Six Chippewas Win Titles as CMU Claims Sixth Straight MAC Championships Crown
Six Chippewas Win Titles as CMU Claims Sixth Straight MAC Championships Crown

BUFFALO, N.Y. ? Six Central Michigan University wrestlers won individual titles to lead the Chippewas to their sixth consecutive Mid-American Conference Championships title.
CMU won the team title with 106.5 points. Kent State was second with 73.5 points.
Winning individual conference championships and earning automatic bids to the NCAA Championships were Eric Kruger (141 pounds), Mike Miller (165), Brandon Sinnott (174), Christian Sinnott (184), Wynn Michalak (197) and Bubba Gritter (285). Wild card bids to the national tournament will be announced later Sunday.
CMU also claimed three of the conference?s four specialty awards. Tom Borrelli was named MAC Coach of the Year for the fifth straight season and ninth time in his career. Miller was named MAC Freshman of the Year, becoming the ninth Chippewa to win the honor. Michalak was selected MAC Wrestler of the Year for the second year in a row. He joins 1999 national champion Casey Cunningham as Chippewas who have won the award twice.
Michalak also becomes the seventh CMU wrestler to win three individual MAC titles.
Kruger was the first Chippewa to punch his ticket to nationals, posting a convincing 10-1 major decision over Northern Illinois? Dan Ruettiger in the finals at 141 pounds. Following a scoreless first period, Kruger scored a takedown and two back points to take a 4-0 lead into the third period. Kruger?s lead expanded to 7-0 with a takedown and stalling point, but Ruettiger escaped late in the third to cut the deficit to 7-1. Kruger answered with a takedown just before the final buzzer to ensure the major, then tacked on the riding time point with an advantage of 3:06.
Miller, a redshirt freshman, won a conference title in his first try at 165 pounds. Miller trailed 4-2 after the first period, but rallied with an escape and a takedown in the second period. Miller?s takedown came with less than 10 seconds remaining in the period. Galloway would even the score with an escape late in the third, but Miller?s 1:16 riding time advantage was the difference in his 6-5 decision.
Brandon and Christian Sinnott completed a sweep of Northern Illinois Danny and Duke Burk at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively. Brandon Sinnott won his second consecutive MAC title at 174 pounds with a 10-4 decision, while Christian Sinnott won his first conference championship with a 4-0 decision over Duke Burk. Both Sinnotts will make their second consecutive trip to the national championships.
Michalak won his third consecutive MAC title at 197 pounds with a methodical 7-2 decision over Eastern Michigan?s Tony Lyssiotis. Michalak scored a takedown in the first period, then rode Lyssiotis for nearly the duration of the second period. After starting in the down position, Michalak added an escape and a takedown in the third, then added the riding time point with an advantage of 3:43.
Gritter won his first MAC title by earning a 4-1 advantage over defending champion Jermail Porter at heavyweight. Gritter opened the scoring with an escape in the second period, then was the recipient of a point for Porter stalling. After a Porter escape in third, Gritter sealed the win with a takedown later in the period.
COMPLETE CMU RESULTS
No. 2 Luke Smith ? 125 pounds ? Third Place
First Round: Bye
Semifinals: L, dec. No. 3 Chad Sportelli (Kent State), 4-3
Consolation Semifinals: W, pin Jack Cassedy (Eastern Michigan) at 2:16
Third Place: W, maj. dec. No. 4 Seth Morton (Ohio), 9-0
No. 4 Conor Beebe ? 133 pounds ? Third Place
First Round: Bye
Semifinals: L, dec. No. 1 Mark Budd (Buffalo), 6-4 SV1
Consolation Semifinals: W, maj. dec. John Weinert (Northern Illinois), 13-1
Third Place: W, dec. No. 3 Terry Jackson (Ohio), 12-7
True Second: L, dec. No. 2 Danny Mitcheff (Kent State), 3-2
No. 2 Eric Kruger ? 141 pounds - Champion
First Round: W, maj. dec. Zach Donofrio (EMU), 8-0
Semifinals: W, dec. No. 3 Drew Lashaway (Kent State), 6-2
Finals: W, maj. dec. No. 4 Dan Ruettiger (Northern Illinois), 10-1
No. 3 Brandon Carter ? 149 pounds ? Third Place
First Round: L, maj. dec. Clay Tucker (Ohio), 18-5
Consolation Semifinals: W, dec. No. 1 Mike Grimes (Northern Illinois), 13-6
Third Place: W, dec. Clay Tucker (Ohio), 9-5
True Second: L, dec. No. 4 Jason McGee (Kent State), 11-6
No. 1 Andy Keller ? 157 pounds ? Third Place
First Round: Bye
Semifinals: W, dec. No. 4 Cory Mancuso (Eastern Michigan), 5-3
Finals: L, dec. No. 3 Kurt Gross (Kent State), 7-3
True Second: L, dec. No. 2 Jacob Frerichs (Ohio), 2-0
No. 2 Mike Miller ? 165 pounds ? Champion
First Round: W, maj. dec. Sli Bostelman (Kent State), 10-2
Semifinals: W, dec. No. 3 Jacob Ison (Ohio), 5-3
Finals: W, dec. No. 1 Johnny Galloway (Northern Illinois), 6-5
No. 1 Brandon Sinnott ? 174 pounds ? Champion
First Round: W, maj. dec. Nate Rock (Buffalo), 16-5
Semifinals: W, maj. dec. No. 4 Josh Lewis (Eastern Michigan), 14-5
Finals: W, dec. No. 2 Danny Burk (Northern Illinois), 10-4
No. 1 Christian Sinnott ? 184 pounds ? Champion
First Round: Bye
Semifinals: W, maj. dec. No. 4 Ray Lamb (Buffalo), 15-5
Finals: W, dec. No. 2 Duke Burk (Northern Illinois), 4-0
No. 1 Wynn Michalak ? 197 pounds ? Champion
First Round: W, pin Jake Blowers (Buffalo) at 2:04
Semifinals: W, pin No. 4 Larry Reichard (Ohio) at 4:38
Finals: W, dec. No. 2 Tony Lyssiotis (Eastern Michigan), 7-2
No. 1 Bubba Gritter ? 285 pounds ? Champion
First Round: Bye
Semifinals: W, maj. dec. Jeff Parker (Buffalo), 10-2
Finals: W, dec. No. 2 Jermail Porter (Kent State), 4-1