Wrestling beats NIU, moves to 2-0 in MAC play


wrestling

The CMU wrestling team moved to 2-0 in Mid-American Conference play with a 21-12 win over Northern Illinois University on Saturday at McGuirk Arena. (Central Michigan Life | File Photo)

A new lineup for the Central Michigan University wrestling team earned another win, this time over Northern Illinois University on Saturday at McGuirk Arena. CMU claimed victory in the Chippewas' second Mid-American Conference contest of the season, 21-12.

The team now sits at 3-4 overall and 2-0 in conference competition. 

NIU won the first match when Huskie Derek Elmore topped CMU freshman Brent Fleetwood in the 125 weight class. The Chippewas responded by winning the next three matches, jumping out to a 9-3 lead. 

CMU junior Zach Horan (No. 10) won over NIU senior Tyler Argue 8-3.

Head Coach Tom Borrelli moved around the CMU lineup against Buffalo last week after back-to-back non-conference losses to Iowa State and the University of Michigan. Borrelli's lineup card against the Bullas remained the same against NIU on Saturday.

One of the changes was the insertion of redshirt freshman CJ Brucki, who recorded a win in his match against BU, and again on Saturday against the Huskies. Brucki defeated another freshman, NIU's Quinton Rosser 9-4 in the 184 class. 

Newton Smerchek claimed a pin in he 285-pound weight class at the 1:54 mark of the first period, clinching a Chippewa victory. 

Next, CMU travels to Chattanooga, Tenn. on New Year's Day for competition the Southern Scuffle. The tournament starts at 9 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2015. 

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