Central Michigan Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan Chippewas Open Dual Season with 32-6 Win Over Chattanooga

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan opened the dual meet portion of its schedule with a 32-6 win over Chattanooga Sunday at Rose Center.

The 13th-ranked Chippewas won nine of 10 individual bouts, with the lone loss being a void at 141 pounds. CMU scored bonus points in three matches and allowed a total of just two takedowns and three reversals in the victory.

Matt Steintrager built a 5-0 lead on takedowns in the first and second period against Demetrius Johnson at 125 pounds, but Johnson reversed Steintrager late in the second period, escaped to open the third and took Steintrager down on the edge of the mat to tie the score at 5-5. Steintrager scored an escape with one minute remaining for the decisive point.

Scotti Sentes was victorious in his debut at 133 pounds, pinning Josh Statum at the 4:49 mark. After a scoreless first period, Sentes quickly worked Statum to his back in the second period and scored three back points before eventually sticking the pin.

UTC scored its only team points when CMU voided the 141-pound match.

Tony D‚Alie scored a takedown 10 seconds into his 149-pound match with Dean Pavlou, and he added three more takedowns and built a riding time advantage of 2:02 in a 10-2 major decision at 149 pounds.

In the only matchup of ranked opponents, Steve Brown earned a 6-5 decision over Joey Knox at 157 pounds. Brown, ranked eighth nationally, scored a pair of first-period takedowns and added a reversal in the second period of take control of the match. Knox, ranked No. 16 nationally, tallied an escape early in the third period and a takedown in the closing seconds for the final margin.

Tyler Grayson added three team points for the Chippewas with an 8-3 decision at 165 pounds. Grayson scored a takedown in each period while building a riding time advantage of 2:03.

Mike Miller, the nation‚s top-ranked 174-pounder, opened his season with a 3-1 decision over Chattanooga‚s Jake Young. Miller and Young traded escapes before Miller scored the decisive takedown in the third period.

Redshirt freshman Ben Bennett earned his first career victory at 184 pounds, claiming a 5-4 decision over UTC‚s Jason McCroskey. Bennett scored the only takedown of the bout in the first period, but the pair traded reversals before Bennett added an escape late in the opening period. A pair of escapes accounted for the rest of the scoring.

Eric Simaz scored an escape and a takedown in the second period on his way to a 4-0 victory at 197 pounds. Simaz held a riding time advantage of 2:28 in the match.

Jarod Trice capped the win with an 11-1 major decision at heavyweight. Trice scored four takedowns in the victory and added riding time.

CMU is off until Nov. 28 when it travels to Northeast Duals.

No. 13 Central Michigan 32, Chattanooga 6
125: Matt Steintrager (CMU) dec. Demetrius Johnson, 6-5; CMU leads 3-0
133: No. 9 Scotti Sentes (CMU) pin Josh Statum at 4:49; CMU leads 9-0
141: No. 20 Cody Cleveland (UTC), win by forfeit; CMU leads 9-6
149: No. 19 Tony D‚Alie (CMU) maj. dec. Dean Pavlou, 10-2; CMU leads 13-6
157: No. 8 Steve Brown (CMU) dec. No. 16 Joey Knox, 6-5; CMU leads 16-6
165: Tyler Grayson (CMU) dec. Brandon Wright, 8-3; CMU leads 19-6
174: No. 1 Mike Miller (CMU) dec. Jake Young, 3-1; CMU leads 22-6
184: No. 16 Ben Bennett (CMU) dec. Jason McCroskey, 5-4; CMU leads 25-6
197: Eric Simaz (CMU) dec. Niko Brown, 4-0; CMU leads 28-6
285: No. 11 Jarod Trice (CMU) maj. dec. Tom Minwell, 11-1; CMU leads 32-6

Attendance: 344
Borrelli Coaching Tree Extends Across the Country

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan head wrestling coach Tom Borrelli is recognized nationally for his ability to mold championship-caliber student-athletes, but his influence is now spreading through the coaching profession as well.

In 18 seasons at CMU, Borrelli has coached 29 All-Americans and led CMU to 10 Mid-American Conference championships and 11 conference tournament titles. He has been named MAC Coach of the Year 10 times.

And now, many of those same student-athletes Borrelli guided to success on the mat are following his footsteps into the coaching profession. At least 33 individuals with ties to the Borrelli era at CMU are now involved in coaching at either the college, high school or club level.

"Traditionally, Central Michigan University has been a teaching institution, and what we are trying to do is produce individuals who can be competent in their professional fields," Borrelli said. "I think it is a compliment to our institution that we have had as much success in the coaching profession as we have."

Earlier this year, Borrelli was selected as one of 19 collegiate coaches, administrators and businessmen from across the country to serve as a peer mentor for young wrestling coaches at the National Wrestling Coaches Association's inaugural Coaches Leadership Academy. The invitation was largely in recognition of the respect Borrelli has earned from his peers nationally.

The academy was simply an extension of habits Borrelli has formed in his own practice room at CMU. The veteran coach has developed a sense of recognizing which of his student-athletes could enter the coaching profession and preparing them early for the role. Not coincidentally, many of the former Chippewas now in the coaching profession have been some of the most successful competitors of Borrelli's tenure.

"The guys that have coaching qualities share a lot of the same traits," Borrelli said. "They are leaders by example, they're hard workers and they're motivated not just by personal success, but team success as well. If I see coaching being in the future of someone, I'll say certain things to them or put them in certain situations in practice or in meetings. I might ask them, 'How would you react to that or handle that if you were in my shoes?' just to get them in that mindset."

Of the 12 opponents currently on CMU's 2009-10 dual meet schedule, four have members of their coaching staffs who competed at CMU under Borrelli. That number will likely increase when the Chippewas' opponents at the Northeast Duals and National Duals are announced. Among those former wrestlers is Borrelli's youngest son, Jason, who is entering his second season as the head coach at Stanford. The Cardinal visit CMU on Jan. 17.

"Wrestling coaches, especially at the college level, are part of a pretty small fraternity," Borrelli said. "I stay in really good contact with most of those guys, but it can be difficult when you have to compete against someone you know that well."

Former CMU wrestlers can be found on the coaching staffs of 10 other NCAA Division I programs aside from CMU. High school programs in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, California and Florida also feature former Chippewas on their coaching staffs.

Within his own office, all four of Borrelli's staff members are former Chippewas. Top assistant coach Mark DiSalvo was a two-time All-American, while second assistant Eric Kruger was a MAC champion and national qualifier. All-Americans Wynn Michalak and Bubba Gritter also remain involved in the CMU wrestling program.

Borrelli has long been respected for his ability to develop championship student-athletes. What can no longer be ignored is his ability to develop championship coaches as well.

- central michigan athletics -


Scott Rex
Assistant Sports Information Director
Central Michigan University
Rose Center 115
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
989.774.7323 (office)
989.621.9450 (cell)
scott.rex@cmich.edu

Central Michigan Wrestling Announces 2009-10 Schedule

MOUNT PLEASANT – Central Michigan University head wrestling coach Tom Borrelli has announced his program’s schedule for the 2009-10 season.

The Chippewas will face four dual opponents that finished in the top-25 of the team standings at the 2009 NCAA Championships, participate in the nationally renowned National Duals and Midlands tournaments and host the 2010 Mid-American Conference Championships.

“I think we have a really competitive schedule again this year,” Borrelli said. “We’ll have some tough nonconference matches, and we know we’ll see quality competition at both the Northeast Duals and National Duals.”

CMU opens the dual meet season at home against Tenn.-Chattanooga on Sunday, Nov. 15. The Chippewas also will host nonconference duals against Michigan State (Dec. 12) and Stanford (Jan. 17). Jason Borrelli, a four-year letterman at CMU (2003-06) and son of CMU head coach Tom Borrelli, is entering his second season as the head coach at Stanford.

“It’s pretty neat that we’re going to have Stanford here, and then to have my son as the head coach there is pretty neat too,” Borrelli said. “I’m excited about it.”

CMU opens the MAC portion of the schedule at Eastern Michigan on Jan. 21. The Chippewas will host conference duals against Northern Illinois (Feb. 7) and Ohio (Feb. 19).

CMU will host the MAC Championships on March 6-7 at Rose Arena. The Chippewas have won the conference tournament eight consecutive seasons. CMU last hosted the conference tournament in 2003, when it won the second of those eight straight titles.

The 2010 NCAA Championships are slated for March 18-20 in Omaha.

CMU 2009-10 Wrestling Schedule
Date    Opponent    Time
Oct. 30    Maroon/Gold Intrasquad    7:30 p.m.
Nov. 7    at Eastern Michigan Open    TBA
Nov. 15    at Michigan State Open    9:30 a.m.
Nov. 15    TENN.-CHATTANOOGA    2 p.m.
Nov. 28    at Northeast Duals    10 a.m.
Dec. 12    MICHIGAN STATE    7 p.m.
Dec. 19    vs. Nebraska-Kearney    10 a.m.
Dec. 19    at Nebraska    noon
Dec. 29-30    at Midlands    9 a.m.
Jan. 8-9    at National Duals    TBA
Jan. 17    STANFORD    2 p.m.
Jan. 21    at Eastern Michigan*    7 p.m.
Jan. 29    at Virginia Tech    7 p.m.
Jan. 31    at Old Dominion    5:30 p.m.
Feb. 7    NORTHERN ILLINOIS*    2 p.m.
Feb. 14    at Buffalo*    1 p.m.
Feb. 19    OHIO*    7:30 p.m.
Feb. 21    at Kent State*    2 p.m.
March 6-7    MAC Championships    TBA
March 18-20    NCAA Championships    TBA
Home matches in CAPS
*indicates MAC dual

###




Scott Rex
Assistant Sports Information Director
Central Michigan University
Rose Center 115
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
989.774.7323 (office)
989.621.9450 (cell)
scott.rex@cmich.edu

Central Michigan's DiDona Named to Academic All-MAC Team

MOUNT PLEASANT ˆ Central Michigan University senior Vince DiDona (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward HS) has been named to the Academic All-Mid-American Conference wrestling team.

DiDona is a marketing major with a 3.31 grade-point average. He was the MAC Championships runner-up at 184 pounds and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.

DiDona finished the season with an overall record of 28-14, more than doubling his career win total during senior season. He was named MAC Wrestler of the Week on Jan. 28 after defeating 10th-ranked Vince Jones (Nebraska), 8-6.

DiDona earns academic all-conference honors for the second time in his career. He also was named to the academic all-conference squad in 2006.

The Academic All-MAC honor is for student-athletes who have at least a 3.20 grade-point average and participate in at least 50 percent of the contests for their particular sport. First-year students and transfer students in their first season at an institution are not eligible for the Academic All-MAC honor. The team is voted on by the schools‚ Faculty Athletics Representatives.

CMU finished tied for 14th at the NCAA Championships last week, the fifth time in the last six years the Chippewas have finished in the top-15 at the national tournament.
Central Michigan's Miller Runner-Up at NCAA Championships

ST. LOUIS ˆ Central Michigan sophomore Mike Miller has finished as the national runner-up in the 174-pound bracket at the NCAA Wrestling Championships.

Miller, the No. 7 seed, lost to No. 1 seed and undefeated Steve Luke (Michigan), 8-4, in the national championship match Saturday night. Miller had defeated the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, to advance to the national title bout.

This is the second time in as many years CMU has produced a national runner-up. Wynn Michalak finished second in the 197-pound bracket in 2008.

Miller earned All-America honors for the second time, and true freshman 125-pounder Scotti Sentes was an All-American for the first time as CMU finished tied for 14th in the team standings.

The Chippewas‚ 35 team points are the sixth-most CMU has ever scored at the NCAA Championships.

Miller is CMU‚s second runner-up in as many seasons. His appearance in the finals marked the fifth time a Chippewa has wrestled for a Division I national championship.

Miller, the No. 7 seed at 174 pounds, had defeated the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds to earn a place in the finals against No. 1 seed and undefeated Steve Luke (Michigan).

Luke scored a pair of takedowns in the first period, but both times Miller escaped. Miller started the second period in the bottom position and escaped to cut Luke‚s lead to 4-3, but a third Luke takedown midway through the period made it 6-3. Miller escaped later in the period to pull within 6-4, but Luke added a third-period escape and the riding time point for the final margin.

Miller concludes his sophomore season 30-7 overall.

Earlier Saturday, true freshman Scotti Sentes defeated Kent State‚s Nic Bedelyon, 7-2, in the 125-pound seventh-place match.

Sentes is the first true freshman All-American in school history. He finished the season 30-8 overall, setting a school record for victories by a true freshman.

CMU finished the national tournament with multiple All-Americans for the sixth straight season and ninth time in the last 10 years.

Central Michigan Complete Results

125 Pounds: No. 10 Scotti Sentes ˆ Seventh Place ˆ All-American
First Round: W, dec. Brandon Zoetewey (Cal State-Bakersfield), 7-3
Second Round: L, dec. No. 7 Joey Fio (Oklahoma), 5-4
Consolation Third Round: W, dec. Marcos Orozco (UC Davis), 3-2
Consolation Fourth Round: W, dec. Nikko Triggas (Ohio State), 6-3
Consolation Fifth Round: W, dec. No. 8 Rollie Peterkin (Penn), 4-0
Consolation Quarterfinals: L, maj. dec. No. 4 Brandon Precin (Northwestern), 13-2
Seventh-Place Match: W, dec. Nic Bedelyon (Kent State), 7-2

133 Pounds: Conor Beebe
First Round: L, dec. No. 6 Jayson Ness (Minnesota), 8-1
Consolation Second Round: L, dec. Brandon Low (UC Davis), 3-2

141 Pounds: Tony D‚Alie
First Round: L, dec. Seth Ciasulli (Lehigh), 7-5
Consolation Second Round: L, dec. Keith Sulzer (Northwestern), 5-0

149 Pounds: No. 11 Steve Brown
First Round: W, dec. Michael Roberts (Boston University), 4-1
Second Round: L. maj. dec. No. 6 Jake Patacsil (Purdue), 11-2
Consolation Third Round: W, dec. Kevin LeValley (Bucknell), 4-1
Consolation Fourth Round: W, dec. Desmond Green (Buffalo), 5-4
Consolation Fifth Round: L, dec. No. 5 Kyle Ruschell (Wisconsin), 9-8

165 Pounds: No. 11 Trevor Stewart
First Round: W, Matt Pletcher (Rutgers), 4-0
Second Round: L, dec. No. 6 Colt Sponseller (Ohio State), 3-1
Consolation Third Round: W, dec. Luke Manuel (Purdue), 4-0
Consolation Fourth Round: W, dec. Ethan Headlee (Pittsburgh), 4-3
Consolation Fifth Round: L, fall No. 4 Moza Fay (Northern Iowa), 4:08

174 Pounds: No. 7 Mike Miller ˆ Runner-Up ˆ All-American
First Round: W, dec. Bagna Tovuujav (George Mason), 7-5
Second Round: W, dec. Scott Giffin (Penn), 4-1
Quarterfinals: W, dec. No. 2 Michael Cannon (American), 6-5
Semifinals: W, dec. No. 3 Brandon Browne (Nebraska), 7-3
Finals: L, dec. No. 1 Steve Luke (Michigan), 8-4

184 Pounds: Vince DiDona
First Round Pigtail: W, dec. Justin Kerber (Cornell), 9-2
First Round: W, dec. Dorian Henderson (Missouri), 8-1
Second Round: L, dec. No. 4 Kirk Smith (Boise State), 4-0
Consolation Third Round: W, dec. David Thompson (Bucknell), 3-0
Consolation Fourth Round: L, dec. A.J. Kissel (Purdue), 6-0

285 Pounds: Jarod Trice
First Round: W, dec. No. 12 Christian Brantley (Northern Iowa), 3-2
Second Round: L, dec. No. 5 Konrad Dudziak (Duke), 3-1
Consolation Third Round: L, dec. Zach Sheaffer (Pittsburgh), 2-1 TB1
Central Michigan Wins Eighth Consecutive MAC Championships Title

YPSILANTI, Mich. ˆ Central Michigan claimed four individual titles on its way to its eighth consecutive Mid-American Conference Wrestling Championships team title Sunday afternoon.

CMU finished with 111.5 team points. Kent State was the runner-up with 82.5 points, while Northern Illinois was third with 47.5.
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Winning individual titles for CMU were Scotti Sentes (125 pounds), Steve Brown (149), Trevor Stewart (165) and Mike Miller (174).
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All 10 Chippewas finished in the top three of their weight class. Finishing runner-up were Conor Beebe (133), Tony D‚Alie (141), Tyler Grayson (157), Vince DiDona (184) and Jarod Trice (285). Eric Simaz placed third at 197 pounds.
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Eight Chippewas˜Sentes, Beebe, D‚Alie, Brown, Stewart, Miller, DiDona and Trice˜have earned automatic bids to the NCAA Championships.
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CMU‚s eight-year winning streak at the conference tournament is the longest in MAC history. The 111.5 team points the Chippewas scored marks the fourth-highest total in MAC Championships history.
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CMU has won 13 conference tournament titles overall.

CMU began Sunday‚s session with eight individuals in the finals of their respective weight classes.
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In the 125-pound final, Sentes led Kent State‚s Nic Bedelyon 4-0 after a takedown and two back points in the first period. Bedelyon drew within 5-2 with a third-period takedown, but a late takedown by Sentes provided the final margin.
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Brown, the conference‚s 157-pound champion in 2008, won the 149-pound title with a 6-1 decision over Buffalo‚s Desmond Green. Takedowns in both of the first two periods gave Brown a 4-1 advantage, and he added a third-period escape and riding time.

Stewart won his second consecutive conference title at 165 pounds, pinning Kent State‚s Obie Simpson. Stewart took down and cradled Simpson midway through the first period and scored the fall at the 2:23 mark.

Miller, the 2007 MAC champion at 165 pounds, won his first MAC title at 174 by pinning Buffalo‚s Nate Rock in the first period. The fall came at the 2:47 mark.

Four other Chippewas were defeated in championship bouts.
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Beebe finished runner-up at 133 after placing third each of the last two seasons. He and Kent State‚s Danny Mitcheff were tied 2-2 entering the third period, but Mitcheff pulled away with an escape, takedown and riding time.
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D‚Alie was the runner-up at 141 pounds in his first conference tournament appearance. Kent State‚s Drew Lashaway tallied two takedowns and three back points in the first period of the championship bout.

DiDona also finished runner-up in his first conference tournament, falling to Kent State‚s Dustin Kilgore, 12-1, in the 184-pound final. DiDona rebounded to secure second place with a 5-2 decision over Buffalo‚s Mickey Moran in a true-second match.
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True freshman Jarod Trice finished second at heavyweight. He dropped a 6-2 decision to Kent State‚s Jermail Porter, who won his first individual MAC title.

CMU‚s Tyler Grayson (157) and Eric Simaz (197) entered Sunday‚s action still alive in the consolation bracket. Grayson defeated Kent State‚s Ross Tice, 8-3, in the consolation final, then posted a 5-2 decision over Ohio‚s Clay Tucker in a true-second match.
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At 197, Eric Simaz clinched third place by pinning Kent State‚s Eric Chine at the 5:00 mark in the consolation finals.

The 2008-09 wrestling season concludes with the NCAA Championships in St. Louis. The three-day tournament begins March 17.

2009 MAC Championships ˆ Central Michigan Results

125 Pounds: Scotti Sentes ˆ Champion
First Round: Bye
Semifinals: W, pin Chris Jenkins (Eastern Michigan), 1:53
Finals: W, dec. Nic Bedelyon (Kent State), 8-2

133 Pounds: Conor Beebe ˆ Runner-up
First Round: W, dec. Tristen DeShazer (Northern Illinois), 6-2
Semifinals: W, dec. Kevin Smith (Buffalo), 5-2
Finals: L, dec. Danny Mitcheff (Kent State), 6-3

141 Pounds: Tony D‚Alie ˆ Runner-up
First Round: Bye
Semifinals: W, dec. Patrick McLemore (Northern Illinois), 8-3
Finals: L, dec. Drew Lashaway (Kent State), 9-2

149 Pounds: Steve Brown ˆ Champion
First Round: Bye
Semifinals: W, maj. dec. Steve Zimmerman (Northern Illinois), 9-0
Finals: W, dec. Desmond Green (Buffalo), 6-1

157 Pounds: Tyler Grayson ˆ Runner-up
First Round: L, pinned by Bryan Deutsch (Northern Illinois), 5:31
Consolation Semifinals: W, maj. dec. Josh Moulton (Eastern Michigan), 14-6
Consolation Finals: W, dec. Ross Tice (Kent State), 8-3
True Second: W, dec. Clay Tucker (Ohio), 5-2

165 Pounds: Trevor Stewart ˆ Champion
First Round: Bye
Semifinals: W, maj. dec. Ron Majerus (Buffalo), 9-1
Finals: W, pin Obie Simpson (Kent State), 2:23

174 Pounds: Mike Miller ˆ Champion
First Round: Bye
Semifinals: W, maj. dec. Derrick Yant (Northern Illinois), 14-1
Finals: W, pin Nate Rock (Buffalo), 2:47

184 Pounds: Vince DiDona ˆ Runner-up
First Round: W, dec. Derek Foore (Eastern Michigan), 4-0
Semifinals: W, dec. Erik Schuth (Ohio), 5-3
Finals: L, maj. dec. Dustin Kilgore (Kent State), 12-1
True Second: W, dec. Mickey Moran (Buffalo), 5-2

197 Pounds: Eric Simaz ˆ Third place
First Round: Bye
Semifinals: L, dec. James Hamel (Buffalo), 3-1 SV1
Consolation Semifinals: W, pin Scott Penny (Northern Illinois), 2:41
Consolation Finals: W, pin Eric Chine (Kent State), 5:00

285 Pounds: Jarod Trice ˆ Runner-up
First Round: W, maj. dec. Brett Correll (Buffalo), 12-3
Semifinals: W, dec. David Wade (Eastern Michigan), 8-3
Finals: L, dec. Jermail Porter (Kent State), 6-2