MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan University’s Kellan Aure, a redshirt sophomore from Menomonie, started the 2025-26 wrestling season off with a bang by winning his weight class at the Michigan State University Open in November.

Aure went 3-0 to win the 141-pound class in the Open Division of the tournament.

Aure opened with an 8-0 major decision victory over Jacob Brennamen of Edinboro, then defeated Indiana’s Lucas Peters, 4-1; and then downed teammate Nick Blackburn in the final, 5-2.

Since then, Aure has been locked in a battle with Blackburn to get back into the lineup. Blackburn has gotten all of the starts at 141 in five dual matches and the Midlands Championships at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

While at Menomonie, Aure won a state title at 132-pounds during his senior year in 2023. Aure was the 2022 Wisconsin state runner-up at 132 and a two-time first team all-Big Rivers Conference (BRC) selection (2022, 2023) and a second team all-BRC pick (2021).

Aure is currently posting an 18-19 overall record over his collegiate career. During the 2024-25 season, Aure posted four bonus-point victories including two major decisions. Aure red-shirted his true freshman year but was able to compete in open meets, going 6-4 with three bonus-point victories: one technical fall and two major decisions. Aure finished fourth in the freshman/sophomore division of the Michigan State Open.

Cody Kwak started off his collegiate career at NCAA Division III St. John’s University, but transferred to NCAA Division II Minnesota State, Mankato, last season, seeing action in five matches. Kwak, who is listed at 197-pounds, has yet to see action this season.

At Menomonie, Kwak was a three-time regional champion, two-time team captain and earned first team all-BRC honors in 2022 and 2023. In football, Kwak was a three-time all-conference selection, a team captain and a member of the National Honor Society.

Both Central Michigan and Minnesota State return to action Jan. 9-10 at the NWCA Duals at Northern Iowa University in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

And speaking of Central Michigan University, former UW-Stout men’s basketball coach Jim Lake is in his first year as an assistant coach for the Chippewas. Lake, who was at Stout from 2018-25, came to Menomonie from Ferris University after Ferris won an NCAA Division II national championship that Ferris team was coached by Andy Bronkema. Bronkema was hired as the CMU coach last spring and tabbed Lake shortly after.

“Bringing Coach Lake back to Central Michigan was a high priority for me from day one,” Bronkema said in a release this summer. “Our history together and his skill set will be vital for our program. Jim is a relentless recruiter but more importantly, his background as an educator and his commitment to teaching and developing our student-athletes will be elite. Jim’s head coaching experience will allow him to be influential in every aspect of our program. His Wisconsin network will also increase our Midwest footprint. It’s great to add a third national champion with head coaching experience to our staff.”