Wrestling starts with two MAC wins, six Chippewas gain national rankings
Not everyone on Central Michigan University’s campus got a vacation for the last few weeks.
Wrestling, along with other programs, was still in action, and the No. 9 Chippewas started the break off with a win at home against Buffalo on Dec. 8.
The Chippewas improved to 2-0 in the Mid-American Conference and kept Buffalo from gaining its first victory against CMU, making the Chippewas 18-0 all-time against the Bulls.
Senior Scotti Sentes won his match to remain undefeated with two take downs in the first four minutes of the match. Seniors Ben Bennett, Christian Cullinan and No. 3 heavyweight Jarod Trice also picked up wins in the victory against Buffalo.
Bennett is currently ranked fifth in the nation at the 184 weight class and has helped push CMU into the top 10 ranked teams nationally.
Bennett isn't the only Chippewa receiving national attention this season.
Cullen is ranked No. 10 in the 125 weight class, while Sentes is currently ranked No. 3 at the 133 weight class.
Senior Donnie Corby also picked up a win against UB ,and according to D1wrestling.net, is now ranked No. 25 at the 149 weight class. Joining Corby and the other four ranked CMU wrestlers with wins was No. 18 sophomore Mike Ottinger in the 165 weight class.
After a dominating win at home, the Chippewas traveled to Northwestern University to compete in the 50th Midlands Championship Tournament on Dec. 29 and 30. Bennett was a true standout in this event. After being a runner-up three years in a row at Midlands, Bennett gained his first championship for the 184 weight class and won Most Outstanding Performer.
Bennett was able to gain revenge on Robert Hamlin of Lehigh, who defeated Bennett in last year’s finals. Continuing Bennett’s accolades for the tournament, he became the 16th member of the 100 win club.
Cullen finished third at the Midlands Championships, while Trice came in fifth while wrestling unattached.
CMU finished fifth overall with four top-eight finishes.
