Michigan
Minnesota
Michigan Grapplers Fall to Second-Ranked Minnesota
2/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
The Wolverines fell behind 10-0 after two matches before fourth-ranked Joe Warren (Grand Rapids, Mich,/East Kentwood HS) -- who returned from a six-week absence due to a knee injury -- put the Wolverines on the board, defeating 11th-ranked Brett Lawrence by executing a takedown and near fall in overtime for a 9-4 decision at 133 pounds.
"For him to come back to beat a ranked kid showed heart," head coach Joe McFarland said. "He sucked it up and stayed tough."
Despite the victory, Warren was not satisfied. "It's not the way I like to wrestle. It's hard to come back (after an injury). It is good for us to get a meet in like this before Big Tens and nationals because that is what they are going to be like."
Jason Rawls (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg HS) and Charles Martelli (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North HS) nearly pulled off upsets against sixth-ranked Brad Pike at 165 and 13th-ranked Delaney Berger at 174, respectively. Pike needed his riding-time advantage to pull off a slim 3-2 victory over Rawls, and Martelli scored three unanswered points in the final period to tie the score at five, before Berger earned an extra point for riding time to win 6-5.
Joe Degain (White Lake, Mich./Fruitport HS), ranked 16th at 197, closed the meet on a positive note for Michigan, defeating No. 10 Owen Elzen in overtime, 14-9. "The satisfaction came from being the underdog and coming back to win," Degain said.
"Minnesota showed us tonight why they are the No. 2 team in the country," McFarland added. "The reason why they are so good is because they are aggressive."
The loss dropped Michigan to 9-3-1 overall and 2-2-1 in Big Ten Conference action. The Maize and Blue concludes its home-meet schedule Saturday (Feb. 12) against Indiana at 7 p.m. in Cliff Keen Arena. The team will honor seniors and alumni prior to the matches.
Minnesota 32, Michigan 6
| Hwt - #1 Brock Lesnar (MINN) pinned #15 Matt Brink, 3:26 | (Minn, 6-0) |
| 125 - #3 Leroy Vega (MINN) major dec. A.J. Grant, 15-7 | (Minn, 10-0) |
| 133 -- #4 Joe Warren (MICH) dec. #11 Brett Lawrence, 9-4 (OT) | (Minn, 10-3) |
| 141 -- #17 Chad Erikson (MINN) dec. #6 Damion Logan, 13-11 | (Minn, 13-3) |
| 149 -- #6 Jared Lawrence (MINN) dec. #20 Mike Kulczycki, 10-3 | (Minn, 16-3) |
| 157 -- #10 Luke Becker (MINN) pinned Tony Holifield, 6:12 | (Minn, 22-3) |
| 165 -- #6 Brad Pike (MINN) dec. Jason Rawls, 3-2 | (Minn, 25-3) |
| 174 -- #13 Delaney Berger (MINN) dec. Charles Martelli, 6-5 | (Minn, 28-3) |
| 184 -- #3 Brandon Eggum (MINN) major dec. #6 Andy Hrovat, 15-5 | (Minn, 32-3) |
| 197 -- #16 Joe Degain (MICH) dec. #10 Owen Elzen, 14-9 (OT) | (Minn, 32-6) |
Contact: Jason Binge (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
