Saturday, December 9
Bloomington, Ind.
2:00 PM
Indiana University
25
vs
15
Central Michigan
Indiana Improves to 3-0 with Win over Central Michigan
12/9/2023 5:05:00 PM | Wrestling
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– Indiana fought off an early deficit to take a dominant win over Central Michigan, 25-15, on Saturday afternoon at Wilkinson Hall.
The Hoosiers trailed 6-0 after the first two bouts but won eight of the last ten matches to secure a victory by double-digits. Three Hoosiers pulled out bonus-point victories, Dan Fongaro and Gabe Sollars each won by fall and DJ Washington won by major decision.
Washington and Graham Rooks also won over ranked opponents.
With the win, Indiana improves to 3-0 in duals on the season. This is the second season in a row where the Hoosiers have begun with a 3-0 or better mark.
KEY MOMENTS
• Down 6-0, Indiana was in dire need of a win, and graduate student No. 27 Dan Fongaro (141) delivered. Only up 1-0 heading into the third period, Fongaro took control against Ja'Kerion Merrit, taking him down and then securing a four-point near fall before pinning him. The fall (6:17) tied the team score at 6-6.
• Graduate student No. 13 Graham Rooks (149) earned his biggest win of the season over No. 16 Corbyn Munson in a 2-1 decision. Rooks trailed 1-0 after two periods and started on bottom in the third period. Rooks reversed Munson and held on to his 2-1 lead for the remainder of the match.
• Senior No. 9 Derek Gilcher (165) was in control from start to finish against Tyler Swiderski. Gilcher started out quickly with a first period takedown and added on to his lead with another takedown and an escape to win by decision, 7-2.
• Showing no fear, redshirt senior No. 10 DJ Washington (174) opened his match against No. 18 Alex Cramer with a seven-point swing in the first period as Washington took him down and had a four-point nearfall. DJ would score on another two takedowns en route to a 15-4 major decision victory.
• Redshirt sophomore Roman Rogotzke (184) had a back-and-forth bout against Cody Brenner that ended up with Rogotzke on top, 7-5. Down 4-1 entering the third period, Rogotzke evened the score by way of a second stall on Brenner, a penalty on a potentially dangerous call and an escape. He then took Brenner down in the closing seconds of the bout to earn the win.
• It didn't take long for redshirt freshman Gabe Sollars (197) to get the job done. Sollars pulled out a first period pin over Luke Cochran at the 2:54 mark.
NOTABLES
• Gilcher and Washington are both still undefeated with Gilcher being 7-0 and Washington at 3-0.
• All of Washington's wins have been bonus-point victories, including two tech falls and one win by major decision.
• Sollars' win was his fifth pin of the year.
• G. Rooks and Washington each took wins over ranked opponents. Rooks defeated No. 16 Corbyn Munson and Washington defeated No. 18 Alex Cramer.
• Indiana improved to 12-4 all time against Central Michigan.
UP NEXT
• Indiana Wrestling will next compete in the Sheridan Invitational tournament on Friday, Dec. 22 in Bethlehem, Pa.
FULL RESULTS
125: Sean Spidle (CMU) def. Michael Spangler (IU) |Dec. 2-1 | Score: CMU up 3-0
133: Vince Perez (CMU) def. Cayden Rooks (IU) |Dec. 11-8 | Score: CMU up 6-0
141: No. 27 Dan Fongaro (IU) def. Ja'Kerion Merritt (CMU) |Fall (6:17) | Score: Tied 6-6
149: No. 13 Graham Rooks (IU) def. No. 16 Corbyn Munson (CMU) |Dec. 2-1 | Score: IU up 9-6
157: No. 23 Johnny Lovett (CMU) def. Nico Bolivar (IU) |Dec. 5-1 | Score: Tied 9-9
165: No. 9 Derek Gilcher def. Tyler Swiderski (CMU) |Dec. 7-2 | Score: IU up 12-9
174: No. 10 DJ Washington (IU) def. No. 18 Alex Cramer (CMU) |MD, 15-4 | Score: IU up 16-9
184: Roman Rogotzke (IU) def. Cody Brenner (CMU) | Dec. 7-5 | Score: IU up 19-9
197: Gabe Sollars (IU) def. Luke Cochran (CMU) |Fall (2:54) | Score: IU up 25-9
285: Bryan Caves (CMU) wins by forfeit. |Forfeit | Score: IU up 25-15
FINAL TEAM SCORE: NO. 25 INDIANA 25, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 15
The Hoosiers trailed 6-0 after the first two bouts but won eight of the last ten matches to secure a victory by double-digits. Three Hoosiers pulled out bonus-point victories, Dan Fongaro and Gabe Sollars each won by fall and DJ Washington won by major decision.
Washington and Graham Rooks also won over ranked opponents.
With the win, Indiana improves to 3-0 in duals on the season. This is the second season in a row where the Hoosiers have begun with a 3-0 or better mark.
KEY MOMENTS
• Down 6-0, Indiana was in dire need of a win, and graduate student No. 27 Dan Fongaro (141) delivered. Only up 1-0 heading into the third period, Fongaro took control against Ja'Kerion Merrit, taking him down and then securing a four-point near fall before pinning him. The fall (6:17) tied the team score at 6-6.
• Graduate student No. 13 Graham Rooks (149) earned his biggest win of the season over No. 16 Corbyn Munson in a 2-1 decision. Rooks trailed 1-0 after two periods and started on bottom in the third period. Rooks reversed Munson and held on to his 2-1 lead for the remainder of the match.
• Senior No. 9 Derek Gilcher (165) was in control from start to finish against Tyler Swiderski. Gilcher started out quickly with a first period takedown and added on to his lead with another takedown and an escape to win by decision, 7-2.
• Showing no fear, redshirt senior No. 10 DJ Washington (174) opened his match against No. 18 Alex Cramer with a seven-point swing in the first period as Washington took him down and had a four-point nearfall. DJ would score on another two takedowns en route to a 15-4 major decision victory.
• Redshirt sophomore Roman Rogotzke (184) had a back-and-forth bout against Cody Brenner that ended up with Rogotzke on top, 7-5. Down 4-1 entering the third period, Rogotzke evened the score by way of a second stall on Brenner, a penalty on a potentially dangerous call and an escape. He then took Brenner down in the closing seconds of the bout to earn the win.
• It didn't take long for redshirt freshman Gabe Sollars (197) to get the job done. Sollars pulled out a first period pin over Luke Cochran at the 2:54 mark.
NOTABLES
• Gilcher and Washington are both still undefeated with Gilcher being 7-0 and Washington at 3-0.
• All of Washington's wins have been bonus-point victories, including two tech falls and one win by major decision.
• Sollars' win was his fifth pin of the year.
• G. Rooks and Washington each took wins over ranked opponents. Rooks defeated No. 16 Corbyn Munson and Washington defeated No. 18 Alex Cramer.
• Indiana improved to 12-4 all time against Central Michigan.
UP NEXT
• Indiana Wrestling will next compete in the Sheridan Invitational tournament on Friday, Dec. 22 in Bethlehem, Pa.
FULL RESULTS
125: Sean Spidle (CMU) def. Michael Spangler (IU) |Dec. 2-1 | Score: CMU up 3-0
133: Vince Perez (CMU) def. Cayden Rooks (IU) |Dec. 11-8 | Score: CMU up 6-0
141: No. 27 Dan Fongaro (IU) def. Ja'Kerion Merritt (CMU) |Fall (6:17) | Score: Tied 6-6
149: No. 13 Graham Rooks (IU) def. No. 16 Corbyn Munson (CMU) |Dec. 2-1 | Score: IU up 9-6
157: No. 23 Johnny Lovett (CMU) def. Nico Bolivar (IU) |Dec. 5-1 | Score: Tied 9-9
165: No. 9 Derek Gilcher def. Tyler Swiderski (CMU) |Dec. 7-2 | Score: IU up 12-9
174: No. 10 DJ Washington (IU) def. No. 18 Alex Cramer (CMU) |MD, 15-4 | Score: IU up 16-9
184: Roman Rogotzke (IU) def. Cody Brenner (CMU) | Dec. 7-5 | Score: IU up 19-9
197: Gabe Sollars (IU) def. Luke Cochran (CMU) |Fall (2:54) | Score: IU up 25-9
285: Bryan Caves (CMU) wins by forfeit. |Forfeit | Score: IU up 25-15
FINAL TEAM SCORE: NO. 25 INDIANA 25, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 15
Players Mentioned
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