Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, February 8
Bowen Field House
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Buffalo
Wrestling Hosts Senior Night, Buffalo Wednesday at Bowen
2/7/2012 2:35:00 PM | Wrestling
Eagles can clinch first winning MAC record since the 1990-91 season
Complete Release (.pdf)
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)– The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team wraps up the 2011-12 dual-meet season with its fifth and final Mid-American Conference contest Wednesday, Feb. 8, against the University at Buffalo. Action begins at 7 p.m. inside Bowen Field House.
SENIOR NIGHT WEDNESDAY VS. BUFFALO: Prior to the dual, the Eagles will honor their six graduating seniors: Lester France, Justin Joseph, Andrew Novak, Matt Pettigrew, Corey Phillips and Wes Schroeder.
The Eagles (13-6; 2-2 MAC) enter Wednesday's tussle with the Bulls (5-13; 0-3 MAC) in search of their first winning record in MAC competition since the 1990-91 squad posted a 3-2 mark.
“There is a lot of emotion involved with this match and I think it is a very big deal for us,” remarked sixth-year Head Coach Derek DelPorto. “It is the last opportunity for the guys to improve their seeds at the MAC Tournament and it is the last home dual meet that the seniors will ever compete in.”
A CAREER PAINTED IN GREEN AND WHITE: EMU's six seniors have played an immeasurable role in a wrestling program looking to establish itself among Michigan's elite squads. Captained by seniors Lester France, Corey Phillips and Wes Schroeder, the 2011-12 team has clinched its second winning season since (2007-08 was the other) the 2012 graduating class' freshman campaign.
“Their leadership has been great, but more importantly, their loyalty to the growth of this program is what stands out for me,” said Head Coach Derek DelPorto of his graduating seniors. “These guys have stuck with the process and represent half of my initial recruiting class.”
The six seniors have combined for an overall record of 67-61 (.523) and a 35-26 (.538) mark in regular season duals. Andrew Novak leads all seniors with a stellar 16-7 record including a 10-3 showing in duals and a 4-0 mark in MAC matches.
DOWN TO BUSINESS: The Eagles will try for their third win of the MAC season Wednesday against a struggling Bulls squad looking for its first victory in conference matches. For redshirt senior Andrew Novak, an undefeated record in MAC bouts is on the line as he faces off against either Taylor Golba or Justin Farmer at 133 lbs. At 157 lbs., redshirt junior Aaron Sulzer goes for his team-leading 14th dual win against either Wally Maziarz or Clay Reeb, and redshirt sophomore Phillip Joseph looks to notch a pin for a second straight match against Jake Waste. Finally at 125 lbs., redshirt sophomore Jared Germaine will attempt to break a three-match losing skid in MAC meets against Max Soria.
EAGLES TOPPED BY GOLDEN FLASHES: The Eagles fell short of winning their only MAC road contest of the season, 28-10, against No. 14 Kent State University Sunday, Feb. 5, in Kent, Ohio. The Green and White was unable to overcome a white-hot Golden Flashes squad which won for a 10th straight time and clinched the MAC regular season title.
Redshirt senior Andrew Novak won his match by major decision over Steve Mitcheff and redshirt sophomore Phillip Joseph pinned Brandonn Johnson to account for all 10 EMU points.
Redshirt junior Aaron Sulzer fell just short of defeating Mallie Shuster, 7-6. The two grapplers entered the third period tied at five apiece, but Shuster notched the decisive reversal with just over a minute remaining.
CLOSING THE GAP: With the loss to Kent State, Eastern Michigan moved to 0-5 against ranked opponents this season. Despite this statistic, the EMU coaching staff feels its squad is not far off from being able to beat perennial national powerhouses on a regular basis.
“We can compete with anyone in the country,” said Head Coach Derek DelPorto, “but if we want to beat these teams, we need to get tougher in a few positions and most definitely start believing in our abilities. My dad always used to tell me, 'If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right!' We have a few guys on the fence about believing in themselves, hence we lost some close matches to guys we should have beaten.”
GEAR UP, LOCK DOWN: This year's Mid-American Conference Championships will be held Sunday, March 4, on the campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. This will be the first season in which the event will take place over just one day of competition instead of two. EMU will be looking for its first team championship since 1996 and the first individual champion since 197-pounder John McClure captured the crown in 2009.
This year's mission is simple according to Head Coach Derek DelPorto. “Place all 10 guys at the MAC Tournament and send half the team to the NCAA Championships.”
The NCAA Championships will run March 15-17 in St. Louis, Mo., where they were last held in 2009. The Eagles sent a pair of grapplers, Aaron Sulzer and former heavyweight David Wade, to the national tournament last season and have had 38 representatives in the competition since the 1972-73 campaign.
ONE OPEN TOURNAMENT LEFT: Although the regular season ends after the bout with the Bulls Wednesday, Feb. 8, the Eagles have one event remaining on their 2011-12 schedule. EMU will trek to Edinboro, Pa. to take part in the Edinboro Open Saturday, Feb. 11.
WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE: It has not happened since the 2006-07 season that the Eagles came out victorious in their home finale. EMU defeated Buffalo, 28-10, Feb. 3, 2007, at Bowen Field House to mark the last time the Eagles accomplished the feat.
The Eagles have enjoyed great success at home this season, posting a 4-1 mark with wins over Ohio University (Dec. 4), Clarion University and Indiana Tech (Jan. 15) and Northern Illinois University (Jan. 22).
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)– The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team wraps up the 2011-12 dual-meet season with its fifth and final Mid-American Conference contest Wednesday, Feb. 8, against the University at Buffalo. Action begins at 7 p.m. inside Bowen Field House.
SENIOR NIGHT WEDNESDAY VS. BUFFALO: Prior to the dual, the Eagles will honor their six graduating seniors: Lester France, Justin Joseph, Andrew Novak, Matt Pettigrew, Corey Phillips and Wes Schroeder.
The Eagles (13-6; 2-2 MAC) enter Wednesday's tussle with the Bulls (5-13; 0-3 MAC) in search of their first winning record in MAC competition since the 1990-91 squad posted a 3-2 mark.
“There is a lot of emotion involved with this match and I think it is a very big deal for us,” remarked sixth-year Head Coach Derek DelPorto. “It is the last opportunity for the guys to improve their seeds at the MAC Tournament and it is the last home dual meet that the seniors will ever compete in.”
A CAREER PAINTED IN GREEN AND WHITE: EMU's six seniors have played an immeasurable role in a wrestling program looking to establish itself among Michigan's elite squads. Captained by seniors Lester France, Corey Phillips and Wes Schroeder, the 2011-12 team has clinched its second winning season since (2007-08 was the other) the 2012 graduating class' freshman campaign.
“Their leadership has been great, but more importantly, their loyalty to the growth of this program is what stands out for me,” said Head Coach Derek DelPorto of his graduating seniors. “These guys have stuck with the process and represent half of my initial recruiting class.”
The six seniors have combined for an overall record of 67-61 (.523) and a 35-26 (.538) mark in regular season duals. Andrew Novak leads all seniors with a stellar 16-7 record including a 10-3 showing in duals and a 4-0 mark in MAC matches.
DOWN TO BUSINESS: The Eagles will try for their third win of the MAC season Wednesday against a struggling Bulls squad looking for its first victory in conference matches. For redshirt senior Andrew Novak, an undefeated record in MAC bouts is on the line as he faces off against either Taylor Golba or Justin Farmer at 133 lbs. At 157 lbs., redshirt junior Aaron Sulzer goes for his team-leading 14th dual win against either Wally Maziarz or Clay Reeb, and redshirt sophomore Phillip Joseph looks to notch a pin for a second straight match against Jake Waste. Finally at 125 lbs., redshirt sophomore Jared Germaine will attempt to break a three-match losing skid in MAC meets against Max Soria.
EAGLES TOPPED BY GOLDEN FLASHES: The Eagles fell short of winning their only MAC road contest of the season, 28-10, against No. 14 Kent State University Sunday, Feb. 5, in Kent, Ohio. The Green and White was unable to overcome a white-hot Golden Flashes squad which won for a 10th straight time and clinched the MAC regular season title.
Redshirt senior Andrew Novak won his match by major decision over Steve Mitcheff and redshirt sophomore Phillip Joseph pinned Brandonn Johnson to account for all 10 EMU points.
Redshirt junior Aaron Sulzer fell just short of defeating Mallie Shuster, 7-6. The two grapplers entered the third period tied at five apiece, but Shuster notched the decisive reversal with just over a minute remaining.
CLOSING THE GAP: With the loss to Kent State, Eastern Michigan moved to 0-5 against ranked opponents this season. Despite this statistic, the EMU coaching staff feels its squad is not far off from being able to beat perennial national powerhouses on a regular basis.
“We can compete with anyone in the country,” said Head Coach Derek DelPorto, “but if we want to beat these teams, we need to get tougher in a few positions and most definitely start believing in our abilities. My dad always used to tell me, 'If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right!' We have a few guys on the fence about believing in themselves, hence we lost some close matches to guys we should have beaten.”
GEAR UP, LOCK DOWN: This year's Mid-American Conference Championships will be held Sunday, March 4, on the campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. This will be the first season in which the event will take place over just one day of competition instead of two. EMU will be looking for its first team championship since 1996 and the first individual champion since 197-pounder John McClure captured the crown in 2009.
This year's mission is simple according to Head Coach Derek DelPorto. “Place all 10 guys at the MAC Tournament and send half the team to the NCAA Championships.”
The NCAA Championships will run March 15-17 in St. Louis, Mo., where they were last held in 2009. The Eagles sent a pair of grapplers, Aaron Sulzer and former heavyweight David Wade, to the national tournament last season and have had 38 representatives in the competition since the 1972-73 campaign.
ONE OPEN TOURNAMENT LEFT: Although the regular season ends after the bout with the Bulls Wednesday, Feb. 8, the Eagles have one event remaining on their 2011-12 schedule. EMU will trek to Edinboro, Pa. to take part in the Edinboro Open Saturday, Feb. 11.
WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE: It has not happened since the 2006-07 season that the Eagles came out victorious in their home finale. EMU defeated Buffalo, 28-10, Feb. 3, 2007, at Bowen Field House to mark the last time the Eagles accomplished the feat.
The Eagles have enjoyed great success at home this season, posting a 4-1 mark with wins over Ohio University (Dec. 4), Clarion University and Indiana Tech (Jan. 15) and Northern Illinois University (Jan. 22).
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