Eastern Michigan Eagles wrestling

Wrestling team of Eastern Michigan University

Eastern Michigan Eagles wrestling team was a men's athletic program at Eastern Michigan University. Based in Ypsilanti in the U.S. state of Michigan, the Eastern Michigan Eagles competed in NCAA Division I and were 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 (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.

On March 20, 2018, EMU announced the elimination of wrestling and three other sports.^[2]

Home meets

Home meets were held in 8,824 seat EMU Convocation Center located on Eastern Michigan's campus in Ypsilanti, Michigan.^[3] Since 1991, the university was an annual host of the EMU Open/EMU Duals with over 500 wrestlers and NCAA schools across all divisions.^[4]

Coaches

Head coach

The EMU wrestling team was coached by David Bolyard. David Bolyard took over the program from Derek DelPorto in 2014. 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] Davis Bolyard came to EMU in 2007 as an assistant coach, hired by former head coach, Derek DelPorto.

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
Sa'Derian Perry (2018) 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
2017-18 Kayne MacCallum 184 lbs

References

^ "Colors - Division of Communications". Retrieved September 11, 2022.
^ Jesse, David (March 20, 2018). "EMU drops 4 sports to try to save money". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
^ Bowen Field House History Archived June 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
^ "EMU Annual Open 1991 starts". EMU Annual Open 1991 starts. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
^ "Assistant Coach Bio". Assistant Coach Bio. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
^ "NAIA Records". NAIA Records. Archived from the original on 2012-01-05. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
^ "NCAA D2 record". NCAA D2 record. Archived from the original on 2012-01-05. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
^ "NCAA D1 Records". NCAA D1 Records. Archived from the original on 2012-01-05. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
^ "MAC Champs". MAC Champs. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
^ "MAC Champs". MAC champs. Retrieved 31 December 2011.