MAC Sports Information
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Mid-American Conference wrestling coaches announced the preseason weight class individual rankings in conjunction with the league office today. The rankings will be released on the second Tuesday of each month throughout the season, with one additional ranking system (two total) coming in January and February.
The preseason rankings, voted on by the league’s head coaches in an open forum, are as follows:
125 pounds
(1) Luke Smith, R-So., CMU (30-10 overall, 4-1 MAC in 2004-05; Individual MAC Champion)
(2) Chad Vandiver, So., Northern Illinois (14-9 overall, 3-2 MAC)
(3) Caleb Metcalf, So., Ohio (11-20 overall, 2-3 MAC)
(4) Chad Sportelli, Fr., Kent State
133 pounds
(1) Jason Borrelli, Jr., Central Michigan (22-9 overall, 2-0 MAC; Individual MAC Champion)
(2) Mark Budd, Jr., Buffalo (23-16 overall, 4-1 MAC)
(3) Drew Opfer, R-Jr., Kent State (19-10 overall, 2-3 MAC)
(4) Phillip Plowman, R-Sr., Eastern Michigan (9-8 overall, 3-2 MAC)
141 pounds
(1) Josh Wooton, Sr., Northern Illinois (8-4 overall, 5-0 MAC; Individual MAC Champion)
(2) Nick Conklin, R-Jr., Eastern Michigan (1-5 overall, 0-4 MAC)
(3) Dana Gingerich, So., Buffalo (17-19 overall, 1-4 MAC)
(4) Brandon Carter, R-So., Central Michigan (26-20 overall, 2-3 MAC)
149 pounds
(1) Mark DiSalvo, R-Jr., Central Michigan (35-8 overall, 5-0 MAC; Individual MAC Champion)
(2) Mike Grimes, Jr., Northern Illinois (16-10 overall, 2-3 MAC)
(3) Jason Bake, R-Jr., Kent State (18-4 overall, 3-2 MAC)
(4) Jermaine Thompson, Jr., Eastern Michigan (16-4 overall, 4-1 MAC)
157 pounds
(1) Eric Neil, R-Fr., Central Michigan (29-14 overall, 4-1 MAC)
(2) Kurt Gross, R-So., Kent State (18-17 overall, 1-4 MAC)
(3) Chad Roush, Sr., Eastern Michigan (16-12 overall, 2-2 MAC)
(4) Scott Rendos, So., Buffalo
165 pounds
(1) Johnny Galloway, Jr., Northern Illinois (25-6 overall, 4-1 MAC)
(2) Jake Blowers, Jr., Buffalo (16-17 overall, 2-2 MAC)
(3) Scott Vaughn, So. Eastern Michigan (Transfer)
(4) Jason McGee, So., Kent State (20-14 overall, 3-2 MAC)
174 pounds
(1) Danny Burk, Jr., Northern Illinois (17-16 overall, 1-4 MAC)
(2) Nate Rock, So., Buffalo (10-16 overall, 1-1 MAC)
(3) Aaron Miller, So., Kent State (16-13 overall, 1-3 MAC)
(4) Ryan Knapp, So., Ohio (5-9 overall)
184 pounds
(1) Alex Camargo, Jr., Kent State (32-6 overall, 3-2 MAC)
(2) Garrett Hicks, Sr., Buffalo (22-18 overall, 3-2 MAC)
(3) Brian Cesear, Jr., Ohio (13-22 overall)
(4) Christian Sinnott, R-Fr. CMU
197 pounds
(1) Wynn Michalak, R-Fr., Central Michigan (34-10 overall, 4-2 MAC; Individual MAC Champion)
(2) Kyle Cerminara, Sr., Buffalo
(3) Ben Rings, Jr., Kent State (14-16 overall, 1-1 MAC)
(4) Derek Hunsinger, So., Northern Illinois (15-9 overall, 2-1 MAC)
Hwt
(1) Marcus Adelman, Sr., Ohio (14-8 overall)
(2) Bubba Gritter, R-So., Central Michigan (Redshirt Freshman)
(3) Charlie Walker, R-Sr., Eastern Michigan (10-20 overall, 1-4 MAC)
(4) Harold Sherrell, Sr., Buffalo (22-17 overall, 3-2 MAC)
The preseason team rankings were also decided in the same forum. The six schools were ranked based on the number of first through fourth-place votes that were earned in the individual voting system. A first-place vote was worth four team points; a second-place vote earned three team points; third-seeded votes were worth two team points, while a fourth-place tally earned that team one point in the team ranking system. Central Michigan was picked to win the MAC Championship for the eighth consecutive season. The Chippewas return five individual MAC Champions from a squad that finished 60.5 points ahead of second-place finisher Northern Illinois. CMU has won five straight MAC Tournament titles. Buffalo and Northern Illinois both earned 19 votes, tying for second-place in the preseason poll.
The Huskies will field a young team that includes just two seniors, but have three individual wrestlers ranked as the league’s top performer in their respective divisions. Northern Illinois garnered 59 total points at last year’s MAC Championships. Buffalo may be one of the most improved and experienced teams in the MAC. Finishing sixth at last year’s championship, the Bulls return nine starters this season, including 2003-04 All-American Kyle Cerminara, a redshirt last year.
Kent State, collecting 17 points, was picked fourth in the preseason poll. The Golden Flashes return seven starters from last year’s team, all of which were seeded in the top-four of their respective weight classes for the upcoming campaign. Kent State finished third at last season’s MAC Championships, collecting 46.5 total points.
Eastern Michigan garnered 11 team points in the voting process, and was slated as the league’s fifth-best team overall. The Eagles had key losses in seniors J.J. Holmes and Ed Magrys (both NCAA qualifiers last season), but return the remaining eight other starters from a team that went 7-10 overall. The Eagles finished fifth at last year’s MAC Championships with 33.5 team points.
Picked sixth in the league was Ohio. The youngest team in the MAC, the Bobcats have 22 combined freshmen and redshirt freshmen on the roster. Key returnees for Ohio include sophomore Caleb Metcalf (125 lbs.), Ryan Knapp (174 lbs.) and Marcus Adelman (285 lbs.), who enters the season as the top-ranked heavyweight in the MAC. The preseason team rankings are as follows:
MAC Team Rankings
(1) Central Michigan 25
(T-2) Buffalo 19
(T-2) Northern Illinois 19
(4) Kent State 17
(5) Eastern Michigan 11
(6) Ohio 9
Wrestling Gear
