Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wrestling 2017-18 Season Preview
11/1/2017 2:38:00 PM | Wrestling
The Eagles open the fourth season under Head Coach David Bolyard on Friday
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team opens the 2017-18 campaign this weekend when it heads to North Carolina for a trio of duals, Nov. 3-5. The Eagles open the fourth season under Head Coach David Bolyard Friday, Nov. 3, against Gardner-Webb, before heading to Buies Creek, N.C. to wrestle in a tri-dual against American and host Campbell Sunday, Nov. 5.
The Eagles are coming off a 6-8 season in which they were 4-3 in road duals. Eastern is hoping for similar success on the road this year, as 12 of the 15 duals will take place away from Ypsilanti. EMU returns seven primary starters from last season, including two of the three NCAA qualifiers in redshirt sophomore Noah Gonser (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc) and redshirt senior Gage Hutchison (Buchanan, Mich.-Buchanan).
Eastern's three home duals will come consecutively, with competitions in the Convocation Center against Mid-American Conference foes Northern Illinois (Jan. 19), Buffalo (Feb. 2), and Kent State (Feb. 4). Meanwhile, the rest of EMU's schedule will be a grind with road duals against Big Ten foes Indiana and Michigan State, as well as top-25 MAC opponents in Missouri and Central Michigan.
With the return of seven primary starters, the Green and White were picked fifth in the preseason conference poll. EMU also had four wrestlers picked in the top-four of their respective weight classes.
125 lbs.
With returning NCAA qualifier Gonser moving up to 133 lbs. this season, the door has been opened for another redshirt freshman to breakout in Tomas Gutierrez (Arvada, Colo.-Pomona). In his redshirt season, Gutierrez finished 9-8 in five tournaments, including seven wins by decision. His highlight came at the Alma Open, when he went a perfect 4-0 to claim the 125 lbs. title. The two-time high school state champion is one of a handful of the members of the honorable mention top-20 recruiting class of 2016 that will look to have a significant role this season.
133 lbs.
Gonser bumps up a weight class this season and will look to continue his success from last season. In his first year as the primary 125 lbs. starter, Gonser went 16-12, including 7-4 in duals, on his way to a top-20 national ranking. He finished off his season at the NCAA Championships after earning an at-large bid. He was just the second EMU freshman since 1984 to make the national tournament. He enters this season ranked nationally by a couple of national outlets at 125 lbs., but will look to crack the top-20 at his new class.
Also looking to see time at 133 lbs. is redshirt junior Armando Torres (Lorain, Ohio-Elyria). Torres is no stranger to the starting lineup, as he was the primary 125 pounder as a freshman in 2015-16. Last season, Torres wrestled at three different weight classes in four tournaments and five duals, totaling 10 wins. For his career, the Lorain, Ohio native has 35 wins and is 10-8 in dual action.
141 lbs.
Another wrestler bumps up a class at 141 lbs. as redshirt sophomore Sa'Derian Perry (Lakeland, Fla.-Lake Gibson) will take over the starting slot this season. As the primary 133 pounder last season, Perry burst onto the scene with 10 wins, including four in duals, all via pin, and all in 2:09 or less. In total, half his seasons wins came by fall, making him a potential high point scorer in the lineup this year.
Also battling for time at 141 lbs. will be redshirt freshman Jake Spiess (Delta, Ohio-Delta). After taking a medical redshirt last season, Spiess will look to see his first collegiate action as he battles back from injuries. Spiess is another member of the top recruiting class, as he was ranked top-10 nationally by USA Magazine as a three-time State Champion in Ohio.
149 lbs.
In his final season at Eastern, redshirt senior Kyle Springer (New Boston, Mich.-Davenport Assumption (Indiana)) will wrestle up a weight class as he looks to fill the void left by two-time NCAA qualifier Nick Barber. Springer has been a consistent grappler for the Eagles since transferring from Indiana, racking up a 16-11 dual record the past two seasons at 141 lbs. Last season, he went 15-11, including 8-5 in duals, and just missed out on the NCAA Tournament after finishing fourth at MAC Championships. He is already gaining recognition at his new weight, as he was tabbed second in the preseason MAC weight class rankings at 149 lbs.
157 lbs.
After splitting time starting at 157 lbs. last season, redshirt sophomore J.J. Wolfe (Dakota, Ill.-Dakota) will take on the full-time role this year. In his first season starting, Wolfe tallied a pair of wins in duals, including a major decision against Adrian. He also took fourth place at the highly competitive Keystone Classic.
165 lbs.
Yet another wrestler bumps up a weight class as redshirt sophomore Zac Carson (Akron, Ohio-Lake) fills the slot following the graduation of Devan Marry. As the primary starter at 157 lbs. last season, Carson came on late to post 12 overall wins, including going 6-3 in duals. He capped off the season with an impressive run in the MAC Championships, taking fourth after knocking off the four and five seeds as the sixth seeded wrestler. The Akron native also has the conference's attention, as he was picked third at 165 lbs. to start the season.
174 lbs.
Eastern has to replace a four-year starter at 174 lbs. with the graduation of Jacob Davis, and the Eagles have a prime candidate to do so with redshirt freshman Andrew McNally (Uniontown, Ohio-Lake) stepping into the starting role. McNally had a big redshirt season for the Eagles, as he went 22-6 in five tournaments, placing top-five in all five. He led all EMU wrestlers last season with six major decisions and eight pins. He also never lost consecutive matches, and was only defeated twice in a tournament just once. His impressive debut campaign has put the conference on watch, as he was selected fourth in the preseason MAC rankings at 174 lbs.
184 lbs.
At 184 lbs., redshirt junior Kayne MacCallum (Green Oaks, Ill.-Libertyville) returns for his third year as a starter. Last season, as the primary 184-pounder, MacCallum racked up five dual wins, including two by pin in overtime. One of the pins came in the dual against Kent State, to seal the Eagles' first win over the Golden Flashes since 1974. He also took sixth at the Keystone Classic. For his career, MacCallum has 25 wins, including nine in duals, and five in MAC duals.
197 lbs.
Eastern also returns its 197-pounder in redshirt junior Derek Hillman (Woodhaven, Mich.-Woodhaven) for his third go-around as a starter. Last season, his first at 197 lbs., Hillman tallied 10 wins, including six in duals. The Woodhaven, Mich. native was close to scoring more wins though, as all of his dual losses were by decision. He will look to build upon his 15-13 career dual record this season.
HWT
At heavyweight, Hutchison returns for the final season of his illustrious EMU career, and will look to end it with a bang. Last season, the three-year starter posted a career and team-high 25 wins, and led all starters with seven pins and 33 dual points. He finished the season taking runner-up at the MAC Championships, earning his second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. He spent a majority of the season ranked in the top-20, and finds himself there again to start this season, as well as ranked second in the conference. With 75 career wins, Hutchison is on pace to finish near the top in all-time wins at Eastern Michigan.
To keep up to date on the 2017-18 season, be sure to follow the team's official Twitter account @EMUWrestling.
The Eagles are coming off a 6-8 season in which they were 4-3 in road duals. Eastern is hoping for similar success on the road this year, as 12 of the 15 duals will take place away from Ypsilanti. EMU returns seven primary starters from last season, including two of the three NCAA qualifiers in redshirt sophomore Noah Gonser (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc) and redshirt senior Gage Hutchison (Buchanan, Mich.-Buchanan).
Eastern's three home duals will come consecutively, with competitions in the Convocation Center against Mid-American Conference foes Northern Illinois (Jan. 19), Buffalo (Feb. 2), and Kent State (Feb. 4). Meanwhile, the rest of EMU's schedule will be a grind with road duals against Big Ten foes Indiana and Michigan State, as well as top-25 MAC opponents in Missouri and Central Michigan.
With the return of seven primary starters, the Green and White were picked fifth in the preseason conference poll. EMU also had four wrestlers picked in the top-four of their respective weight classes.
125 lbs.
With returning NCAA qualifier Gonser moving up to 133 lbs. this season, the door has been opened for another redshirt freshman to breakout in Tomas Gutierrez (Arvada, Colo.-Pomona). In his redshirt season, Gutierrez finished 9-8 in five tournaments, including seven wins by decision. His highlight came at the Alma Open, when he went a perfect 4-0 to claim the 125 lbs. title. The two-time high school state champion is one of a handful of the members of the honorable mention top-20 recruiting class of 2016 that will look to have a significant role this season.
133 lbs.
Gonser bumps up a weight class this season and will look to continue his success from last season. In his first year as the primary 125 lbs. starter, Gonser went 16-12, including 7-4 in duals, on his way to a top-20 national ranking. He finished off his season at the NCAA Championships after earning an at-large bid. He was just the second EMU freshman since 1984 to make the national tournament. He enters this season ranked nationally by a couple of national outlets at 125 lbs., but will look to crack the top-20 at his new class.
Also looking to see time at 133 lbs. is redshirt junior Armando Torres (Lorain, Ohio-Elyria). Torres is no stranger to the starting lineup, as he was the primary 125 pounder as a freshman in 2015-16. Last season, Torres wrestled at three different weight classes in four tournaments and five duals, totaling 10 wins. For his career, the Lorain, Ohio native has 35 wins and is 10-8 in dual action.
141 lbs.
Another wrestler bumps up a class at 141 lbs. as redshirt sophomore Sa'Derian Perry (Lakeland, Fla.-Lake Gibson) will take over the starting slot this season. As the primary 133 pounder last season, Perry burst onto the scene with 10 wins, including four in duals, all via pin, and all in 2:09 or less. In total, half his seasons wins came by fall, making him a potential high point scorer in the lineup this year.
Also battling for time at 141 lbs. will be redshirt freshman Jake Spiess (Delta, Ohio-Delta). After taking a medical redshirt last season, Spiess will look to see his first collegiate action as he battles back from injuries. Spiess is another member of the top recruiting class, as he was ranked top-10 nationally by USA Magazine as a three-time State Champion in Ohio.
149 lbs.
In his final season at Eastern, redshirt senior Kyle Springer (New Boston, Mich.-Davenport Assumption (Indiana)) will wrestle up a weight class as he looks to fill the void left by two-time NCAA qualifier Nick Barber. Springer has been a consistent grappler for the Eagles since transferring from Indiana, racking up a 16-11 dual record the past two seasons at 141 lbs. Last season, he went 15-11, including 8-5 in duals, and just missed out on the NCAA Tournament after finishing fourth at MAC Championships. He is already gaining recognition at his new weight, as he was tabbed second in the preseason MAC weight class rankings at 149 lbs.
157 lbs.
After splitting time starting at 157 lbs. last season, redshirt sophomore J.J. Wolfe (Dakota, Ill.-Dakota) will take on the full-time role this year. In his first season starting, Wolfe tallied a pair of wins in duals, including a major decision against Adrian. He also took fourth place at the highly competitive Keystone Classic.
165 lbs.
Yet another wrestler bumps up a weight class as redshirt sophomore Zac Carson (Akron, Ohio-Lake) fills the slot following the graduation of Devan Marry. As the primary starter at 157 lbs. last season, Carson came on late to post 12 overall wins, including going 6-3 in duals. He capped off the season with an impressive run in the MAC Championships, taking fourth after knocking off the four and five seeds as the sixth seeded wrestler. The Akron native also has the conference's attention, as he was picked third at 165 lbs. to start the season.
174 lbs.
Eastern has to replace a four-year starter at 174 lbs. with the graduation of Jacob Davis, and the Eagles have a prime candidate to do so with redshirt freshman Andrew McNally (Uniontown, Ohio-Lake) stepping into the starting role. McNally had a big redshirt season for the Eagles, as he went 22-6 in five tournaments, placing top-five in all five. He led all EMU wrestlers last season with six major decisions and eight pins. He also never lost consecutive matches, and was only defeated twice in a tournament just once. His impressive debut campaign has put the conference on watch, as he was selected fourth in the preseason MAC rankings at 174 lbs.
184 lbs.
At 184 lbs., redshirt junior Kayne MacCallum (Green Oaks, Ill.-Libertyville) returns for his third year as a starter. Last season, as the primary 184-pounder, MacCallum racked up five dual wins, including two by pin in overtime. One of the pins came in the dual against Kent State, to seal the Eagles' first win over the Golden Flashes since 1974. He also took sixth at the Keystone Classic. For his career, MacCallum has 25 wins, including nine in duals, and five in MAC duals.
197 lbs.
Eastern also returns its 197-pounder in redshirt junior Derek Hillman (Woodhaven, Mich.-Woodhaven) for his third go-around as a starter. Last season, his first at 197 lbs., Hillman tallied 10 wins, including six in duals. The Woodhaven, Mich. native was close to scoring more wins though, as all of his dual losses were by decision. He will look to build upon his 15-13 career dual record this season.
HWT
At heavyweight, Hutchison returns for the final season of his illustrious EMU career, and will look to end it with a bang. Last season, the three-year starter posted a career and team-high 25 wins, and led all starters with seven pins and 33 dual points. He finished the season taking runner-up at the MAC Championships, earning his second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. He spent a majority of the season ranked in the top-20, and finds himself there again to start this season, as well as ranked second in the conference. With 75 career wins, Hutchison is on pace to finish near the top in all-time wins at Eastern Michigan.
To keep up to date on the 2017-18 season, be sure to follow the team's official Twitter account @EMUWrestling.
Players Mentioned
149
/ Wrestling
157
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
133
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
HWT
/ Wrestling
HWT
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
157/165
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
133
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
133/141
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
149
/ Wrestling
125/133
/ Wrestling
125/133
/ Wrestling
149/157
/ Wrestling
157
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