Brian Manzullo

The wrestling team knows that the best way to prepare for injuries to starters is to have backups just as good.

Coach Tom Borrelli said that at 141 pounds is where his team’s depth is strongest.

At 141 pounds, he said senior Eric Kruger, junior Tony D’Alie and redshirt freshman Jeff Shutich all are capable of starting for CMU.

Kruger is ranked No. 18 in the nation at 141 pounds and won a Mid-American Conference championship two years ago. Kruger also took runner-up this year at the Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic on Nov. 8 to No. 12 Zach Bailey Jr. of Oklahoma.

“Anytime you have good competition, it doesn’t allow one guy to get comfortable at that position,” Borrelli said.

Kruger and D’Alie wrestled against each at the intrasquad meet on Nov. 16 with D’Alie winning 8-6 in overtime. D’Alie forced overtime by scoring a takedown with 12 seconds in the third period.

Shutich moved up from 133 pounds last season and has not wrestled yet this season because of injury. However, Borrelli believes he should be back by the end of the holiday break. Shutich won the 133-pound title at the Michigan State Invitational last year as an unattached wrestler.

With all three competing for the one spot at 141, Borrelli sees it as a positive for the start of the season, but as it progresses, he would like one wrestler to take charge.

“Early in the year, you want the competition,” he said. “As the year goes on, we want to get one guy ready for NCAAs.”

If the coaches can not decide who will start by a certain time in the season, Borrelli holds a competition in practice. The two wrestlers will compete in a best two out of three individual matches with the winner getting the starting nod.

Borrelli said the 157-pound position should have two quality wrestlers – freshman Eric Cubberly and junior Tyler Grayson. Grayson still is coming back from injury, but was ranked No. 19 at 157 pounds earlier in the season.

Cubberly took advantage of his chance to start by going 2-1 at the Northeast Duals on Nov. 29. Cubberly recorded one of two wins CMU had against No. 1 Iowa.

Still, CMU features depth at more than just the 141-pound class. With six wrestlers ranked top 20 nationally, it gives the team a chance to face in the top competition.

At 125 pounds, No. 10 Scottie Sentes, a freshman, regularly competes against 133-pound Conor Beebe, ranked 15th, and Kruger in practice.

“I’m always in there against Eric Kruger or Conor Beebe,” Sentes said. “If I can get away from Kruger or can take down Beebe, I can do it to anyone at 125 pounds.”

National rankings
Released Tuesday by USA Today/Intermat/NWCA

1. Iowa
2. Iowa State
3. Ohio State
4. Cornell
5. Missouri
6. Nebraska
7. Illinois
8. Minnesota
9. Oklahoma State
10. Lehigh
11. Wisconsin
12. Michigan
13. Penn State
14. Boise State
15. Edinboro
16. Central Michigan
17. Northwestern
18. Hofstra
19. Indiana
20. Oklahoma
21. Old Dominion
22. Northern Iowa
23. Penn
24. Virginia
25. Kent State

sports@cm-life.com

E-mail the author: Matthew Valinski