Eastern Michigan Eagles wrestling

Eastern Michigan Eagles

University Eastern Michigan University
Conference MAC
Location Ypsilanti, MI
Head Coach Derek Delporto (4th year)
Arena Bowen Field House
(Capacity: 5,400)
Nickname Eagles
Colors Green and White

             

Conference Tournament Championships
1996

Eastern Michigan Eagles wrestling team is a men's athletic program at Eastern Michigan University. Based in Ypsilanti in the U.S. state of Michigan, the Eastern Michigan Eagles compete in NCAA Division I and are a member of Mid-American Conference .

History

Eastern Michigan adopted the sport of wrestling in 1956. The wrestling program was part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Conference, otherwise known as the NAIA, from 1957 through 1962. In 1963-1966, EMU wrestling switched conferences to the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). Since the exit of the PAC conference, EMU has been a part of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), starting in 1973. In 1996, Eastern won its first Mid-American conference Championship under MAC Coach of the Year Willie Gadson. Eastern put six wrestlers in the finals and placed 8 of 10.

Home meets

Main article: Bowen Field House

Home meets are held in 5,400 seat Bowen Field House located on Eastern Michigan's campus in Ypsilanti, Michigan.[1] There are several home dual meets a year and an annual host of the EMU Open. The EMU open is the an annual event started in 1991 that host over 500 wrestlers and NCAA schools across all three divisions.[2]

Many Duals are now held at the Eastern Michigan's Convocation Center.

Coaches

Head coach

The current head coach of the EMU wrestling team is Derek Delporto. Derek Delporto wrestled at the college level at Slippery Rock University where he posted a 116-38 career record in his four years, third-best record in school history.[3] He also captured All-American honors. Derek Delporto moved right into coaching when he began his career as an assistant coach at Slippery Rock from 1999 to 2000. He then moved to the University of Oklahoma where he picked up an assistant coaching job for two years. From there, he became Cornell University's assistant wrestling coach two years before becoming the head coach. After his first two years of head coach Delporto become the new head wrestling coach in 2006.[4]

Assistant coaches

There are currently two assistant coaches on the wrestling team at EMU. One of two, David Bolyard, was assigned to the assistant coaching position when Derek Delporto was appointed head coach. David Bolyard attended Central Michigan University in 2000 and graduated from CMU. David Bolyard was an All-American his junior year, a four-time national qualifier, receive All-American honors, and broke a school record by winning 21 straight matches. David Bolyard was awarded the Chick Sherwood Award, which was presented to CMU's most valuable wrestler. David Bolyard ranked seventh all-time with 109 career wins and is tied for 10th with 22 falls in CMU history. David Bolyard was a 3x runner-up and a 2005 MAC champion at 165 lbs.[5]

The second assistant coach, Luke Smith, joined EMU in 2011. Smith graduated from Central Michigan University in 2008. Luke is a 2x Mid American Conference Champion, 4x NCAA Division 1 National Qualifier, placed 4th at the 2004 Greco-Roman Olympic Trials, and 4th at the 2006 Sr Freestyle World Team Trials.

All-Americans

NAIA[6]

  • Eliehue Brunson (1965) 6th, (1965) 6th
  • Bob Ray (1967) 2nd
  • Dale Kestel (1968) 5th
  • Larry Miele (1968) 3rd
  • Mike Weede (1970) 5th
  • Tom Jackson (1970) 6th
  • Doug Willer (1971) 3rd

NCAA Division II[7]

  • Tom Buckalew (1966) 4th
  • Bob Ray (1967) 5th (1966) 2nd
  • Mark Davids (1971) 2nd
  • Doug Willer (1972) 5th

NCAA Division I[8]

  • Jerry Umin (1987) 7th
  • Joel Smith (1989) 5th
  • Lee Pritts (1996) 6th
  • Mike Feeney (1999) 8th

Mid-American Conference champions

1972-1990[9]

  • 1972-73 Doug Willer 142 lbs
  • 1975-76 Rick Setzer Hwt
  • 1983-84 Steve Brown 118 lbs
  • 1983-84 Robert Beck 126 lbs
  • 1985-86 Steve Brown 118 lbs
  • 1986-87 Jerry Umin 167 lbs
  • 1987-88 Steve Brown 126 lbs
  • 1987-88 Joel Smith 158 lbs
  • 1987-88 Jerry Umin 167 lbs
  • 1988-89 Doug Harper 118 lbs
  • 1988-89 Brian Schneider 150 lbs
  • 1988-89 Joel Smith 158 lbs
  • 1989-90 Hugh Waddington 142 lbs

1991–present[10]

  • 1990-91 Tony Venturini 118 lbs
  • 1991-92 Tony Venturini 118 lbs
  • 1995-96 Lee Pritts 118 lbs
  • 1995-96 Matt Turnbow 126 lbs
  • 1995-96 Ramico Blackmon 150 lbs
  • 1995-96 Jake Shulaw 158 lbs
  • 1995-96 Nate Miklusak 167 lbs
  • 2006-07 Jermain Thompson 149 lbs
  • 2008-09 John McClure 197 lbs

References

  1. ↑ Bowen Field House History
  2. ↑ "EMU Annual Open 1991 starts". EMU Annual Open 1991 starts. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  3. ↑ "Coaches Record". Coaches Record. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  4. ↑ "Coaches Bio". Coaches Bio. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  5. ↑ "Assistant Coach Bio". Assistant Coach Bio. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  6. ↑ "NAIA Records". NAIA Records. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  7. ↑ "NCAA D2 record". NCAA D2 record. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  8. ↑ "NCAA D1 Records". NCAA D1 Records. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  9. ↑ "MAC Champs". MAC Champs. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  10. ↑ "MAC Champs". MAC champs. Retrieved 31 December 2011.

External links