2008 Woodie Awards
Ultimate Prize
Seven experienced seniors eager in team's quest for a national championship
By: Aaron Sides
Issue date: 11/26/07 Section: Sports
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For the better part of a decade, the wrestling team has been about as close as possible to a national championship for a mid-tier program.
Nine consecutive Mid-American Conference regular season titles and six straight conference tournament championships have made CMU a team to be reckoned with, not only in the MAC but also nationally.
While the success of years past always is something the team looks at as it starts a new season, coach Tom Borrelli said he knows that focusing on the present is the only way the Chippewas will be able to repeat and build upon their success.
"Based on how we performed last year we should be confident," Borrelli said. "Every year is a new year, though. Our guys have to get ready for this year."
Focusing on preparation should be no problem for a team that is mainly driven by seniors. They've had success in the past and currently are passing their knowledge on to the underclassmen in an effort to build national champions.
With a strong senior class and improving juniors and sophomores, CMU may have its best chance this year to make a big impact at nationals. Last year, Central finished in 15th place, a number it expects to improve on dramatically.
"We set our goals far beyond the MAC," said senior Luke Smith. "We really believe that if we wrestle like we are capable of, we can win a national championship."
A national title is the ultimate goal for the team, but everyone also has their own individual goals. For the guys who have been close in the past, an individual national championship is what they are striving for.
One of those members is Christian Sinnott.
"I'm looking forward to winning a title," the 184-pound senior said. "The goal is to win a national championship. It would be a big way to go out for me and my family."
To put themselves in place for a dominant performance at nationals, though, the Chippewas have to work their way through an improving conference, which has gotten steadily better each season. Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan are attempting to dethrone the champion Chippewas.
Nine consecutive Mid-American Conference regular season titles and six straight conference tournament championships have made CMU a team to be reckoned with, not only in the MAC but also nationally.
While the success of years past always is something the team looks at as it starts a new season, coach Tom Borrelli said he knows that focusing on the present is the only way the Chippewas will be able to repeat and build upon their success.
"Based on how we performed last year we should be confident," Borrelli said. "Every year is a new year, though. Our guys have to get ready for this year."
Focusing on preparation should be no problem for a team that is mainly driven by seniors. They've had success in the past and currently are passing their knowledge on to the underclassmen in an effort to build national champions.
With a strong senior class and improving juniors and sophomores, CMU may have its best chance this year to make a big impact at nationals. Last year, Central finished in 15th place, a number it expects to improve on dramatically.
"We set our goals far beyond the MAC," said senior Luke Smith. "We really believe that if we wrestle like we are capable of, we can win a national championship."
A national title is the ultimate goal for the team, but everyone also has their own individual goals. For the guys who have been close in the past, an individual national championship is what they are striving for.
One of those members is Christian Sinnott.
"I'm looking forward to winning a title," the 184-pound senior said. "The goal is to win a national championship. It would be a big way to go out for me and my family."
To put themselves in place for a dominant performance at nationals, though, the Chippewas have to work their way through an improving conference, which has gotten steadily better each season. Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan are attempting to dethrone the champion Chippewas.
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