Chippewas upset #18 Illinois at National Duals

CMU FALLS TO #11 OKLAHOMA IN QUARTERFINALS

Columbus, Ohio - Central Michigan had Oklahoma on the ropes in the quarterfinals of the NWCA National Duals Sunday evening, but the 11th-ranked Sooners bonus points in each of their last two victories to defeat the Chippewas, 25-16.

Junior Craig Kelliher gave the Chippewas a late 16-15 lead when he pinned Alec Lacovelli at the 2:23 mark of the first period, but the Sooners fifth-ranked Travis Rutt eached a major decision over Jackson Lewis and Ross Larson pinned sophomore Adam Robinson just 1:42 into the match to give OU the win.

The Chippewas (9-9) took a 6-3 lead early behind wins by senior Joe Roth and sophomore Zach Horan at 141 pounds, but the nation's second-ranked 149 pounder Kendric Maple pinned senior Scott Mattingly to put the Sooners in front, 9-9.

Sophomore Lucas Smith gave the lead right back to CMU however, fighting his way to a dominant 12-0 major decision over Dryden Dennis

OU claimed the next two matches by decision, including the 174 match that featured No. 1 Andrew Howe versus No. 9 Mike Ottinger.

CMU will take on Iowa State in the consolation quarterfinals on Monday. The match is set to begin at 11 a.m.

No. 11 Oklahoma 25, Central Michigan 16
125: No. 7 Jarrod Patterson (OU) dec. No. 16 Corey Keener, 9-2; OU, 3-0
133: No. 14 Joe Roth (CMU) dec. No. 7 Cody Brewer, 10-7; Tied, 3-3
141: No. 10 Zach Horan (CMU) dec. Nick Lester, 4-2; CMU, 6-3
149: No. 2 Kendric Maple (OU) pinned Scott Mattingly, 2:36; OU, 9-3
157: No. 20 Lucas Smith (CMU) major dec. Dryden Dennis, 12-0; CMU, 10-9
165: Clark Glass (OU) dec. Zack Cline, 5-2; OU, 12-10
174: No. 1 Andrew Howe (OU) dec. No. 9 Mike Ottinger, 4-2; OU, 15-10
184: Craig Kelliher (CMU) pinned Alec Lacovelli, 2:23; CMU, 16-15
197: No. 5 Travis Rutt (OU) major dec. Jackson Lewis, 13-3; OU, 19-16
285: Ross Larson (OU) pinned Adam Robinson, 1:42; OU, 25-16

CMU UPSETS #18 ILLINOIS IN ROUND 1

Chippewas Upset No. 18 Illinois in First Round of NWCA National Duals, 19-13

Central Michigan upset No. 18 Illinois in the first round of the NWCA National Duals inside St. John Arena Sunday afternoon.

The Chippewas (9-8) claimed six of the 10 matches, including a major decision by sophomore Lucas Smith over Zach Brunson, 8-0.

Smith grabbed an early 2-0 lead on a takedown in the first period and was awarded a point on a pair of stalling calls against Brunson to take a 3-0 lead into the third. After an optional start gave Smith a 4-0 lead, Smith earned another takedown and was awarded a second penalty point for stalling on Brunson. The second stalling called proved costly as Smith had enough riding time to earn the bonus point victory.

The victory by Smith was the fourth-straight by the Maroon and Gold as senior Joe Roth (133), sophomore Zach Horan (141) and senior Scott Mattingly (149) each earned decisions after redshirt freshman Corey Keener fell to No. 3 Jesse Delgado at 125 pounds.

Illinois pulled within 13-7 on a major decision by Jackson Morse over redshirt freshman Nick Becker at 165, but junior Mike Ottinger and and senior Craig Kelliher earned back-to-back decisions to seal the victory for CMU.

Ottinger claimed a takedown just 34 seconds into the first period versus Tony Dallago, but was quicky reversed and turned to his back for a two-point near fall. The ninth-ranked Ottinger then flipped the script, reversing Dallago and turning him to his back for a three-point near fall to reclaim the advantage.

Dallago and Ottinger exchanged another pair of reversals in the first period, allowing Ottinger to claim a 9-6 lead through one. Ottinger opened the second with an escape and built a 12-6 lead with another takedown only to have Dallago get called for stalling in the third as he fought to avoid a major decision win by Ottinger.

Kelliher trailed Lazarus Reyes after a period, but quickly took advantage by turning Reyes to his back in the second period for a three-point near fall. Kelliher was called for stalling twice in the third, but avoided a takedown and held on for a 4-3 decision.

Central Michigan 19, No. 18 Illinois 13
125: No. 3 Jesse Delgado (Illinois) dec. No. 16 Corey Keener, 11-4; Illinois, 3-0
133: No. 14 Joe Roth (CMU) dec. No. 13 Zane Richards, 6-5; Tied, 3-3
141: No. 10 Zach Horan (CMU) dec. No. 13 Steven Rodrigues, 7-5 SV1; CMU, 6-3
149: Scott Mattingly (CMU) dec. Logan Arlis, 5-1; CMU, 9-3
157: No. 20 Lucas Smith (CMU) major dec. No. 13 Zach Brunson, 8-0; CMU, 13-3
165: No. 13 Jackson Morse (Illinois) major dec. Nick Becker, 14-2; CMU, 13-7
174: No. 9 Mike Ottinger (CMU) dec. Tony Dallago, 12-7; CMU, 16-7
184: Craig Kelliher (CMU) dec. Lazarus Reyes, 4-3; CMU, 19-7
197: Jeffrey Koepke (Illinois) dec. Jackson Lewis, 9-4; CMU, 19-10
285: Chris Lopez (Illinois) dec. Adam Robinson, 3-1; CMU, 19-13

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