Michigan
NWCA All-Star Classic (ex)
All-Star Upset: Tannenbaum Beats Top-Ranked Esposito
11/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
STILLWATER, Okla. -- In front of a home Oklahoma State crowd, junior/sophomore Eric Tannenbaum (Naperville, Ill./North HS), a member of the University of Michigan wrestling team, defeated the Cowboys' top-ranked Zack Esposito 7-3 at the National Wrestling Coaches Association's 40th annual All-Star Classic on Monday (Nov. 21) at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
In a rematch of last season's 149-pound NCAA semifinal, which Esposito won 7-2 en route to his first NCAA individual championship, Tannenbaum, ranked third preseason in all major polls, rallied from a two-point deficit to post six points in the third frame and claim the biggest win of his collegiate career to date.
Esposito struck first after a scoreless first period, scoring on a reversal early in the middle frame to take a 2-0 advantage. Tannenbaum freed himself to cut the lead to one point and warded off further OSU attacks late in the period.
Starting in the down position to begin the third period, Tannenbaum took control of the match, scoring a quick reversal and adding a pair of back points to steal away the lead for good. After Esposito pulled away to earn the one-point escape, Tannenbaum scored again on a takedown late in the period and rode out the Cowboy wrestler to secure the win in his first action of the 2005-06 campaign.
Tannenbaum is the 29th Wolverine wrestler to compete at the annual all-star meet and the third in as many years. His win marked the first U-M all-star win since Otto Olson and Andy Hrovat each collected big victories at the 2002 event. At that meet, Hrovat earned a 7-5 decision against Indiana's top-ranked Viktor Sveda.
Fifth-year senior captain Ryan Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) was set to join Tannenbaum at the All-Star Classic, but he pulled out of the competition in the preceding week to aid his recovery from a minor injury.
Tannenbaum, Churella and the rest of the Wolverines will kick off the season on Saturday (Nov. 26) against Big Ten Conference rival Penn State in State College, Pa. The match is slated for a 1 p.m. start at the Nittany Lions' Rec Hall.
NWCA All-Star Classic Results
125 -- Sam Hazewinkel (Oklahoma) dec. Nick Simmons (Michigan State) 6-2
133 -- Darrell Vasquez (Cal Poly) dec. Mack Reiter (Minnesota) 6-3
141 -- Nate Gallick (Iowa State) dec. Teyon Ware (Oklahoma) 3-1
149 -- Eric Tannenbaum (U-M) dec. Zack Esposito (Oklahoma State) 7-3
157 -- Alex Tirapelle (Illinois) dec. Joe Johnston (Iowa) 4-2
165 -- Matt Nagel (Minnesota) dec. Johny Hendricks (Oklahoma State) 5-3, SV2
174 -- Jake Herbert (Northwestern) dec. Jacob Klein (Nebraska) 8-5
184 -- Pete Friedl (Illinois) dec. Paul Bradley (Iowa) 4-3
197 -- Jake Rosholt (Oklahoma State) dec. Joel Flaggert (Oklahoma) 8-3
285 -- Cole Konrad (Minnesota) dec. Steve Mocco (Oklahoma State) 4-1, TB1
285 -- Tervel Dlagnev (Nebraska-Kearney) dec. Josh LeadingFox (Central Oklahoma) 6-3
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
