Michigan
Cliff Keen Invitational
Grant Finishes Second at Cliff Keen Invitational
12/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
PRIMM, Nev. -- Sophomore A.J. Grant (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) of the University of Michigan wrestling team destroyed five opponents before losing to No. 1-ranked and defending national champion Stephan Abas of Fresno State in the 125-pound finals of the 19th annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Saturday (Dec. 2).
The Wolverines went into the two-day invitational with only nine grapplers because they were without No. 1-ranked 174-pounder Otto Olson (Everett, Wash./Everett HS) -- who was nursing a minor shoulder injury -- and Michigan placed 10th out of a record 52 teams in the tournament.
Grant, seeded sixth, plowed through his opponents, scoring three falls in the first three rounds and recording two major decisions before reaching the final. The 125-pounder only had one point scored on him in his first five matches. Grant gave everything he had to Abas but was on the short end of a 10-2 major decision.
Also placing for Michigan were Mike Kulczycki (N. Royalton, Ohio/St. Edwards HS), who was seventh at 149, and Foley Dowd (Howell, N.J./Peddie School), who placed seventh at 133.
The Maize and Blue will return home for the season dual opener with intrastate rival Michigan State on Friday (Dec. 8) at 7 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena.
Top 10 Teams
1. Illinois 156 2. Nebraska 113.5 3. Lehigh 105.5 4. Arizona State 89.5 5. Oregon State 88.5 6. Edinboro 85 7. Oregon 83.5 8. Boise State 78.5 9. Fresno State 70.5 10. MICHIGAN 65
Michigan Results
125 - A. J. Grant
First Round -- pinned John Faczak (Wyoming), 1:53
Second Round -- pinned Jermaine Hodge (Lassen), 6:24
Third Round -- pinned Matt Strawser (North Dakota State), 2:16
Quarterfinal -- major dec. #5 Chuck Conner (North Carolina), 9-1
Semifinal -- major dec. Ben VonBaur (Boise State), 14-0
Finals -- major dec. by #1 Stephan Abas (Fresno State), 10-2
Finished in 2nd place with a 5-1 record
133 - Foley Dowd
First Round -- dec. Justin Walker (Stanford), 6-3
Second Round -- dec. by Brian Watson (Oregon), 7-4
Consolations -- major dec. Levi Martinez (NW Wyoming), 12-4
Consolations -- dec. Brian Luna (S. Colorado), 9-8
Consolations -- dec. #16 Jeff Ratliff (Ohio State), 4-3
Consolations -- dec. by Rad Martinez (Clarion), 8-7
Seventh Place -- forfeit Rob Loper (Pittsburgh)
Finished in 7th place with a 5-2 record
141 - Clark Forward
First Round -- major dec. Nick Picarsic (Harvard), 15-1
Second Round -- dec. by Joe Schneider (Central Oklahoma), 8-2
Consolations -- dec. Casey Hunt (Oregon), 5-3
Consolations -- dec. by #17 Justin Giovinco (Pittsburgh), 5-1
Finished with a 2-2 record
149 - Mike Kulczycki
First Round -- tech. fall Ryan Thomas (Portland), 28-13
Second Round -- dec. Jim Mederios (Fresno State), 14-8
Quarterfinal -- major dec. by #1 Adam Tirapelle (Illinois), 12-4
Consolations -- dec. Cobb (Montana Valley), 7-4
Consolations -- pinned by Bentley (North Carolina), 1:13
Seventh Place -- dec. Elliot (Boston), 7-4
Finished in 7th place with a 4-2 record
157 - Pat Owen
First Round -- major dec. Eric Arbogast (Portland), 13-4
Second Round -- pinned by #2 Bryan Synder (Nebraska), 4:22
Consolations -- dec. by Troy Hall (Pacific), 4-2
Finished with a 1-2 record
165 - Charles Martelli
First Round -- dec. Pat O'Donnel (Harvard), 11-6
Second Round -- dec. John Garfinkel (Stanford) 8-2
Third Round -- dec. Scott Garin (N.C. State), 4-2 (sv)
Quarterfinal -- major dec. by #3 Steve Blackford (Arizona State), 10-2
Consolations -- dec. by Vitale (Lehigh), 6-3
Finished with a 3-2 record
184 - Kyle Smith
First Round -- dec. R.D. Purcell (Arizona State), 3-2
Second Round -- dec. by Karl Rittger (Brown), 7-5
Consolations -- major dec. Justin Milliard (Edinboro), 12-3
Consolations -- dec. by Jeremy Wilson (Portland), 7-3
Finished with a 2-2 record
197 - Joe DeGain
First Round -- pinned Ian Schick (Colorado Mines), 1:47
Second Round -- major dec. by Richard Paulikonas (Lassen), 17-7
Consolations -- dec. Wes Cummings (Virginia Tech), 7-0
Consolations -- dec. by Zack Brientenbach (N.C. State), 5-3
Finished with a 2-2 record
HWT - Matt Brink
First Round -- dec. Eric Webb (Oregon), 6-5
Second Round -- dec. Kevin Hoy (Air Force), 6-2
Quarterfinals -- dec. by #5 Tommy Rowlands (Ohio State), 3-2
Consolations -- dec. by Laughlin (Lehigh), 2-0
Finished with a 2-2 record
N O T E S
-- A.J. Grant has a 10-3 record in two years at the Cliff Keen Invitational.
-- Three Wolverines -- redshirt freshmen Foley Dowd, Clark Forward and Pat Owen -- competed for the first time in Las Vegas. Each recorded his first victory at the invitational, as did Keen returners Charles Martelli and Kyle Smith.
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Joe McFarland
On the tournament ... "Our youth and inexperience showed in some of the weight classes and we wrestled pretty flat this weekend. We will make some adjustments, but this team is better than what they showed because we had some disappointing performances. It also hurt not having Otto (Olson) in the lineup."
On A.J. Grant's performance ... "He wrestled a great tournament. He is starting to realize that he can wrestling with anyone in the country."
Sophomore 125-Pounder A.J. Grant
On his runner-up performance ... "I just was more aggressive and went at my opponents. I didn't let the action come to me; I went right at it from the start and kept on going. My confidence level is really high and I feel I have the ability to wrestle with the top guys."
Contact: Jason Binge (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
