Chippewas Make Noise Nationally

Coach Tom Borrelli's Central Michigan University wrestling team has finished in the top 20 in the NCAA Championships the past three season - fifth in 1998, seventh in 1999 and 20th in 2000, five different Chippewas earned All-American status during the run - national champion Casey Cunningham (twice), Ryan Cunningham (3), Mike Greenfield (2), Chris Marshall (2) and Chris Vike (1).

The CMU gymnastics team, coached by Jerry Reighard, has won the National Invitational Gymnastics (NIT) title in 1998 and 2000 and reached the NCAA regionals the past two seasons, Nicole Bills (1999) and Nikki Liphardt (2000) made it to the NCAA championships.

The Chippewa men's cross country team finished 20th in the NCAA Championships in 1998, coach Craig Fuller's harriers were led by two-time All-American Richie Brinker and All-American Ryan Watson.

Coach Margo Jonker's softball team has reached NCAA regional competition 10 times and finished fifth in the College World Series in 1987, the Chippewas were also fourth in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) finals in 1982, Pam Stanley was a three-time All-American for CMU, earning first team honors in 1991 and second team in 1990 and '92.

CMU baseball has qualified for the NCAA regionals 12 times since becoming Division I in 1972, leading those squads were first team All-Americans John Northrup (1976), Dave Pagel (1980), Carey Ross (1983), Denny McNamara (1990), Kevin Young (1994) and Toby Kominek (1995).

Central Michigan won the 1974 Division II national football championship with a convincing 54-14 victory over Delaware in the Camellia Bowl, All-Americans Mike Franckowiak and Rick Newsome powered that team.

Since joining the Mid-American Conference in 1973, Chippewa teams have captured 46 league championships - baseball (10), gymnastics (8), softball (8), football (4), men's basketball (4), men's cross country (4), wrestling (4), women's basketball (2), field hockey (1) and women's cross country (1).