Wrestling suffers lopsided 24-7 loss to Old Dominion
Old Dominion won four of the first five matches Sunday and never looked back.
After being crushed 24-7 in Norfolk, Va., Central Michigan wrestling fell to 4-3 in conference play and 8-7 overall.
Head coach Tom Borrelli said the team didn’t have the right mindset to compete at a high level.
“We just didn’t wrestle with the right attitude today,” Borrelli said. “We didn’t wrestle with a lot of enthusiasm. We got out-hustled and we didn’t wrestle with the edge we needed today. That starts with practice, so it carries over into competition. We just have to get better with practicing with the right attitude, effort and intensity."
The biggest win of the day for the Chippewas came at 165 pounds.
Freshman Nick Becker recorded a 10-2 major decision, giving CMU four points that cut Old Dominion's lead to 12-7 with four matches left.
After a rough start to the season, Becker said he was finally wrestling at a level he was happy with.
“I thought I wrestled well today,” Becker said. “I feel like I’m getting better and peaking at the right time. I was struggling in the beginning of the year, but I think I’m picking it up now.”
Borrelli said Becker is starting to wrestle at a higher level than earlier in the season.
“I think Nick is starting to turn the corner a little bit,” Borrelli said. “He is starting to be more aggressive in his matches and is starting to have more confidence. The last two matches he has wrestled better and he really needs that. I think one of the things right now with him is a little lack of confidence. He didn’t get off to the start he wanted this year. I think now he is starting to improve in those areas.”
Sophomores Zach Horan and Lucas Smith both lost for the first time in the Mid-American Conference, slipping to 5-1 in dual matches. Freshman Corey Keener also lost uncharacteristically by decision at 125 pounds.
Senior Joe Roth tied things up at three with an 8-3 decision at 133 pounds, however Becker had the only other CMU victory.
Junior Mike Ottinger fell by a 5-4 decision at 174 pounds followed by three more Chippewa loses at 184, 197 and heavyweight, all by a combined 14-5 score.
Becker said although the team's performance was poor Sunday, as long as the team keeps working hard, they will get to where they need to be.
“We didn’t wrestle well today,” Becker said. “It was just a bad day for the team I suppose. We just have to keep working hard in order to get to where we need to be.”
CMU will travel back home and face off with Eastern Michigan at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
