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1-on-1 with Casey Cunningham
Casey Cunningham, Central Michigan (Wrestling)
Casey Cunningham helped build the Central Michigan wrestling program into one of the top programs in MAC history. His achievements on the mat are unmatched in Central Michigan history and his impact on the program continued as an assistant coach with the Chippewas.
Cunningham competed in Mount Pleasant from 1996-99 and was Central Michigan’s first three-time Academic All-MAC selection and earned first-team NWCA Academic All-American honors twice and was an honorable mention selection on two other occasions.
He was the 1999 NCAA National Champion at 157 pounds and was Central Michigan’s first Division I National Champion. Cunningham was also a 1998 National runner-up. He was a two-time All-America and a three-time MAC champion and was twice named MAC Wrestler of the Year (1998, 1999). Cunningham was the MAC Championships Most Outstanding Wrestler in 1999 and was the MAC Freshman of the Year in 1996.
His championship resume includes three Penn State Open titles and two Midlands Championships, where he was named Champion of Champions during his senior year. A four-time team MVP, Cunningham set school records for career winning percentage (.876, 134-19), career victories (134) and season winning percentage (.971, 34-1 in 1999).
Cunningham ranked among the top 10 wrestlers in school history in career pins (31), season winning percentage (.906, 29-3 in 1998) and single-season victories (37). He twice competed in the NWCA All-Star Classic and led Central Michigan to the 1999 MAC Team Championship and two MAC Tournament Titles (1998-99).
Cunningham helped the Chippewas finish fifth at the 1998 NCAA National Championships and seventh at Nationals in 1999. He has a successful post-collegiate career placing at the 2004 and 2008 USA Olympic Trials. Cunningham also placed at the World Team Trials, National Championships, U.S. Nationals and U.S. Senior Nationals. He also served as an assistant coach for Central Michigan for seven seasons, helping the program win seven MAC Championships and seven MAC Tournament titles.
Cunningham and his wife, Tara, have five children, Hayden, Asher, Ryder, Saige and Sterling. They reside in University Park, Pa.
