Michigan
Minnesota
Wolverine Comeback Falls Short Against No. 1 Gophers
1/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Before a record-setting crowd of 3,292 wrestling fans in Crisler Arena, the fourth-ranked University of Michigan squad put up a strong challenge against top-ranked Minnesota but was not able to recover after losing the first five individual matches and lost to the Gophers 22-10 on Friday (Jan. 25).
Starting the meet at 125 pounds, Minnesota won the first five individual matches to gain the commanding lead. Facing a 16-point deficit at the halftime intermission, the Wolverines battled back, winning three consecutive matches after the break to pull within six points of the defending national champions. However, Minnesota won the final two bouts to take the team victory.
At 125 pounds, Michigan's eighth-ranked A.J. Grant (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) and Minnesota's second-ranked Leroy Vega wrestled to a scoreless first period. Grant started down in the second and earned the escape, which gave him the one-point advantage heading into the final period. However, in the third, Vega scored a reversal and a takedown en route to a 5-3 decision win.
In the 133-pound match, eighth-ranked Foley Dowd (Howell, N.J./The Peddie School) took an early lead over Minnesota's top-ranked Ryan Lewis with a quick takedown, but Lewis came back in the third period with his own takedown, tying the score at three and sending the match into overtime. In the extra stanza, Lewis was able to score a takedown, ending the match with a 5-3 win.
Clark Forward (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold HS) started his 141-pound match strongly against sixth-ranked Chad Erickson, scoring the first takedown and an early lead, but Erickson came back, recording two takedowns of his own and two escapes, to take the 9-2 decision.
At 149 pounds, seventh-ranked Mike Kulczycki (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward HS) squared off against Minnesota's second-ranked Jared Lawrence. Kulczycki kept the score close through two periods, but in the final period, Lawrence scored three takedowns, including one in the final minute, to earn the 12-4 major decision.
The 157-pound bout pitted Michigan's fifth-ranked Ryan Bertin (Broadview Heights, Ohio/St. Edward HS) against Minnesota's third-ranked Luke Becker. The match stayed close throughout all three periods, with both wrestlers looking strong in the neutral position. However, with Becker recording a takedown in each period, the Gopher wrestler was able to earn the decision, 8-5.
Returning from the halftime break down by 16 points, seventh-ranked Charles Martelli (Naperville, Ill./North HS) responded to the challenge by earning a 7-4 decision over Minnesota's Nate Baker at 165 pounds. Baker took the early lead after scoring a quick takedown, but Martelli battled back by dominating in the third period to put the Wolverines on the board.
At 174 pounds, Michigan continued its momentum when top-ranked Otto Olson (Everett, Wash./Everett HS) dominated seventh-ranked Jacob Volkmann. Olson scored four third-period takedowns to earn the major decision, 15-7.
In the 184-pound matchup, fourth-ranked Andy Hrovat (Gates Mills, Ohio/St. Edward HS) squared off against Minnesota's third-ranked Damion Hahn. Hrovat, who lost to Hahn in last weekend's match at the National Duals, earned the upset victory by scoring two takedowns and a two-point near fall in the first period and adding a third-period takedown to take the match, 9-3.
Minnesota sealed its victory with a win at the 197-pound weight class. Fifth-ranked Kyle Smith (Butte, Mont./Butte HS) got off to an explosive start against third-ranked Owen Elzen, with two first period takedowns, but could not hold on for the victory as Elzen took the 9-5 decision.
In the heavyweight bout, eighth-ranked Matt Brink (Muskegon, Mich./Fruitport HS) made his home debut, after missing the first two home meets with injury. Against Minnesota's sixth-ranked Garrett Lowney, Brink managed to score a third-period takedown, but Lowney scored his own third-period takedown, along with two escapes en route to a 5-2 decision win.
Next up for the Wolverines will be a Big Ten home dual meet against 24th-ranked Purdue University on Sunday (Jan. 27) at Cliff Keen Arena. The opening match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. The limited Athletic Marketing Department will be handing out a limited number of free T-shirts.
#1 Minnesota 22, #4 Michigan 10
(Individual rankings from Intermat, 1/22/02)
| 125 -- #2 Leroy Vega (Minn.) dec. #8 A.J. Grant, 5-3 | Minn., 3-0 |
| 133 -- #1 Ryan Lewis (Minn.) dec. #8 Foley Dowd, 5-3 (OT) | Minn., 6-0 |
| 141 -- #6 Chad Erickson (Minn.) dec. Clark Forward, 9-2 | Minn., 9-0 |
| 149 -- #2 Jared Lawrence (Minn.) major dec. #7 Mike Kulczycki, 12-4 | Minn., 13-0 |
| 157 -- #3 Luke Becker (Minn.) dec. #5 Ryan Bertin, 8-5 | Minn., 16-0 |
| 165 -- #7 Charles Martelli (Mich.) dec. Nate Baker, 7-4 | Minn., 16-3 |
| 174 -- #1 Otto Olson (Mich.) major dec. #7 Jacob Volkmann, 15-7 | Minn., 16-7 |
| 184 -- #4 Andy Hrovat (Mich.) dec. #3 Damion Hahn, 9-3 | Minn., 16-10 |
| 197 -- #3 Owen Elzen (Minn.) dec. #5 Kyle Smith, 9-5 | Minn., 19-10 |
| Hwt -- #6 Garrett Lowney (Minn.) dec. #8 Matt Brink, 5-2 | Minn., 22-10 |
N O T E S
Tonight's attendance of 3,292 shatters the previous record of 2,237 fans at a Michigan wrestling dual match. That record had been set on January 31, 1996, at Cliff Keen Arena, when the Wolverines fell 20-18 to intrastate rival Michigan State.
With his victory tonight, sixth-year senior Otto Olson extends his perfect season to 25-0 and his winning streak to 27 consecutive matches, dating back to last season's NCAA Championships. Olson is now tied for fifth place on U-M's consecutive wins list with four-time All-American Mark Churella, who recorded 27 consecutive wins in 1977-79.
With the win, Olson also scored his 157th career win and pulled himself within three wins of tying three-time All-America Jeff Catrabone for the third spot on Michigan's career wins list.
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Joe McFarland
On the team's performance ... "I thought the guys looked a lot tougher than last weekend at the National Duals (against Minnesota). We were a lot closer than we were last weekend. We proved to ourselves that we can go up against Minnesota. We can beat a lot of good teams, but to beat a great team, I think we needed a lot more intensity and a lot more work before we can beat a team like Minnesota."
Senior Captain Andy Hrovat
On the record crowd ... "It was great to see that many people come out to watch Michigan wrestling. It shows that our style of aggressive wrestling attracts people. The fans were great and it definitely made the meet even more exciting."
On his upset win over Damion Hahn ... "It felt really good to win against Hahn. Getting the first takedown was crucial, because after that first takedown, I could wrestle my style -- be more cautious and open up my offense a little more. Sometimes I can get a little off in a match, but tonight I showed the way that I could wrestle."
Sixth-Year Senior Otto Olson
On his win over Jacob Volkmann ... "I was a little nervous after he scored that first takedown, but then I heard their coach say I was tired and I wanted to prove him wrong. I didn't want to give up any easy shots, and I think my conditioning is right where I want it to be."
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
