2008 Woodie Awards
Bloomsburg blanking
Wrestling records second shutout of season, 35-0
By: Aaron Vigneault
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: Sports
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The Chippewas won on the strength of seven decisions, two major decisions and a pin by senior 197-pounder Wynn Michalak.
Michalak provided some excitement in the methodical CMU victory by pinning Bloomsburg sophomore Brian Shaw's shoulders to the mat just 1 minute, 4 seconds into the first period.
"We've been trying to get our guys to do better in the close matches. Or we would like them to break the match open and get some bonus points," said coach Tom Borrelli. "Today we were able to do both, we got some majors and some pins and we won the close matches."
Bloomsburg was able to keep all of the matches close until senior Brandon Sinnott won a 12-4 major decision at 174 pounds. Sinnott came out aggressive and earned two takedowns and a three-point nearfall in the first period.
Before Sinnott got his major decision, No. 9 Trevor Stewart added some dramatics to the dual meet.
The 165-pound junior was tied at two with Bloomsburg sophomore Rickey Schmelyun late in the third period. Schmelyun was in control and needed just four more seconds of riding time to win the bout and end the CMU's bid for its second team shutout. But with 15 seconds left, Stewart slipped out the backside to earn a reversal and win the match, 4-2.
"I knew I had to escape," Stewart said. "I knew I could get a reversal because I had earlier in the match. He got a little sloppy and I was able to get it."
Sunday was the third dual in seven days for CMU, and after battling injuries and viruses, Borrelli was happy with the way his team handled the full schedule.
"We handled it real good, especially with how hard we've been training in the (wrestling) room," he said. "Some of the guys have been banged up and the flu has been going around so I'm proud of our guys."
One of those wrestlers is 141-pounder Eric Kruger, who won his match 6-0. Kruger said he was happy to be back on the mat, but found it tough to get excited to wrestle Bloomsburg.
"We wanted to use this match to see how good we are and how many points we can score," Kruger said. "We were able to do that today."
The No. 5 Chippewas improve to 13-2 with the win and have not lost a dual in the month of February since a 20-15 loss to Penn on Feb. 17, 2002.
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