Wrestling demonstrates skills in annual intrasquad scrimmage


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Redshirt freshman Drew Hildebrandt ,left, wrestles freshman Brock Bergelin in the Maroon vs. Gold Intrasquad Dual on Oct. 27 in McGuirk Arena.

Fans got their first glimpse at this year's Central Michigan wrestling team on Oct. 27 at Friday night's intrasquad scrimmage. 

The meet took two wrestlers from each weight class and split them into two teams, a Maroon squad and a Gold squad. Maroon emerged victorious with a 19-17 victory over Gold. 

The meet started at 125 pounds, with redshirt freshman Drew Hildebrandt knocking off freshman Brock Berglin, 12-6. Two redshirt freshmen were shown at 133 pounds, with Dresden Simon winning via major decision over Devin Perez 12-3, giving gold a 4-3 lead.

Sophomore Mason Smith returned to action at 141 pounds, scoring a major decision over redshirt freshman Reiley Brown 10-0, giving Maroon the lead 7-4.

“(My match) could’ve been better for sure,” Smith said. “It’s hard wrestling the same people you wrestle every day. It’s hard to really get to your stuff when they know it’s coming.”

Junior Justin Oliver matched up with freshman Nolan Saxton at 149 pounds. Oliver would win via major decision 14-3, giving the lead back to Gold 8-7.

“I went into the match wanting to wrestle a full seven minutes,” Oliver said. “I wanted to get that first match out of the way. I felt good on my feet.”

Senior Colin Heffernan faced off with redshirt freshman Blake Montrie at 157 pounds. Heffernan would earn a technical fall 19-4, giving Maroon a 12-8 lead into intermission.

Sophomore Logan Parks won the battle at 165 over redshirt freshman Sage Castillo 10-4, extending Maroon’s lead over Gold 15-8. Senior CJ Brucki defeated freshman Collin Lieber at 174 pounds 15-8, pulling Gold within four of Maroon 15-11.

Senior Jordan Ellingwood won his matchup at 184 pounds over freshman Jake Lowell via major decision 15-5, putting Maroon up by eight over Gold. Junior Jordan Atienza earned a tight 8-7 decision over redshirt freshman Landon Pelham, cutting Maroon’s lead down to five.

The final match of the night showcased senior Newton Smerchek and redshirt freshman Matt Stencel at 285 pounds. Stencel would knock of Smerchek 5-2, but Maroon would win the meet 19-17.

“I was happy with the way our guys were trying to score points, trying to get the major (decision), get bonus points for the team” said head coach Tom Borrelli. “Most of the guys who won the matches weren’t just satisfied with winning, they were trying to get major (decisions) and (technical) falls. They were wrestling hard.”

Central Michigan wrestling officially started its 2017-18 season at the Michigan State Open at 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 5 in East Lansing.

At the Michigan State Open, no team scores were kept. However, wrestlers competed in a bracket to prepare themselves for the upcoming dual meets. 

The Chippewas' first dual meet of the 2017-18 season is against Michigan State at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 in McGuirk Arena. The meet will be broadcasted on ESPN3. 

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