Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, March 4
Athens, Ohio
All Day
Eastern Michigan University
at
MAC Championships
EMU Grapplers Head to Athens, Ohio for MAC Championships
3/1/2012 11:45:00 AM | Wrestling
MAC receives 20 automatic bids to NCAA Championships
Complete Release (.pdf)
MAC Championships Website
Preliminary Brackets (.pdf)
Live Scoring
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)– The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team heads off to the 2012 Mid-American Conference Championships Sunday, March 4, at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
ALL MAC ALL THE TIME: EMU will be looking for its first team championship since 1996 and its 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.”
Last year, Central Michigan won its 10th-consecutive MAC title with 79 team points. Kent State was the runner-up with 73.5 points, while Eastern Michigan placed sixth with 14 points. Aaron Sulzer and David Wade each received bids to the NCAA Championships, marking the sixth-consecutive season in which an EMU wrestler has made it to the event.
MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS INFO: Ohio University will host some of the nation's finest wrestlers as part of the 2012 MAC Championships, March 4, at the OU Convocation Center. The event will mark the first time since 2004 that Ohio has hosted the double-elimination-format tournament.
Action begins at 10 a.m. Sunday with first round matches. The semifinals will take place starting at noon, with consolation matches beginning at 2 p.m. Championship matches will begin at 6 p.m.
Championship passes are now on sale through the Ohio Athletic Ticket Office. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and parking during the championship will be free of charge.
I KNOW THE BREAKDOWN: The NCAA has awarded the Mid-American Conference with 20 of the 290 automatic bids to the Division I National Championships in St. Louis, Mo., March 15-17, two more bids than the MAC was awarded a year ago. The Big Ten Conference was awarded a nation-leading 74 bids.
The MAC receives four automatic national qualifiers at 125 lbs., one at 133 lbs., three at 141 lbs., one at 149 lbs., 157 lbs. and 165 lbs., two at 174 lbs., three at 184 lbs., one at 197 lbs. and three at heavyweight.
After all of the qualifying events have concluded, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet to select the remaining 40 at-large qualifiers. All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers. The at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition, qualifying event placement, quality wins, results against common opponents, winning percentage, RPI, coaches ranking and the number of matches contested at that weight class.
WELCOME TO THE BIG SHOW: The Eagles will send their most formidable lineup in years to this season's MAC Championships, as six of the 10 EMU wrestlers have already competed in at least one conference tournament. Nine of the 10 Eagles representatives posted regular season of .500-or-better and are collectively 166-103 (.617) overall and 25-22 (.532) in MAC matches.
Andrew Novak (133 lbs.) enters the tournament undefeated in conference bouts and Phillip Joseph (174 lbs.) and Nick Whitenburg (197 lbs.) are each 4-1. Aaron Sulzer (19-8; 3-2 MAC) is looking to get back to the national tournament for a second consecutive season at 157 lbs.
Four EMU grapplers, Jaylyn Bohl (149 lbs.), Lester France (165 lbs.), Mike Curby (184 lbs.) and Wes Schroeder (heavyweight) will all experience postseason wrestling for the first time in their careers. Bohl and Curby are both redshirt freshmen in their first season of dual-meet action with EMU, while France and Schroeder are redshirt seniors looking to graduate as MAC champions.
THE NATIONAL STAGE: 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.
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. Justin Joseph, Andrew Novak and Matt Pettigrew have also played important roles in the team's continued growth throughout their collegiate careers.
“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 75-67 (.528) and a 38-27 (.585) mark in regular season duals. Andrew Novak leads all seniors with a stellar 17-7 record including a 11-3 showing in duals and a 5-0 mark in MAC matches.
A SEASON TO REMEMBER: The 2011-12 wrestling squad completed the regular season with an impressive 14-6 record for the best mark since the 2007-08 team went 15-8-1. A 3-2 record in conference matches was good for the first winning record in MAC action since the 1990-91 team posted the same record. EMU's MAC victories included a 22-14 win over Ohio, Dec. 4, a 22-9 victory over Northern Illinois University, Jan. 22, and a 31-7 triumph over the University at Buffalo, Feb. 8.
The Eagles were 5-1 at home, 4-2 on the road and 5-3 at neutral sites, and posted an overall record of 122-78 (.610) in individual dual-meet matches. The regular season began with a thrilling 20-16 win over Michigan State University, Nov. 12, in East Lansing, Mich. The Green and White also notched a four-match winning streak from Jan. 15-Jan. 22 with wins over Clarion University, Indiana Tech, Olivet College and NIU.
EMU DOMINANT IN TOURNAMENT COMPETITION: Eastern Michigan also turned in a successful season in tournament action, with EMU wrestlers placing first in their weight class on nine separate occasions. Freshman Vincent Pizzuto led the way in open competition, fighting his way to a 28-5 (.848) record and capturing the 125 lbs. title in three tournaments. Redshirt seniors Lester France and Matt Pettigrew, along with redshirt sophomores Alex Ortman, Seth Schaner and Nick Whitenburg also recorded first-place finishes in tournaments.
MAC Championships Website
Preliminary Brackets (.pdf)
Live Scoring
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)– The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team heads off to the 2012 Mid-American Conference Championships Sunday, March 4, at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
ALL MAC ALL THE TIME: EMU will be looking for its first team championship since 1996 and its 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.”
Last year, Central Michigan won its 10th-consecutive MAC title with 79 team points. Kent State was the runner-up with 73.5 points, while Eastern Michigan placed sixth with 14 points. Aaron Sulzer and David Wade each received bids to the NCAA Championships, marking the sixth-consecutive season in which an EMU wrestler has made it to the event.
MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS INFO: Ohio University will host some of the nation's finest wrestlers as part of the 2012 MAC Championships, March 4, at the OU Convocation Center. The event will mark the first time since 2004 that Ohio has hosted the double-elimination-format tournament.
Action begins at 10 a.m. Sunday with first round matches. The semifinals will take place starting at noon, with consolation matches beginning at 2 p.m. Championship matches will begin at 6 p.m.
Championship passes are now on sale through the Ohio Athletic Ticket Office. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and parking during the championship will be free of charge.
I KNOW THE BREAKDOWN: The NCAA has awarded the Mid-American Conference with 20 of the 290 automatic bids to the Division I National Championships in St. Louis, Mo., March 15-17, two more bids than the MAC was awarded a year ago. The Big Ten Conference was awarded a nation-leading 74 bids.
The MAC receives four automatic national qualifiers at 125 lbs., one at 133 lbs., three at 141 lbs., one at 149 lbs., 157 lbs. and 165 lbs., two at 174 lbs., three at 184 lbs., one at 197 lbs. and three at heavyweight.
After all of the qualifying events have concluded, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet to select the remaining 40 at-large qualifiers. All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers. The at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition, qualifying event placement, quality wins, results against common opponents, winning percentage, RPI, coaches ranking and the number of matches contested at that weight class.
WELCOME TO THE BIG SHOW: The Eagles will send their most formidable lineup in years to this season's MAC Championships, as six of the 10 EMU wrestlers have already competed in at least one conference tournament. Nine of the 10 Eagles representatives posted regular season of .500-or-better and are collectively 166-103 (.617) overall and 25-22 (.532) in MAC matches.
Andrew Novak (133 lbs.) enters the tournament undefeated in conference bouts and Phillip Joseph (174 lbs.) and Nick Whitenburg (197 lbs.) are each 4-1. Aaron Sulzer (19-8; 3-2 MAC) is looking to get back to the national tournament for a second consecutive season at 157 lbs.
Four EMU grapplers, Jaylyn Bohl (149 lbs.), Lester France (165 lbs.), Mike Curby (184 lbs.) and Wes Schroeder (heavyweight) will all experience postseason wrestling for the first time in their careers. Bohl and Curby are both redshirt freshmen in their first season of dual-meet action with EMU, while France and Schroeder are redshirt seniors looking to graduate as MAC champions.
THE NATIONAL STAGE: 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.
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. Justin Joseph, Andrew Novak and Matt Pettigrew have also played important roles in the team's continued growth throughout their collegiate careers.
“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 75-67 (.528) and a 38-27 (.585) mark in regular season duals. Andrew Novak leads all seniors with a stellar 17-7 record including a 11-3 showing in duals and a 5-0 mark in MAC matches.
A SEASON TO REMEMBER: The 2011-12 wrestling squad completed the regular season with an impressive 14-6 record for the best mark since the 2007-08 team went 15-8-1. A 3-2 record in conference matches was good for the first winning record in MAC action since the 1990-91 team posted the same record. EMU's MAC victories included a 22-14 win over Ohio, Dec. 4, a 22-9 victory over Northern Illinois University, Jan. 22, and a 31-7 triumph over the University at Buffalo, Feb. 8.
The Eagles were 5-1 at home, 4-2 on the road and 5-3 at neutral sites, and posted an overall record of 122-78 (.610) in individual dual-meet matches. The regular season began with a thrilling 20-16 win over Michigan State University, Nov. 12, in East Lansing, Mich. The Green and White also notched a four-match winning streak from Jan. 15-Jan. 22 with wins over Clarion University, Indiana Tech, Olivet College and NIU.
EMU DOMINANT IN TOURNAMENT COMPETITION: Eastern Michigan also turned in a successful season in tournament action, with EMU wrestlers placing first in their weight class on nine separate occasions. Freshman Vincent Pizzuto led the way in open competition, fighting his way to a 28-5 (.848) record and capturing the 125 lbs. title in three tournaments. Redshirt seniors Lester France and Matt Pettigrew, along with redshirt sophomores Alex Ortman, Seth Schaner and Nick Whitenburg also recorded first-place finishes in tournaments.
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