Michigan
Lehigh
No. 9 Wolverines Down Lehigh 24-18
1/17/1999 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The ninth-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team upped its record to 5-1 by defeating the No. 14 Lehigh Engineers 24-18 in front of 539 spectators in Cliff Keen Arena. Michigan got out to an early 17-0 lead, distancing themselves from the Engineers, who would attempt to come back by winning the second three matches. The Maize and Blue were able to seal the victory by winning two of the next three matches.
The meet began with Michigan's seventh-ranked 125-pounder, Chris Viola (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch HS), scoring an 18-3 technical fall (5:00) over Lehigh's Bruce Kelly to give Michigan a 5-0 lead. No. 6 Joe Warren (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood HS) followed up at 133 pounds with his team-leading sixth pin of the year, over Ryan Yokel at 1:15, to push the Maize and Blue lead to 11-0.
Fifth-ranked 141-pounder Damion Logan (Garfield, N.J./St. Joseph's Regional HS) continued the early Wolverine dominance with a pin of Engineer Aaron Paterson at 1:42, making the score 17-0.
Lehigh began to seize momentum by winning the next three matches and closing the gap to 17-11, but the match would get no closer. Otto Olson (Everett, Wash./Everett HS) hurt Lehigh's hopes with a 6-0 decision over Mark Dufresne at 174 pounds to run the score to 20-11 in favor of the Maize and Blue.
The Wolverines' captain, 17th-ranked Frank Lodeserto (North Haledon, N.J./St. Joseph's Regional HS), clinched the meet for the Michigan with an 15-3 major decision of Lehigh's Rob Rohn, making the score 24-14 heading into the heavyweight match.
"I was a little concerned heading in to the meet," said Michigan head coach Dale Bahr. "I thought there was a chance we could split with five matches apiece. Fortunately, we were able to get the early lead and grab the momentum."
The wrestling Wolverines will return to action at Minnesota on Friday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m.
Michigan 24, Lehigh 18
| 125 -- Chris Viola (U-M) tech. fall Bruce Kelly, 18-3 (5:00) | U-M, 5-0 |
| 133 -- Joe Warren (U-M) pinned Ryan Yokel, 1:15 | U-M, 11-0 |
| 141 -- Damion Logan (U-M) pinned Aaron Paterson, 1:42 | U-M, 17-0 |
| 149 -- Ryan Bernholz (LU) major dec. Corey Grant, 9-0 | U-M, 17-4 |
| 157 -- Chris Ayres (LU) dec. Charles Martelli, 10-5 | U-M, 17-7 |
| 165 -- Travis Doto (LU) major dec. Jason Rawls, 16-2 | U-M, 17-11 |
| 174 -- Otto Olson (U-M) dec. Mark Dufresne, 7-0 | U-M, 20-11 |
| 184 -- John Van Doren (LU) dec. Andy Hrovat, 10-6 | U-M, 20-14 |
| 197 -- Frank Lodeserto (U-M) major dec. Rob Rohn, 14-3 | U-M, 24-14 |
| Hwt -- Shawn Laughlin (LU) major dec. Art Romence, 18-7 | U-M, 24-18 |
Players Mentioned
