Wrestling Fifth After Day One of MAC Championships

Brackets (After Day One).

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Click Here to Watch Video Live Video of Day Two.

YPSILANTI, Mich.– The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team completed the day one of the Mid-American Conference Championships here Saturday, March 7, at the Convocation Center, in fifth place with 24.5 points. Central Michigan University leads the way with 62.5 points while Kent State University holds second place with 49.5 points. Northern Illinois University is in third with 35.5 points followed by the University at Buffalo who has 24.5 points. Ohio University sits in sixth place with 15.5 points.

Redshirt junior Chris Jenkins (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) got the Eagles started on a positive note in the opening round, winning the 125 lb. bout, 6-4, over Buffalo's Dan Bishop. Redshirt juniors Sean Clair (Turtlecreek, Pa.-Plum) and Zach Donofrio (Dundee, Mich.-Dundee) followed with consecutive losses at 133 and 141, respectively.

At 157, senior Josh Moulton (Grass Lake, Mich.-Napoleon) gave his team three points when he pinned John Martin-Cannon of Buffalo at the 2:20 mark. Moulton's win was the final victory of the opening round for the Eagles, as redshirt junior Justin Brandel (Saginaw, Mich.-Swan Valley), senior Don Funk (Jonesville, Mich.-Jonesville) and sophomore Derek Foore (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth) all fell short in their first matches of the tournament.

In round two, senior John McClure (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa) sent Kent State's Eric Chine to the loser's bracket with a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory at 197. McClure, who received a first round bye, nearly ended the match in the closing seconds of regulation, but was not rewarded for his hard work until late extra time. He will face James Hamel of Buffalo for the title Sunday.

Jenkins looked to make it two wins in a row to begin, but he was pinned Scotti Sentes of Central Michigan at 1:53. In his opening match, redshirt freshman J.J. Johnson (Rockford, Mich.-Rockford) dropped a 7-5 decision to Buffalo's Desmond Green. Likewise, Moulton and redshirt sophomore heavyweight David Wade (Beavercreek, Ohio-Beavercreek) were relegated to the lower bracket, after falling to their respective opponents.

Facing elimination, Clair squared-off against Buffalo's Kevin Smith to kick-off round three. Both grapplers fought a tough match, taking a 4-4 tie into overtime. In the extra frame, Clair was able to outmatch his opponent, tallying an additional point to take the match, 5-4. Jenkins also stayed alive in the competition, responding from his previous setback with a pin against Ohio's Tim Silvers at the 44-second mark.

Funk was knocked-out of the competition after suffering a second consecutive loss, 6-0, to Ohio's Nick Purdue.

Donofrio and Johnson then did battle simultaneously in hopes of keeping their MAC title hopes alive. Johnson needed little time to propel himself into the next round, pinning and eliminating Kent State's Clint Sponseller just 1:18 into the match. Donofrio would not share in his teammate's fortunes, however, bowing out of the competition after a 12-5 major decision setback to Germane Lindsey of CMU.

The consolation bout at 157 was a rough one for Moulton, who was unable to establish an attack against CMU's Tyler Grayson in a 14-6 losing effort. The loss eliminated Moulton from the competition.

Brandel's second match also proved to be his final one of the Championships, as he dropped an 11-3 major decision to Ron Majerus of Buffalo.

At 184, Foore squared-off against UB's Mickey Moran. Foore fell behind early and never rebounded, dropping the match, 7-3, which eliminated him from the tournament.

The final match of the day featured Wade and Dakota Greenhaw of Northern Illinois in a heavyweight wrestleback bout. Wade made the best of his second match of the competition, maintaining momentum for most of the match and holding on for a 2-0 decision.

The tournament will conclude Sunday, March 8, with action set to begin at 11 a.m. Fans can watch live video of the Tournament at EMUEagles.com.

TEAM RESULTS (DAY ONE)
1. Central Michigan 62.5
2. Kent State 49.5
3. Northern Illinois 35.5
4. Buffalo 28
5. Eastern Michigan 24.5
6. Ohio University 15.5

EMU INDIVIDUAL RESLUTS
125• Chris Jenkins
   Chris Jenkins (EMU) dec Dan Bishop (UB), 6-4
   Scotti Sentes (CMU) fall Chris Jenkins (EMU), 1:53
   Chris Jenkins (EMU) fall Tim Silvers (OU), 0:44

133• Sean Clair
   Quentin Keyes (OU) dec. Sean Clair (EMU), 5-3
   Sean Clair (EMU) dec. Kevin Smith (UB), 5-4 (OT)

141• Zach Donofrio
   Patrick McLemore (NIU) maj. dec. Zach Donofrio (EMU), 9-1
   Germane Lindsey (CMU) maj. dec. Zach Donofrio (EMU), 12-5

149• J.J. Johnson
    Desmond Green (UB) dec. J.J. Johnson (EMU), 7-5
    J.J. Johnson (EMU) pin Clint Sponseller (KSU), 1:18

157• Josh Moulton
   Josh Moulton (EMU) pin John Martin-Cannon (UB), 2:20
   Clay Tucker (OU) dec. Josh Moulton (EMU), 6-2
   Germane Lindsey (CMU) maj. dec. Josh Moulton (EMU), 14-6

165• Justin Brandel
   John Odeen (NIU) maj. dec. Justin Brandel (EMU), 10-0
   Ron Majerus (UB) maj. dec. Justin Brandel (EMU), 12-3

174• Don Funk
   Derrick Yant (NIU) dec. Don Funk (EMU), 9-4
   Nick Purdue (OU) dec. Don Funk (EMU), 6-0

184• Derek Foore
   Vince DiDona (CMU) dec. Derek Foore (EMU), 4-0
   Mickey Moran (UB) dec. Derek Foore (EMU), 7-3

197• John McClure
   John McClure (EMU) dec. Eric Chine (KSU), 3-2 (OT)

HWT• David Wade
   Jarod Trice (CMU) dec. David Wade (EMU), 8-3
   David Wade (EMU) dec. Dakota Greenhaw (NIU), 2-0

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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