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Winning tradition
Wrestlers rack up another MAC title; three named All-Americans
By Scott Rex
In 16 years at CMU, head wrestling coach Tom Borrelli has established a standard of excellence in his program. The 2007 Chippewas did nothing but further that legacy.
The regular season was one of the most successful in the program’s history. CMU posted a 17-4-1 overall record, setting a new school record for dual meet wins in a single season. The Chippewas took on a challenging schedule that featured 13 opponents ranked in the top 25 nationally; CMU was 8-4-1 overall in those duals.
Along the way, CMU claimed the team title at the Reno Tournament of Champions and steamrolled its way to its fourth consecutive unbeaten Mid-American Conference record. The conference championship was CMU’s 11th overall and ninth in as many years.
The dominating regular season performance set the stage for yet another successful postseason run by the Chippewas.
CMU scored 106.5 team points in winning its sixth consecutive MAC Championship title. Six Chippewas won individual conference crowns, the second-most individual MAC champions in school history. CMU also collected three of the conference’s four specialty awards presented annually at the conference tournament. Borrelli was named MAC Coach of the Year for the ninth time and fifth year in a row, Mike Miller was selected MAC Freshman of the Year, and Wynn Michalak was tabbed MAC Wrestler of the Year for the second consecutive season.
A contingent of eight national qualifiers represented CMU at the NCAA Championships at the Palace of Auburn Hills, with three bringing home All-America honors. Bubba Gritter placed fifth at heavyweight, Brandon Sinnott seventh at 174 pounds, and Miller eighth at 165 pounds. CMU placed 15th in the 74-team field, its sixth top-15 finish and third in the last four years, while boasting multiple All-Americans for the fourth straight year and seventh time in the last eight seasons.
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All-American Bubba Gritter celebrates his 3-1 win over West Virginia’s Dustin Rogers in the heavyweight quarterfinals.
Two-time MAC champion Brandon Sinnott earned All-America honors for the first time.
Mike Miller is just the second freshman in CMU history to earn All-America honors.
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