Wrestling team can win the MAC title with win at Kent State Sunday
The Central Michigan wrestling team faces two ranked opponents this weekend with Sunday's meet having the Mid-American Conference regular season title on the line.
CMU will host No. 14 Lehigh at 7:30 p.m. Friday before traveling to No. 16 Kent State in a pivotal MAC matchup at 2:05 p.m. Sunday.
The Chippewas can earn the outright MAC regular season title with a win at Kent State. It would be their 13th MAC title in 14 seasons.
Head coach Tom Borrelli knows Kent State will not be an easy environment to play in.
“I know the crowd will be hostile,” Borelli said. “But I think our guys are used to that.”
Borrelli said he wants his team to maintain focus on what it has been working on all season.
“Really, we’re just working on the same things, kind of adding on to some of the things we’ve been trying to build on all season long,” he said. “We’re not really focused on outcomes as much as we are improving our technique, our conditioning and just improving our match strategy. You win and lose based on how good those things are.”
Despite having a young team, Borrelli said his wrestlers shouldn't have a difficult time adjusting to the pressure.
“I think we put our guys in those situations enough times,” Borrelli said. “This past weekend was one of those situations. You try and put each individual in those high profile situations so that when they get to the national tournament or get to the finals of the conference, then it’s just another match to them.”
The Kent State lineup will feature fifth-year senior Nic Bedelyon at 125-pounds and freshman Ian Miller at 149-pounds. Bedelyon is 23-2 overall and Miller is 23-3. Both are 2-0 in the MAC.
“There are a number of matchups that are going to be interesting to see in both the Lehigh match and the Kent State match,” Borrelli said. “The difference is you’ll see the Kent State matchups again in the conference tournament, probably.”
Friday’s dual will feature a bout between a pair of top-five ranked opponents at 184-pounds. No. 5 Ben Bennett will look to avenge his 5-2 loss at the Midlands Championships Dec. 30 against No. 4 Robert Hamlin of Lehigh.
“I’m not going to change a whole lot,” Bennett said. “I’ve got to keep getting to my attacks and finish solid.”
Lehigh has another top-five ranked wrestler, senior Zach Rey. He is 15-1 overall and ranked third at 285-pounds.
The Chippewas are 24-19 all-time against Kent State, and have won 13 of the past 14 meetings.
They are 2-2 all-time against Lehigh.
