Central Michigan Wins 11th Consecutive MAC Wrestling Tournament
Central Michigan Wins 11th Consecutive MAC Wrestling Championship
Athens, Ohio -- Central Michigan won its 11th consecutive MAC Wrestling Championship on Sunday, March 4th by scoring 89 total team points courtesy of winning five of the ten weight classes. Kent State (79 points) and Eastern Michigan (49 points) finished second and third respectfully.
The Chippewas continued their dominance in MAC wrestling claiming their 14th conference tournament championship in the last 15 years. Central Michigan won five wight classes as Joe Roth (125), Zach Horan (133), Donnie Corby (157), Mike Ottinger (165) and Ben Bennett (184) all won their respective weight classes.
Kent State’s second-place finish featured Tyler Small (141), Ian Miller (149) and Keith Witt (197) each won their weight class. Ohio’s Nick Purdue (174) and Jeremy Johnson (285) both won their weight classes for the tournament’s host. Kent State entered the tournament as the MAC regular season champion.
For the tournament, Central Michigan sophomore Joe Roth was named the MAC Outstanding Wrestler for the Tournament. Roth set the tone for the Chippewas in the tournament championship matches by starting the evening with a win over Kent State's Nic Bedelyon 9-6 in the 125 lb. weight class.
MAC Wrestling Championship Final Team Scoring:
Central Michigan, 89.0 points
Kent State, 79.0 points
Eastern Michigan, 49.0 points
Ohio, 41.5 points
Northern Illinois, 41.0 points
Buffalo, 27.5 points
2012 MAC Championship Winners:
125: Joe Roth-Central Michigan dec. (9-6) over Nic Bedelyon-Kent State
131: Zach Horan-Central Michigan dec. (5-0) over Robert Jilliard-Northern Illinois
141: Tyler Small-Kent State dec. (6-0) over Kevin Fanta-Northern Illinois
149: Ian Miller-Kent State dec. (12-3) over Blake Roulo-Buffalo
157: Donnie Corby-Central Michigan dec. (4-1) over Aaron Sulzer-Eastern Michigan
165: Mike Ottinger-Central Michigan dec. (4-3) over Mark Lewandowski-Buffalo
174: Nick Purdue-Ohio dec. (12-10) over Phillip Joseph-Eastern Michigan
184: Ben Bennett-Central Michigan dec. (8-1) over Brad Dieckhaus-Northern Illinois
197: Keith Witt-Kent State dec. (8-3) over Nick Whitenburg-Eastern Michigan
285: Jeremy Johnson-Ohio dec. (4-2) over Brendan Barlow-Kent State
