MOUNT PLEASANT ? For the second consecutive season, Central Michigan University?s wrestling program has moved into the top five in national rankings released by the National Wrestling Coaches Association and InterMat.com. The Chippewas (14-4-1 overall, 2-0 Mid-American Conference), winners of seven straight duals, will carry a No. 5 ranking into Friday?s conference dual at Northern Illinois. Last season, CMU climbed as high as fourth in the NWCA/InterMat poll; prior to the 2005-06 campaign, CMU had never moved higher than sixth in the national rankings.
Friday?s match begins a stretch of three duals in 10 days to close the regular season for the Chippewas. It is the third straight week, however, that CMU has had an entire week to prepare for a single weekend outing.
?This has helped with our training because we?re able to get more quality workouts in during the week,? said head coach Tom Borrelli. ?Obviously you don?t need as much recovery time when you?re only competing in one match per week.?
The stretch run shapes up as a daunting one for CMU. After lengthy road trips to Northern Illinois and Ohio the next two weekends, the Chippewas close the regular season at home against Kent State. The Golden Flashes are ranked 25th in this week?s NWCA/InterMat poll, and the season-ending dual in Rose Arena could carry MAC title implications. Still, Borrelli is clear in what he wants to see from his team over the next two weeks.
?I just want to see us continue to improve on our technique and conditioning,? Borrelli said. ?We need to concentrate and focus on what we?ve been emphasizing in pressure situations in practice.? The first of those pressure situations is Friday at NIU. CMU has won each of the past three meetings, but NIU is the last team to defeat the Chippewas in a conference dual.
?It?s going to be a typical CMU-Northern Illinois dual,? Borrelli said. ?It will be very competitive. We have to wrestle well down the stretch. I know they will be up for us, so we need to be on top of our game this weekend."
The Series vs. NIU: CMU is 24-22-2 all-time against Northern Illinois and has won three straight. NIU was the last conference opponent to defeat CMU, handing the Chippewas a 16-15 loss in DeKalb on Jan. 31, 2003.
National Notoriety: CMU moved up one spot to fifth in this week?s NWCA/ InterMat top 25. It is the highest team ranking for the program since the Chippewas closed the 2005-06 dual season ranked fourth. Prior to last season, CMU had never climbed higher than No. 6 in the national rankings. Watching the Record Book: If CMU completes an undefeated conference season, it would establish a new school record for dual wins in a single season. The 2004-05 team finished 16-4 overall. CMU is currently 14-4-1 with three dual matches remaining on the schedule.
Winning Streak at Seven: The Chippewas enter Friday?s match having won seven straight duals. This marks the fifth time in the last nine seasons that CMU has put together a seven-match winning streak. CMU has not won eight in a row in the same season since the 1993-94 campaign.
The Dynasty: CMU has won eight consecutive Mid-American Conference titles and five straight MAC Championships titles. The Chippewas have won 45 of their last 46 conference duals, including 21 straight dating back to the 2002-03 season. CMU has won 24 straight MAC duals at Rose Arena.
Rhymes with Pin: Wynn Michalak won 15 matches by pin last season, tied for the fifth-most in a single season at CMU. He recorded his sixth fall of the 2006- 07 season against Buffalo on Sunday, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the school?s career pins list. He enters Friday?s dual with 32 career falls. He moved past current CMU assistant coach and 1999 national champ Casey Cunningham for fifth; Steve Adams ranks fourth on the list with 42 falls from 1984-88.
Saving the Best for Last: In CMU?s 14 wins and one tie, its top four weights (174, 184, 197, 285) have posted a combined record of 52-8. Taking on the Top 25: The Chippewas have squared off against 12 opponents ranked in the InterMat top 25 this season, including teams ranked first (Minnesota), second (Missouri) and third (Hofstra). The Chippewas have faced both Minnesota and Hofstra twice. CMU is 7-4-1 overall against teams in the top 25 this season.
Home Sweet Home: CMU is 28-3-1 in home duals dating back to the start of the 2001-02 season. The Chippewas are 6-1-1 at home this season. Coming Up: CMU closes the regular season with a pair of conference duals just four days apart. The Chippewas visit Ohio Feb. 15 before hosting Kent State Feb. 18. The Mid-American Conference Championships are slated for March 3-4 at Buffalo.