Central Michigan Wrestlers Earn Bonus Point Wins at Michigan State

Chippewas split matches 5-5 but bonus points prove the difference in 19-15 victory

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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In a close wrestling dual meet, Central Michigan and Michigan State split 10 matches 5-5, but the Chippewas scored bonus points in two of their wins, which proved to be the difference as they posted a 19-15 nonconference victory over the Spartans at Jenison Field House.

Why it matters

Bonus points are crucial in close dual meets, as they can swing the outcome. This victory over in-state rival Michigan State is an important result for the Central Michigan wrestling team as they close out the regular season and prepare for postseason competition.

The details

Central Michigan senior Chandler Amaker provided the biggest highlight of the night, pinning Michigan State's DJ Shannon nearly 10 minutes into their 165-pound match to give the Chippewas six team points. Sophomore Nick Blackburn also notched a bonus point win for CMU with a 9-1 major decision at 141 pounds. The Chippewas' other wins came via decisions from Andrew Austin (133), Mason Shrader (157), and Wyatt Ferguson (184).

  • The dual meet took place on Friday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Chandler Amaker

A senior wrestler for Central Michigan who pinned his opponent in the 165-pound match to earn six team points for the Chippewas.

Nick Blackburn

A sophomore wrestler for Central Michigan who earned a 9-1 major decision victory at 141 pounds, scoring bonus points for his team.

Andrew Austin

A redshirt junior wrestler for Central Michigan who defeated a ranked opponent, Caleb Weiand, 9-4 at 133 pounds.

Mason Shrader

A wrestler for Central Michigan who is ranked 23rd nationally by InterMat and 24th by FloWrestling, and won his 157-pound match 10-7.

Wyatt Ferguson

A wrestler for Central Michigan who grinded out a 2-1 victory at 184 pounds.

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What they’re saying

“Chandler is coachable, we push him, we challenge him sometimes, and he responds the right way. He keeps trying to put his best foot forward. He just kept wrestling hard. When you keep fighting, you keep wrestling, and sometimes you fall into those positions, and then you capitalize.”

— Ben Bennett, CMU Head Coach (cmuchippewas.com)

“Nick is a goer. He wrestles hard. He's been really close to breaking through all year, and I keep telling him, 'You're right there, you're right there, you're right there.' He went out tonight and just wrestled a great match and figured out how to get a couple takedowns. He's a grinder. And he can wrestle when he's tired, which is a huge advantage.”

— Ben Bennett, CMU Head Coach (cmuchippewas.com)

“They wrestled tough, they were gritty, they kept fighting, they kept trying to score. There's a lot of ways to score points. Sometimes it's a takedown. Sometimes it's a stalling call. There's a lot of ways to win a match and sometimes you've got to figure out just how to win the match. Sometimes it's not pretty. But you keep fighting and you figure out how to win the match. They were both in tight matches and they just didn't quit wrestling. They didn't give up. I feel like they just outfought the other guy a little longer. And sometimes that's all it comes down to.”

— Ben Bennett, CMU Head Coach (cmuchippewas.com)

What’s next

Central Michigan will close out the regular season on Sunday, February 22, 2026 against #13 Michigan at McGuirk Arena. The Chippewas will honor eight seniors prior to the dual meet.

The takeaway

This victory over in-state rival Michigan State showcases Central Michigan's ability to earn crucial bonus point wins, which can make all the difference in close dual meets. The Chippewas' grit and determination to keep fighting for every point will serve them well as they prepare for postseason competition.