Michigan
Wisconsin
U-M Middle Weights Key Conference Win at Wisconsin
1/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
MADISON, Wis. -- Behind the dominant performances of its middle-weight contingent, the No. 8-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team rolled to a 23-16 victory over No. 12 Wisconsin on Friday (Jan. 28) at the Badgers' UW Field House. Trailing by one point following the third bout of the contest, the Wolverines won five straight matches to remain undefeated in conference action.
Michigan (10-3, 2-0 Big Ten) jumped to the early lead with a UW forfeit at heavyweight to start the dual, but after giving up losses at 125 and 133 pounds, the Wolverines were behind 7-6 heading into the fourth bout of the evening. It would be the only time that U-M trailed in the meet.
Sophomore/freshman Josh Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) kicked off the U-M comeback with an 8-3 decision against Ed Gutnik at 141 pounds. Churella, ranked sixth by Amateur Wrestling News, took immediate control of the match with a pair of first-period takedowns before adding another in second frame. Holding a 7-3 edge heading into the final period, Churella rode Gutnik for the entire frame to accumulate 2:58 in riding time.
Sophomore/freshman Eric Tannenbaum (Naperville, Ill./North HS) narrowly missed a major-decision victory at 149 pounds, giving up an escape in the closing seconds of his match against 11th-ranked Craig Henning to win by a 10-3 margin. Seventh-ranked Tannenbaum demonstrated his strength from the neutral position, scoring four double-leg takedowns while allowing Henning just three escapes.
The Wolverine captains -- fifth-year senior Ryan Bertin (Broadview Heights, Ohio/St. Edwards HS) and senior/junior Ryan Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) -- each extended winning streaks with back-to-back wins at 157 and 165 pounds. Bertin, ranked fourth, used a nine-point move at the start of the second period to break open his match against 10th-ranked Tyler Turner. With the score tied 3-3 after the opening frame, Bertin collected a quick escape in the second and turned to immediately convert the takedown, bringing Turner to his back to add three back points -- all within the first 30 seconds of the period. Bertin scored another takedown in the final frame to post a final score of 12-5 and remain undefeated on the season with a perfect 18-0 record.
Second-ranked Churella pushed his winning streak to 22 consecutive matches after rallying from an early deficit to post an 11-3 major decision over Jake Donar. Giving up the bout's first takedown just 30 seconds into the opening period, Churella responded with a takedown of his own late in the period as well as another pair of takedowns in the second and third periods. The Wolverine junior earned the necessary points for the major late in the match, turning Donar for a three-point near fall with less than 30 seconds remaining.
Junior/sophomore Nick Roy (Wall, N.J./Wall HS) sealed the victory for the Wolverines with an 11-1 major decision against Kelly Flahery at 174 pounds. Roy, ranked 12th, dominated throughout the match, scoring a takedown in each period and adding a reversal and two-point near fall in the second. Roy's victory put the dual meet out of reach for Wisconsin, which added nine team points to its score with wins in the contest's final two bouts.
The Wolverines will wrap up the weekend road series against No. 4 Minnesota on Sunday (Jan. 30). The conference dual meet is slated for a 1 p.m. CST start at the Gophers' Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis, Minn.
#8 Michigan 23, #12 Wisconsin 16
(Individual rankings from Amateur Wrestling News)
| Hwt -- #3 Greg Wagner (U-M) won by forfeit | U-M, 6-0 |
| 125 -- Collin Cudd (UW) dec. Jim Shutich, 5-3 | U-M, 6-3 |
| 133 -- #6 Tom Clum (UW) major dec. #13 Mark Moos, 12-0 | UW, 7-6 |
| 141 -- #6 Josh Churella (U-M) dec. #13 Ed Gutnik, 8-3 | U-M, 9-7 |
| 149 -- #7 Eric Tannenbaum (U-M) dec. #11 Craig Henning, 10-3 | U-M, 12-7 |
| 157 -- #4 Ryan Bertin (U-M) dec. #10 Tyler Turner, 12-5 | U-M, 15-7 |
| 165 -- #2 Ryan Churella (U-M) major dec. Jake Donar, 11-3 | U-M, 19-7 |
| 174 -- #12 Nick Roy (U-M) major dec. Kelly Flaherty, 11-1 | U-M, 23-7 |
| 184 -- #9 Brady Reinke (UW) dec. Joshua Weitzel, 9-3 | U-M, 23-10 |
| 197 -- #11 Ryan Flaherty (UW) pinned Steve Helenkiak, 1:40 | U-M, 23-16 |
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
