NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion wrestling team (5-12, 0-6 MAC) will close out the regular season this weekend when the Monarchs host Northern Illinois (6-9, 1-6 MAC) on Friday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ted Constant Center before squaring off with No. 19 Central Michigan (9-5, 5-2 MAC) on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. in the Jim Jarrett Athletic Administration Building Gymnasium on Senior Day.
The Monarchs will be looking to bounce back after suffering two close losses last Sunday to Eastern Michigan, 19-12, and American, 19-18. With a win in either dual meet this weekend, ODU will eclipse the 500-win milestone and Steve Martin will become the second-winningest coach in Old Dominion wrestling history.
The Northern Illinois Huskies (6-9, 1-6 MAC) enter Friday’s dual meet on a three-match losing skid. Most recently, Northern Illinois dropped a 20-16 thriller to MAC foe Buffalo last weekend. The Huskies are led by redshirt freshman Steve Bleise, ranked 15th at 141, and redshirt junior Shawn Scott, ranked 19th at 197. Bleise reached the Midlands finals earlier this season after upsetting NC State’s third-ranked Kevin Jack, while Scott qualified for the 2015 NCAA Championships at 197 a season ago.
The No. 19 Central Michigan Chippewas (9-5, 5-2 MAC) come to Norfolk boasting a squad with four wrestlers ranked nationally in the top 20. Seniors Mike Ottinger, Zach Horan and Luke Smith are ranked eighth, 14th and 16th, respectively, while redshirt sophomore Colin Heffernan enters the match ranked 13th at 149. The Chippewas split matches last weekend, dropping an 18-17 showdown with Kent State before upending Edinboro, 20-15. Central Michigan will tangle with Wisconsin Thursday evening before traveling to Norfolk for its final dual of the year against ODU.
SENIOR DAY
The Monarchs will honor seven seniors on Sunday before the matchup with Central Michigan. Josh Clark, Austin Coburn, Devin Geoghegan, Dillon Geoghegan, Chris Mecate, Alexander Richardson and Buddy Scarborough will be recognized.
LOCATION REMINDER
Sunday’s match against Central Michigan will not be held at the Ted Constant Center but will take place in the Jim Jarrett Athletic Administration Building Gymnasium. Fans are encouraged to park in the parking garage on the corner of 43rd and Elkhorn Avenue. Alternate parking is in lot 43. Some ADA parking is available in the garage and in lot 23 next to the Jim Jarrett Building.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Old Dominion Monarchs (5-12, 0-6 MAC)
125: Jr. Brandon Jeske (14-9)
133: So. Josh Markham (9-14) or Fr. Brandon James (16-10)
141: #16 RSr. Chris Mecate (16-6)
149: #8 Sr. Alexander Richardson (19-4)
157: RSr. Devin Geoghegan (9-11) or RSo. Austin Eads (11-13)
165: Fr. Seldon Wright (17-13)
174: So. Brooks Climmons (8-12) or Jr. Terrell Forbes (5-14)
184: #11 RJr. Jack Dechow (14-2)
197: RSr. Austin Coburn (9-15) or RFr. Kaleab Fetahi (5-10)
285: Fr. Andrew Snyder (2-13) or RSr. Austin Coburn (9-15)
Northern Illinois Huskies (6-9, 1-6 MAC)
125: RFr. Alijah Jeffery (14-12)
133: RFr. Austin Eicher (15-11)
141: #15 RFr. Steve Bleise (24-6)
149: RJr. Gabe Morse (8-6)
157: Sr. Andrew Morse (2-4)
165: RJr. Shaun'Qae McMurtry (14-10)
174: RJr. Trace Engelkes (18-10)
184: So. Quinton Rosser (7-16)
197: #17 RJr. Shawn Scott (18-8)
285: RSr. Arthur Bunce (14-12)
No. 19 Central Michigan Chippewas (9-5, 5-2)
125: So. Brent Fleetwood (16-9)
133: Jr. Corey Keener (15-8)
141: Sr. No. 14 Zach Horan (22-8)
149: No. 13 RSo. Colin Heffernan (16-4) or RFr. Justin Oliver (24-4)
157: No. 16 Sr. Luke Smith (26-6)
165: So. Jordan Atienza (22-16)
174: No. 8 RSr. Mike Ottinger (25-5) or RSo. CJ Brucki (30-6)
184: RSo. Jordan Ellingwood (24-11) or Jr. Austin Severn (14-7)
197: Sr. Jackson Lewis (15-14)
285: RSo. Newton Smerchek (11-11) or Sr. Adam Robinson (21-11)
COVERAGE
Tune into the live stream of both of ODU’s home matches this weekend on Monarch Media as Tristan Warner and Tim Wentz will deliver the play-by-play and color commentary.
NEXT UP
ODU heads to Ypsilanti, Michigan for the MAC Championships on March 5-6.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For an in-depth look to everything Monarchs Wrestling, make sure to follow the team on Facebook, Twitter (@ODUWrestling) using the hashtag #ManeFocus and on YouTube and ODUsports.com.