Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wrestling Heads to Kent State Sunday for MAC Road Test
2/10/2010 4:35:17 PM | Wrestling
Eagles look for second win all-time over Golden Flashes
Complete Release (.pdf)
UPHILL BATTLE: The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team will look to claim its first victory in Mid-American Conference competition Sunday, Feb. 14, when it travels to Kent, Ohio to face No. 20-ranked Kent State University. It will be an uphill battle for the Eagles (10-10-1; 0-3 MAC), who are 1-36-1 all-time against the reigning MAC regular season champion Golden Flashes.
LAST TIME OUT VS. KSU: Last season, the Eagles dropped a 21-13 decision to the Golden Flashes at Bowen Field House, Feb. 15. EMU jumped out to a 6-0 lead thanks to back-to-back decisions by Nick Hendrick (165 lbs.) and Don Funk (174 lbs.). KSU responded with five straight victories to put the match out of reach. David Pienaar and J.J. Jonhson also notched victories in the dual at 141 lbs. and 149 lbs., respectively, for the Eagles.
FEBRUARY FUNK: The Green and White are coming off a trio of home conference losses including a pair of setbacks to the University at Buffalo, Feb. 3, and Northern Illinois University, Feb. 5. The Bulls handed the Eagles a 28-12 defeat, while the Huskies topped EMU, 21-15.
For Head Coach Derek DelPorto, this rough stretch of matches confirms the strength of MAC teams and a sign of what his team needs to do to prepare for its final two duals of the season. “We have confirmed that the MAC has very strong teams,” said DelPorto. “Kent State and Ohio University are both having great seasons and it is going to be a great challenge in those two duals. All we can do is keep training hard, hope for healthy bodies and wrestle as tough as we can.”
TENACIOUS TWENTY: “True” freshman Phillip Joseph recorded his 20th win of the season with a hard-fought 13-12 decision over NIU's Zach Benzio. Joseph (20-13; 2-1 MAC) becomes the first Eagle to attain a 20-win season since the 2007-08 season and the first freshman to accomplish the feat since Sean Clair went 29-13 in the 2005-06 campaign.
When asked if he was surprised at the young wrestler's hot start, Head Coach Derek DelPorto stated he is anything but. “Once I got to see him wrestle a few times at the beginning of the season, I knew he was going to be tough,” said DelPorto. “I am, however, surprised how well he has handled being up at 184. Phillip is naturally around 180, so he is always giving up a few pounds to his opponents. He's doing a great job for us and we are really excited about his future here at EMU.”
BRANDEL IMPRESSIVE IN MAC DEBUT: Senior Justin Brandel made the most of his first MAC match of the season in EMU's loss to NIU, Feb. 5, with a swift pin of Joe Clothier at the 1:32 mark of the 174 lbs. match. Brandel ended a four-match losing skid for the Eagles and brought them back into contention against the Huskies with a decisive six team points. He will have a chance at win number two Sunday vs. Kent State.
SCHROEDER BREAKS THROUGH: Sophomore Wes Schroeder has been making his case for the starting role at heavyweight as of late with a thrilling last-second 4-1 decision over UB's Jason Weber. The win marked Schroeder's first MAC triumph of the season and bumped his overall record to 18-10.
Schroeder recorded the victory following a near-upset of No. 3-ranked Jarod Trice of Central Michigan, Jan. 21, when Trice snuck away with a 3-1 victory thanks to a late takedown.
LINEUP SHAKEUP: Among the projected starters for Sunday's bout with Kent State are several grapplers who would see their first conference action of the season. Jordan McGuire has been tabbed to start at 125 lbs., while fellow sophomore Andrew Novak is expected to get the nod at 133 lbs. Last season, McGuire posted a 1-1 mark in conference matches, while Novak did not participate in MAC duals.
MAC CHAMPIONSHIP REMINDER: The 2010 MAC Championship will be hosted by Central Michigan University, March 6-7, in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. The Eagles will be in search of their first conference championship since the 1995-96 season. In order to achieve this feat, EMU will have to dethrone the Chippewas, who have won eight consecutive MAC titles.
UPHILL BATTLE: The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team will look to claim its first victory in Mid-American Conference competition Sunday, Feb. 14, when it travels to Kent, Ohio to face No. 20-ranked Kent State University. It will be an uphill battle for the Eagles (10-10-1; 0-3 MAC), who are 1-36-1 all-time against the reigning MAC regular season champion Golden Flashes.
LAST TIME OUT VS. KSU: Last season, the Eagles dropped a 21-13 decision to the Golden Flashes at Bowen Field House, Feb. 15. EMU jumped out to a 6-0 lead thanks to back-to-back decisions by Nick Hendrick (165 lbs.) and Don Funk (174 lbs.). KSU responded with five straight victories to put the match out of reach. David Pienaar and J.J. Jonhson also notched victories in the dual at 141 lbs. and 149 lbs., respectively, for the Eagles.
FEBRUARY FUNK: The Green and White are coming off a trio of home conference losses including a pair of setbacks to the University at Buffalo, Feb. 3, and Northern Illinois University, Feb. 5. The Bulls handed the Eagles a 28-12 defeat, while the Huskies topped EMU, 21-15.
For Head Coach Derek DelPorto, this rough stretch of matches confirms the strength of MAC teams and a sign of what his team needs to do to prepare for its final two duals of the season. “We have confirmed that the MAC has very strong teams,” said DelPorto. “Kent State and Ohio University are both having great seasons and it is going to be a great challenge in those two duals. All we can do is keep training hard, hope for healthy bodies and wrestle as tough as we can.”
TENACIOUS TWENTY: “True” freshman Phillip Joseph recorded his 20th win of the season with a hard-fought 13-12 decision over NIU's Zach Benzio. Joseph (20-13; 2-1 MAC) becomes the first Eagle to attain a 20-win season since the 2007-08 season and the first freshman to accomplish the feat since Sean Clair went 29-13 in the 2005-06 campaign.
When asked if he was surprised at the young wrestler's hot start, Head Coach Derek DelPorto stated he is anything but. “Once I got to see him wrestle a few times at the beginning of the season, I knew he was going to be tough,” said DelPorto. “I am, however, surprised how well he has handled being up at 184. Phillip is naturally around 180, so he is always giving up a few pounds to his opponents. He's doing a great job for us and we are really excited about his future here at EMU.”
BRANDEL IMPRESSIVE IN MAC DEBUT: Senior Justin Brandel made the most of his first MAC match of the season in EMU's loss to NIU, Feb. 5, with a swift pin of Joe Clothier at the 1:32 mark of the 174 lbs. match. Brandel ended a four-match losing skid for the Eagles and brought them back into contention against the Huskies with a decisive six team points. He will have a chance at win number two Sunday vs. Kent State.
SCHROEDER BREAKS THROUGH: Sophomore Wes Schroeder has been making his case for the starting role at heavyweight as of late with a thrilling last-second 4-1 decision over UB's Jason Weber. The win marked Schroeder's first MAC triumph of the season and bumped his overall record to 18-10.
Schroeder recorded the victory following a near-upset of No. 3-ranked Jarod Trice of Central Michigan, Jan. 21, when Trice snuck away with a 3-1 victory thanks to a late takedown.
LINEUP SHAKEUP: Among the projected starters for Sunday's bout with Kent State are several grapplers who would see their first conference action of the season. Jordan McGuire has been tabbed to start at 125 lbs., while fellow sophomore Andrew Novak is expected to get the nod at 133 lbs. Last season, McGuire posted a 1-1 mark in conference matches, while Novak did not participate in MAC duals.
MAC CHAMPIONSHIP REMINDER: The 2010 MAC Championship will be hosted by Central Michigan University, March 6-7, in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. The Eagles will be in search of their first conference championship since the 1995-96 season. In order to achieve this feat, EMU will have to dethrone the Chippewas, who have won eight consecutive MAC titles.
Eastern Michigan - 2018 MAC Wrestling Championships Preview
Monday, June 04
2018 MAC Wrestling Championships 165-lb Match:
Monday, June 04
2018 MAC Wrestling Championships 197-lb Match:
Monday, June 04
2018 MAC Wrestling Championships 285-lb Match:
Monday, June 04