Borrelli moves to 194-pound weight class, Miller questionable for EMU meet
Two matches, one last shot.
The No. 15 Central Michigan wrestling team will host sixth place Eastern Michigan Thursday and first place Kent State Sunday in an attempt to snag a share of the Mid-American Conference title.
“These are our final two tests before the conference tournament,” said head coach Tom Borrelli. “Depending on how we do, this week will determine the conference champion and it’s important we finish the season right.”
A win Thursday would bump CMU to 3-1 in the conference and, taking down the undefeated KSU Sunday would put the Chippewas in a tie for first. A potential three-way tie rests on the shoulders of a 3-1 Ohio, needing to pick up a win against EMU on Sunday.
Despite having less time to prepare for one opponent this week, let alone two, Borrelli said he didn’t expect the wrestlers to be affected, and said the practices have been shortened, leaving guys more “mentally fresh.”
Junior Chad Friend said the emotion at practice is more intense as the team is more focused on peaking at the right time.
“As we get down to the end of the year, it’s going to get harder and hopefully we peak at the right time,” he said.
After switching weight classes on Sunday and pulling off an upset win, Borrelli decided to permanently move him to 197-pounds, sliding redshirt freshman Craig Kelliher down to 184-pounds.
“I think Craig has been lighter than me pretty much all year, and I think the cut is a little easier for him,” Friend said. “As far as me going up, I feel like I have a lot more energy and more attacks.”
A week of practice back on the mats for senior 165-pounder Mike Miller leaves Borrelli hopeful for his return this week, but he set his status as questionable Tuesday at practice. If Miller can’t go, junior Eric Cubberly will continue to wrestle as the team’s starting 165-pounder.
EMU (11-9, 0-3 MAC) is coming off three consecutive conference losses, including a 30-3 loss to Kent State Sunday, in which redshirt sophomore Chris Eggert recorded his team’s lone decision at 174-pounds.
The Chippewas come into the match with four ranked wrestlers: No. 11 Scotti Sentes (133), No. 17 Mike Miller (165), No. 7 Ben Bennett (174) and No. 2 Jarod Trice (285). The Eagles' solo ranked wrestler is No. 20 heavyweight David Wade.
Momentum is in favor of CMU after a 19-14 win over Buffalo Sunday. The victory was the team’s third win in four matches.
On a larger scale, CMU has built up a 52-9-1 all-time record against the Eagles — the most wins against any opponent in the history of the program.
The team has won 19 straight dual meets against the Eagles, including a 34-3 victory in the 2009-10 season, though that doesn’t secure a win.
CMU went down to Athens, Ohio, at the beginning of the month with 12 consecutive victories over the Bobcats under its belt, but fell by a 21-17 score.
“Eastern has been competing better this year, and I think our whole conference is getting better and Eastern is indicative of that,” Borrelli said. “We can’t overlook Eastern Thursday night. We can’t overlook anyone right now.”
The dual meet is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at McGuirk Arena.
