Chippewas finish regular-season with a win over Michigan State


No. 10 wrestling concluded its regular season on a 10-dual winning streak after a 27-10 win at Michigan State on Friday.

“The team is really focused on the post season now,” said head coach Tom Borrelli, “So, it’s always good to end the regular season with a win."

Junior Scott Mattingly began the night for the Chippewas with a 4-0 win against Nicholas Timble at the 141-pound weight class to give his team an early 3-0 lead against the Spartans.

Senior 149-pounder Donnie Corby won a close 3-2 match against Dan Osterman to increase the team’s lead to 6-0. Corby won on a late, thrid period, takedown.

After Ryan Watts decreased MSU’s deficit by winning 7-3 against freshman Luke Smith at the 157-pound weight class, sophomore Mike Ottinger got his team back on track, increasing the lead back to six by defeating Nick Proctor 3-2 at the 165-pound weight class. This victory marked Ottinger’s 10th-straight.

Junior 174-pounder Craig Kelliher would give his team an even larger lead, after winning a major decision match against Jordan Wohlfert 10-2, increasing the lead, 13-3.

The high-scoring matches would continue at 184 pounds as senior No. 2 Ben Bennett won his fourth-straight technical fall match, defeating Eric Ford by a score of 15-0.

“Ben’s real good on his feet and on top,” Borrelli said. "He’s been really focused on scoring often and early. He has been dominating matches; this is what we’ve come to expect."

After freshman 197-pounder Jackson Lewis and heavyweight Jarod Trice lost consecutive matches to Luke Jones and Michael McClure, respectively, the CMU lead dwindled to 18-10.

Senior 125-pounder Christian Cullinan defeated Brenan Lyon 5-0, making the score 21-10, securing the team’s 12th-straight victory against the Spartans.

Senior No. 7 Scotti Sentes finished off the night by pinning Brandon Fifield in the first period, making the final score 27-10.

“We could have wrestled better at some weight classes,” Borrelli said, “But, we needed to end the season with a win, and we did. The team is focused on the MAC championships. But, we had to make sure to finish strong."

The Chippewas will wrestle in the Mid-American Conference Championships in Buffalo, N.Y. on Sunday March 10.

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