On Sunday, the 23rd-ranked Chippewas carried out the game plan nearly to perfection in topping Buffalo, 30-9, in a Mid-American Conference dual at McGuirk Arena.
"Buffalo is the type of team that tends to hold on to you a little bit and slow you down," said Borrelli, whose team improved to 8-4 overall, 5-1 MAC. "We figured that out today and scored a lot of points."
The Chippewas overcame a forfeit loss at 125 pounds as Brent Fleetwood sat out his third consecutive dual with an injury. CMU won eight of the nine matches held, recording 19 takedowns to Buffalo's three.
Three CMU wins came by major decision, and the Chippewas earned a riding time point in six of their victories. Sunday's victory was CMU's second dual win in a row after a 22-12 MAC win over Eastern Michigan on Friday.
"I'm happy with our weekend, especially giving up the six points and being able to win both dual meets," Borrelli said. "It's always a little bit nerve-wracking when you give up six points and our guys responded well. We won a lot matches this weekend, especially this match."
The majors came from Corey Keener (133), Justin Oliver (149) and Luke Smith (157), while Mike Ottinger (174) won by disqualification.
Ottinger was well in control of his match, leading 10-3 in the third period when his opponent, Muhamed McBryde, was called for stalling for the fourth time in the match, resulting in the disqualification and six team points for CMU.
Keener posted a 13-5 win, Oliver a 14-3 victory, and Smith an 8-0 win. CMU's Jordan Ellingwood (184) also pitched a shutout, winning 4-0.
The two closest-contested wins for CMU came in the dual's final two matches, and both were decided on riding time.
Jackson Lewis (197) defeated James Benjamin, 9-8, getting the decisive point on riding time.
The Chippewas' Adam Robinson (HWT) scored an escape in the second tie-breaker to even his bout with Jake Gunning at 3-3. Robinson was awarded the victory because he held a 15.6-second edge in riding time.
The Chippewas celebrated senior day with all five seniors - Zach Horan, Smith, Ottinger, Lewis and Robinson - in the lineup winning their respective matches.
"Those guys have meant a lot to our program, all five of them," Borrelli said. "Four of them have been four-year starters, so obviously they mean a lot. I think they wanted to go out on a good note."
The Chippewas go to Kent State next Sunday where they will wrestle the Golden Flashes in a MAC dual and Edinboro in a non-league dual.
The Chippewas' final home event of the season is a non-league dual with Wisconsin on Thursday, Feb. 18.
Kent State is 13-3, 6-1 MAC after posting victories this weekend over Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa. Edinboro is 8-7.
Borrelli said there is no timetable on Fleetwood's potential return from a foot injury. Fleetwood was injured a week ago in a dual meet at Northern Iowa, and the Chippewas have forfeited at the weight class in all three ensuing duals.
The only other 125-pounder on the roster, Carter Ballinger, can't wrestle at the weight class because of NCAA rules pertaining to weight-descent.
"You have to be down to your lowest-certifiable weight by Feb. 15," Borrelli said. "He wrestled at the Alma College Open (Jan. 23) at 133. The lowest he can descend down to, by Feb. 15, is 126.6 (pounds), so he can't go down to 125 even though he's wrestled every other competition this year, except for that one, at 125.
"I don't know why Feb. 15 is the magical cutoff date, but that's what it is. There's not much we can do about it this year."
Results:
125: Kyle Akins (UB) won by forfeit, 6-0
133: Corey Keener (CMU) won by major decision over Bryan Lantry (UB), 13-5
141: #14 Zach Horan (CMU) won by decision over Brandon Lapi (UB), 9-3
149: #19 Justin Oliver (CMU) won by major decision over Colt Cotten (UB), 14-3
157: #14 Luke Smith (CMU) won by major decision over Tim Schaefer (UB), 8-0
165: Rrok Ndokaj (UB) won by decision over Jordan Antienza (CMU), 8-3
174: Mike Ottinger (CMU) won by default over Muhamed McBryde, 10-3
184: Jordan Ellingwood (CMU) won by decision over Joe Ariola (UB), 4-0
197: Jackson Lewis (CMU) won by decision over James Benjamin (UB), 9-8
285: Adam Robinson (CMU) won by overtime decision over Jake Gunning (UB), 4-3
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