Michigan
Indiana
Tobias Pin Helps Wolverines Rebound Past Hoosiers
2/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- After dropping two of the first three bouts, the No. 3-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team battled back to defeat Indiana 22-12 on Friday (Feb. 13) in University Gym. Michigan notched six individual wins in the team victory.
The Wolverines (15-3, 5-1 Big Ten) won three consecutive matches at the middle weights to overcome an early three-point deficit. Sophomore/freshman Chase Metcalf (Davison, Mich./Davison HS) earned the only U-M win in the opening three weights, defeating Nick Spatola 3-1 at 133 pounds. With the score knotted at one point apiece heading in the final period, Metcalf scored a late takedown to collect the victory.
Senior/junior Jeremiah Tobias (Manchester, Mich./Manchester HS) put Michigan ahead for good with a fall over the Hoosiers' Cameron Sakon at 149 pounds. Tobias scored a quick takedown to gain control early in the first period. After working on the arm bar without success, the Wolverine locked in the cradle to stick Sakon at the 2:25 mark. The fall was the 44th of Tobias' career, placing him third on U-M career falls list, tied with two-time All-American Sean Bormet (1990-94).
Senior/junior captain Ryan Bertin (Broadview Heights, Ohio/St. Edward HS) dominated Matt Cooper in the 157-pound bout, scoring five takedowns en route to a 12-4 major decision. Fifth-year senior captain Pat Owen (Polson, Mont./Polson HS) built an early lead against the Hoosiers' Mike Sabatello, scoring two takedowns and a reversal to hold a 6-2 advantage heading into the third period. Despite a reversal and takedown by Sabatello late in the match, Owen hung on to collect a 9-6 decision victory.
After Indiana won close matches at 174 and 184 pounds, U-M sealed the win with back-to-back wins at the two closing weights. Sophomore/freshman Chase Verdoorn (Platte City, Mo./Platte County HS) squeezed past Andrew Wolf by a 3-0 margin after collecting points for an escape, a penalty on the Hoosier wrestler and nearly a minute and a half riding time. Junior/sophomore Greg Wagner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider HS) scored a pair of takedowns and a reversal early in the heavyweight match to gain the early lead against Josh Buuck. The Hoosier wrestler scored two reversals late in the bout to pull within two points, but Wagner hung on to win 7-5.
The Wolverines will return to Ann Arbor on Sunday (Feb. 15) to square off against Wisconsin in the final home meet of the 2003-04 season. The conference dual is slated to begin at 1 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena.
#3 Michigan 22, Indiana 12
(Individual rankings from Amateur Wrestling News)
| 125 -- #10 Joe Dubuque (IU) dec. #3 Mark Moos, 5-2 | IU, 3-0 |
| 133 -- Chase Metcalf (U-M) dec. Nick Spatola, 3-1 | Tie, 3-3 |
| 141 -- #6 Coyte Cooper (IU) dec. #20 Clark Forward, 6-5 SV | IU, 6-3 |
| 149 -- Jeremiah Tobias (U-M) pinned Cameron Sakon, 2:25 | U-M, 9-6 |
| 157 -- #2 Ryan Bertin (U-M) major dec. Matt Cooper, 12-4 | U-M, 13-6 |
| 165 -- #4 Pat Owen (U-M) dec. Mike Sabatello, 9-6 | U-M, 16-6 |
| 174 -- #14 Brady Richardson (IU) dec. Nick Roy, 6-5 | U-M, 16-9 |
| 184 -- Andy Rios (IU) dec. Joshua Weitzel, 6-5 | U-M, 16-12 |
| 197 -- Chase Verdoorn (U-M) dec. Andrew Wolf, 3-0 | U-M, 19-12 |
| Hwt -- #5 Greg Wagner (U-M) dec. Josh Buuck, 7-5 | U-M, 22-12 |
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
