Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
MAC Championships
Jermain Thompson a MAC Champion
3/4/2007 2:12:56 PM | Wrestling
Defeated Jason McGee in the 149 lbs. Championship
Complete Tournament Results
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team completed action at the Mid-American Conference tournament here at Alumni Arena in Buffalo, N.Y. today, finishing in fifth place with 29.5 points. Defending champion Central Michigan would retain its championship for the sixth straight year.
The Eagles had six wrestlers on the mat today, Jermain Thompson (149) and Tony Lyssiotis (197) in the finals, and Zach Donofrio (141), Cory Mancuso (157), Nick Conklin (165) and Josh Lewis (174) in the consolation bracket.
In the 141 lbs. contest Donofrio trailed Drew Lashaway (Kent State) the entire match and was unable to overcome an early 2-0 defecit, falling 7-4, finishing in fourth place.
Senior Jermain Thompson squared-off against Jason McGee (Kent State) in the 149 lbs. championship match. Just like his semi-final match, Thompson struck first, earning two points for a takedown with 1:31 remaining in the first period. McGee would earn one point each on escapes to end the first and second period, tying the match at 2-2 heading into the final period. A Thompson reversal less than a minute into the third period brought the score to 4-2. McGee would add another escape point to make it 4-3, but was kept in check for the remainder of the match, as Thompson would earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with his winning performance in the 149 lbs. championship match.
After a scoreless first period in the 157 lbs. match, junior Cory Mancuso fell into a 7-2 hole during the second period against Jacob Frerichs (Ohio) and could not battle back, dropping the consolation match 11-4, taking fourth place.
In what would prove to be his final match wearing an Eastern Michigan uniform, senior Nick Conklin would fall to Jacob Ison (Ohio) by a 8-5 decision in the last seconds of the third period. With seconds remaining in the final period, Ison would escape and earn two points for a takedown, giving him the consolation victory.
In a see-saw battle between Josh Lewis and Antoine Love (Ohio), Love would prevail, earning a 5-3 decision, giving Lewis, a red-shirt freshman, a fourth place finish in his first MAC tournament appearance.
Senior Tony Lyssiotis, for the second time this season, fell victim to two-time All-American and defending 197 lbs. MAC champion Wynn Michalak (Central Michigan), dropping the championship match 7-2. Michalak controlled the match from the start, with Lyssiotis only being able to earn points on escapes.
In the match to determine true second, Lyssiotis met Ardian Ramadani (Kent State) for the second time this season. In their first meeting Lyssiotis would earn a 6-5 decision. Today however, Ramadani would settle the score with a 14-6 decision over the Eagle senior, giving Lyssiotis a third place finish.
Central Michigan would nearly sweep the season-ending awards, taking Coach of the Year (Tom Borrelli), Freshman of the Year (Mike Miller), and Wrestler of the Year (Wynn Michalak) honors. Northern Illinois’ Pat Castillo would garner Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
Senior Jermain Thompson will be in action at the NCAA Tournament in Auburn Hills, Mich., Mar. 15-17. Seeding will be announced by the NCAA prior to the tournament.
Final Team Standings
1. Central Michigan 106.5
2. Kent State 73.5
3. Northern Illinois 61.5
4. Ohio University 37.0
5. Eastern Michigan 29.5
6. Buffalo 16.5
