Wrestlers will gain experience at Michigan State Open Sunday
The wrestling team spent Tuesday night in an atmospheric McGuirk Arena grappling No. 13 Michigan for a rare victory over its in-state rival.
Central Michigan head coach Tom Borrelli said while the team earned a quality win and it’s off to a good start, there were also things that he found that could be improved on.
“We didn’t get enough takedowns, first of all,” Borrelli said. “We've got to improve at hand-fighting; we have to get better at setting up our shots, and taking more shots.”
That is where Central Michigan’s participation in a toned-down Michigan State open Sunday will come in handy. The tournament is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.
There are 26 wrestlers traveling to East Lansing and five who are competing unattached, so their redshirts won't be burned.
“It’s a good place for some of our young guys to get experience,” Borrelli said. “But it’s also a place for some of the older guys to get mat time and figure out what we need to work on as a team, skill-wise.”
Borrelli also said there are quality wins to be gained from the MSU Open to build their resumes for the NCAA Championships.
The top three wrestlers on the team, No. 2 Scotti Sentes, No. 4 Jarod Trice and No. 5 Ben Bennett, will not be making the trip.
Borrelli said Sentes and Trice do not need any extra time on the mat after redshirting last season.
“Their skills, strategy and technique are pretty good,” Borrelli said. “They just need to get their bodies ready. They don’t need the mat time as much.”
After the MSU Open, the Chippewas do not return to the mat until Nov. 24 in the Northeast Duals, which features Oklahoma, Hofstra and Cornell.
