Wrestling goes 3-0 and Borrelli reaches win number 300
The Central Michigan wrestling coach Tom Borrelli reached career win 300 by going 3-0 at the Bucknell duels Dec. 17 in Lewisburg, Pa.
Sacred Heart,Princeton and Bucknell remain winless all-time against the Chippewas.
The Bison provided the most difficult test for CMU.
They closed the margin to three with two straight wins by decision, but the momentum quickly dissolved after CMU wrestler Ben Bennett tallied a pin 2:42 into his match to extend the lead back to nine.
Bennett defeated three unranked opponents by first period pins, which Borrelli said was “very, very rare.”
“Last year I think I only had three pins the whole season, so it’s nice to go out and get pins and it helps the team too in duel meets,” Bennett said. “Whether someone’s ranked or not, I just try to get in every match with the same mentality.”
No. 18 ranked Chippewas wrestler Joe Roth spurred CMU’s three victories which has been the case in every CMU win.
Borrelli pointed to managing weight as one of the factors of Roth’s success. In his lone loss in duels weight was the first thing Borrelli alluded to.
Among Roth’s wins was one over No. 20 ranked Princeton wrestler Garrett Frey. He was the only ranked player at the duels, not wearing a CMU jersey.
“(Frey is) really good at shooting from out in the open, low ankles and getting to your feet from out in the open,” Borrelli said. “Joe did a really good job at closing the gap and getting to an under hook and making him wrestle in tight.”
The Chippewas first win on Saturday was of major significance to Borrelli who earned win number 300 of his career. He now sits at 302 victories and 256 with the Chippewas.
“300 wins is very, very good,” Roth said. “I’m wrestling for one of the best in the country in my eyes and I still got a lot to learn from him.”
Bennett added, “I think over the years people just bought into what he’s done as a coach and they believe in him. I know he wants what’s best for me and the guys on the team, so I just try to follow him. I think that’s why he’s been able to be so successful.”
Meanwhile, Borrelli was not completely satisfied despite CMU’s undefeated record on the day and the milestone he reached.
““We had a lot of ups and a lot of downs,” Borrelli said. “We weren’t really sharp, especially against Bucknell. We lost a match against Princeton that we didn’t think we should lose.”
