanlike conduct
Rankings by InterMat/FloWrestling
South Dakota State 28, Central Michigan 10
125: No. 22/21 Brady Roark (SDSU) major dec. Archer Anderson, 15-7, SDSU 4, CMU 0
133: Cale Seaton (SDSU) dec. Andrew Austin, 7-3, SDSU 7, CMU 0
141: No. 15/21 Julian Tagg (SDSU) dec. Nick Blackburn, 8-2, SDSU 10, CMU 0
149: Jimmy Nugent (C) major dec. Logan Swensen, 12-1, SDSU 10, CMU 4
157: No. 18/20 Cael Swensen (SDSU) dec. No. 30/23 Mason Shrader, 4-2, SDSU 13, CMU 4
165: Jacob Herm (SDSU) fall Chandler Amaker, 2:57, SDSU 19, CMU 4
174: No. 16/17 Moses Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) dec. Brayden Gautreau, 4-2, SDSU 22, CMU 4
184: Adrien Cramer (C) dec. Jarrett Wadsen, 8-6, SDSU 22, CMU 7
197: Luke Cochran (C) dec. Quin Morgan, 13-7, SDSU 22, CMU 10
285: Micah Hach (SDSU) fall No. 32/UR Bryan Caves, 3:23, SDSU 28, CMU 10
Rankings by InterMat/FloWrestling
Central Michigan 26, Harvard 10
125: Logan Brzozowski (H) dec. Archer Anderson, 14-7, Harvard 3, CMU 0
133: Coleman Nogle (H) dec. Cameron Chinavare, 9-3, Harvard 6, CMU 0
141: Nick Blackburn (C) major dec. Sidney Tildsley, 12-3, Harvard 6, CMU 4
149: Jimmy Nugent (C) dec. Jack Crook, 20-17, CMU 7, Harvard 6
157: No. 30/23 Mason Shrader (C) dec. No. 22/22 Jimmy Harrington, 4-1, CMU 10, Harvard 6
165: Joseph Cangro (H) major dec. Chandler Amaker, CMU 10, Harvard 10
174: Nick Marienfeld (C) dec. Ben Smith, 8-2, CMU 13, Harvard 10
184: Adrien Cramer (C) dec. Matthew Walsh, 8-3, CMU 16, Harvard 10
197: Luke Cochran (C) major dec. Hudson Skove, 16-2, CMU 20, Harvard 10
285: Aidan Focker (C) fall Logan Marissal, 4:32, CMU 26, Harvard 10
Rankings by InterMat/FloWrestling
The Chippewas, who went 1-1 on Friday, opened on Saturday with a 26-10 over Harvard and then fell, 28-10, to eighth-ranked South Dakota State. They closed with a 23-15 win over Ohio in the fifth-place match.
"We come to this event because we know we're going to get some good competition and see some good, quality teams," CMU coach Ben Bennett said. "At this time of the season, that's what you're looking for. We need to figure out what we've got to continue to improve on."
The Chippewas (6-3) got off to a fast start against Ohio, winning the first five matches and scoring bonus point in four of them in building a 20-0 lead.
"Momentum is a real thing in duals," Bennett said. "And when you see guys on your team that are doing out there and dominating, it gives everyone confidence."
The Bobcats responded with four consecutive wins, one a tech fall and one a major decision, to draw to 19-15 heading into the final bout at 285 pounds. CMU's Bryan Caves posted a major decision victory to seal it.
CMU won seven of the final eight bouts against Harvard. Down 6-0 after dropping a pair of decisions to open the dual, the Chippewas got a major decision win from Nick Blackburn at 141 to cut Harvard's lead to 6-4 and then Jimmy Nugent (149) held on for a 20-17 victory to put CMU in front for good, 7-6.
Against the eighth-ranked Jackrabbits, the Chippewas got a major decision victory from Jimmy Nugent (149) and wins from Adrien Cramer (184) and Luke Cochran (197).
Among the many individual highlights in the tournament for the Chippewas was a huge win from freshman Archer Anderson on Friday over Northern Illinois' Blake West, the defending Mid-American Conference champion at 125 pounds.
"I think Archer is showing flashed that he can wrestle," Bennett said. "There's a lot to clean up, technically, but he's a competitor, has a great attitude, and you know when he goes out there there's going to be fireworks."
Nugent, a redshirt junior, won all five of his bouts on the weekend, one by pin and three by major decision.
CMU's Mason Shrader (157) did not wrestle on Friday and went 2-1 on Saturday, splitting a pair of matches against ranked opponents.
Shrader, who is ranked 30th nationally by InterMat, dropped a tough 4-2 decision to South Dakota State's Cael Swenson and defeated Harvard's Jimmy Harrington, 4-1. Swenson is ranked 18th and Harrington is 22nd.
CMU's Luke Cochran (197) finished 4-1 in the tournament with three of his wins coming by major decision. His lone loss came to Ohio's Zayne Lehman, who is ranked 25th.
"I just feel like a lot of the guys on the team had some moments where you can see it," Bennett said. "You can see it; it's like, hey, you're not that far off, we've just got to keep improving.
"And that's what we tell these guys: Just wrestle, score the next point, focus on scoring the next point, get another takedown, get your riding time, get your escape, just keep wrestling and don't worry so much about winning."
The tournament gave the Chippewas an opportunity to see two MAC opponents that they will face in duels later this season. They go to NIU on Friday, Jan. 16, and entertain Ohio on Jan. 30.
"Obviously it's nice to win duels here, but at the end of the day, this isn't the biggest thing in our season," Bennett said. "We've got to be back to work, watch film, make some adjustments and keep making improvements. That's the most important thing at the end of the day."
The focus now is the rematch with NIU just five days from now and the start of league duals.
"Sometimes losing is the best thing that can happen to you," Bennett said. "You need a little kick in the but to say, 'Hey, we've got to get going a little bit.'
"That's always a good duel with (NIU). They wrestle tough and we know they're going to bring it every time we wrestle; they always do, and that's what you want."
NWCA National Duals
Saturday, Jan. 10
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Central Michigan 23, Ohio 15
125: Archer Anderson (C) dec. Brayden Teunissen, 14-7, CMU 3, Ohio 0
133: Andrew Austin (C) tech. fall Ryan Meek, 19-3, 6:12, CMU 8, Ohio 0
141: Nick Blackburn (C) major dec. Abe Hermes, 11-3, CMU 12, Ohio 0
149: Jimmy Nugent (C) major dec. Sam Bustamante, 8-0, CMU 16, Ohio 0
157: No. 30/23 Mason Shrader (C) major dec. Dominic Sero, 15-6, CMU 20, Ohio 0
165: Jack Lledo (O) dec. Chandler Amaker (C), 7-2, CMU 19*, Ohio 3
174: Garrett Thompson (O) tech. fall Nick Marienfeld, 15-0, 4:05, CMU 19, Ohio 8
184:. No. 15/17 Sal Perrine (O) vs. Adrien Cramer, 4-1 SV, CMU 19, Ohio 11
197: No. 25/26 Zayne Lehman (O) major dec. Luke Cochran, 18-6, CMU 19, Ohio 15
285: No. 32/UR Bryan Caves (C) major dec. Wyatt Schmitt, 14-2, CMU 23, Ohio 15
*CMU one team point deduction for unsportsmanlike conduct
Rankings by InterMat/FloWrestling
South Dakota State 28, Central Michigan 10
125: No. 22/21 Brady Roark (SDSU) major dec. Archer Anderson, 15-7, SDSU 4, CMU 0
133: Cale Seaton (SDSU) dec. Andrew Austin, 7-3, SDSU 7, CMU 0
141: No. 15/21 Julian Tagg (SDSU) dec. Nick Blackburn, 8-2, SDSU 10, CMU 0
149: Jimmy Nugent (C) major dec. Logan Swensen, 12-1, SDSU 10, CMU 4
157: No. 18/20 Cael Swensen (SDSU) dec. No. 30/23 Mason Shrader, 4-2, SDSU 13, CMU 4
165: Jacob Herm (SDSU) fall Chandler Amaker, 2:57, SDSU 19, CMU 4
174: No. 16/17 Moses Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) dec. Brayden Gautreau, 4-2, SDSU 22, CMU 4
184: Adrien Cramer (C) dec. Jarrett Wadsen, 8-6, SDSU 22, CMU 7
197: Luke Cochran (C) dec. Quin Morgan, 13-7, SDSU 22, CMU 10
285: Micah Hach (SDSU) fall No. 32/UR Bryan Caves, 3:23, SDSU 28, CMU 10
Rankings by InterMat/FloWrestling
Central Michigan 26, Harvard 10
125: Logan Brzozowski (H) dec. Archer Anderson, 14-7, Harvard 3, CMU 0
133: Coleman Nogle (H) dec. Cameron Chinavare, 9-3, Harvard 6, CMU 0
141: Nick Blackburn (C) major dec. Sidney Tildsley, 12-3, Harvard 6, CMU 4
149: Jimmy Nugent (C) dec. Jack Crook, 20-17, CMU 7, Harvard 6
157: No. 30/23 Mason Shrader (C) dec. No. 22/22 Jimmy Harrington, 4-1, CMU 10, Harvard 6
165: Joseph Cangro (H) major dec. Chandler Amaker, CMU 10, Harvard 10
174: Nick Marienfeld (C) dec. Ben Smith, 8-2, CMU 13, Harvard 10
184: Adrien Cramer (C) dec. Matthew Walsh, 8-3, CMU 16, Harvard 10
197: Luke Cochran (C) major dec. Hudson Skove, 16-2, CMU 20, Harvard 10
285: Aidan Focker (C) fall Logan Marissal, 4:32, CMU 26, Harvard 10
Rankings by InterMat/FloWrestling
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