Michigan
Michigan State
Wolverines Open Dual Season with Win Over Spartans
12/11/1998 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The 25th-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team opened its 1998-99 dual schedule with a convincing 21-9 victory over 12th-ranked Michigan State in front of 1,323 spectators in Crisler Arena.
The meet began with the 133 pound match with Michigan State's second-ranked Pat McNamara defeating Michigan's ninth-ranked Joe Warren (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood HS) in a hard-fought 8-6 decision. Warren led much of the match, but McNamara came back late in the third period to take a 7-6 advantage. His final point came from the riding time advantage. It was the second time McNamara defeated Warren this season (Michigan State Open, Nov. 8, a 6-2 decision).
At 141 pounds, Michigan's sixth-ranked Damion Logan (Hatfield, N.J./St. Joseph's Regional HS) responded in the second match of the evening by defeating State's Issac Miller 5-3 to tie the meet at three. The match was close throughout, but Logan gained an early 2-0 advantage and never relinquished the lead.
At 149 pounds, Corey Grant (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) continued the turnaround for the Maize and Blue, defeating Mike Castillo of Michigan State by a count of 7-3 to give the Wolverines a 6-3 lead.
Freshman 157-pounder Charles Martelli (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North HS) suffered a setback in his first dual meet match as a Wolverine as was decisioned by the Spartans' Corey Posey 6-1.
Jason Rawls (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg HS) set the tone for Michigan in the second half as he came out and dominated State's Kevin Speiss by a count of 9-6.
In the 174 pound matchup, eighth-ranked Otto Olson (Everett, Wash./Everett HS) and 18th-ranked Will Hill met again with Olson earning a 9-3 decision, upping his mark to 2-0 vs. Hill on the season (defeated Hill 1-0 at the Michigan State Open, Nov. 7).
"I feel we are in the best condition of any team in the country," Olson said. "It was exciting to come out here the way we did tonight."
Freshman 184-pounder Andy Hrovat (Cleveland, Ohio/ St. Edward's HS) continued the Maize and Blue dominance with one of the more impressive performances of the evening, winning a 14-8 decision over Spartan freshman Nik Fekete after leading by as many as seven points during the match.
Matt Brink (Muskegon, Mich./Fruitport HS) delivered the meet-clinching victory with an impressive 7-4 decision over State's Chris Williams. The win gave the Wolverines an insurmountable 18-9 lead.
Chris Viola (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch HS) capped the night with a 7-2 win at 125 pounds.
"I think it boiled down to Andy Hrovat and Matt Brink," said head coach Dale Bahr. "They are two freshman wrestling in two big matches in a tough situation and they really came through for us tonight.
"Jason Rawls really set the tone coming out in the second half. I felt we had to win three of the first five matches and then do the same after the intermission. I felt comfortable that we would be competitive, and it was a great atmosphere that our kids really enjoyed."
The two teams will meet again Feb. 5 in East Lansing, Mich.
Michigan 21, Michigan State 9
133 -- Pat McNamara (MSU) decisioned Joe Warren (U-M), 8-6
141 -- Damion Logan (U-M) decisioned Issac Miller (MSU), 5-3
149 -- Corey Grant (U-M) decisioned Mike Castillo (MSU), 7-3
157 -- Corey Posey (MSU) decisioned Charles Martelli (U-M), 6-1
165 -- Jason Rawls (U-M) decisioned Kevin Spiess (MSU), 12-5
174 -- Otto Olson (U-M) decisioned Will Hill (MSU), 9-3
184 -- Andy Hrovat (U-M) decisioned Nik Fekete (MSU), 14-8
197 -- Nick Muzashvili (MSU) decisioned Frank Lodeserto (U-M), 9-3
285 -- Matt Brink (U-M) decisioned Matt Lamb (MSU), 7-4
125 -- Chris Viola (U-M) decisioned Chris Williams (MSU), 7-2
Players Mentioned
