Wolverines Wrestle to Tie Against No. 2-Ranked Illinois

Sunday, February 6

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

Illinois

Wolverines Wrestle to Tie Against No. 2-Ranked Illinois

2/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team split 10 individual matches down the middle against No. 2 Illinois as the two teams teams battled to a 17-17 tie to remain undefeated in Big Ten Conference action on Sunday (Feb. 6) in front of 1,551 fans at Cliff Keen Arena. It marks the first U-M tie in four seasons as well as the first tie in the series history between the two programs.

In the marquee match of the contest, fifth-year senior captain Ryan Bertin (Broadview Heights, Ohio/St. Edwards HS), ranked fourth by Amateur Wrestling News, squared off against second-ranked Alex Tirapelle in a rematch of the 2003 NCAA 157-pound final and last season's Big Ten final. The Wolverine scored just a minute into the bout to take the only lead he would need in the match, converting a single-leg takedown on the edge of the mat. Tirapelle earned a quick escape to the cut Bertin's advantage to one point heading into the middle frame. Each wrestler earned an escape near the beginning of the second and third periods to close out the scoring as several shots and scrambles produced no points. With the 3-2 decision, Bertin gave the Wolverines' their first advantage in the dual meet and took the 4-3 lead in the all-time series with his conference rival.

Bertin's victory came in the middle of four consecutive wins for Michigan as the Wolverines rallied from an early 7-0 deficit to build a seven-point lead after 165 pounds.

Sophomore/freshman Josh Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) started the U-M comeback at 141 pounds with a 7-2 decision over the Fighting Illini's Casio Pero. Fifth-ranked Churella controlled throughout the bout, building an early lead with a pair of first-period takedowns to hold a 4-1 lead after the opening frame. Churella caught Pero out of position early in the second to come from the bottom with a reversal just 30 seconds into the period before riding out the Illini wrestler for the remainder of the frame. Pero earned his escape midway through the third period as Churella ended the match with 2:31 riding time advantage.

Sophomore/freshman Eric Tannenbaum (Naperville, Ill./North HS) used takedowns in the second and third period to record a 5-2 decision over 14th-ranked Anton Dietzen at 149 pounds. Tannenbaum, ranked seventh, controlled throughout the entire bout, allowing Dietzen just a pair of escapes.

Senior/junior captain Ryan Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) earned important bonus points for the Wolverines with a 17-1 technical fall against Anthony Castillo at 165 pounds, ending the match early by approximately 30 seconds. Churella, ranked second by Amateur Wrestling News, dominated from the opening whistle, scoring on his first shot, just 15 seconds into the match. The Wolverine captain totaled two takedowns and 13 backs points and nearly stuck the pin in the third period, using a power half to roll Castillo across the shoulder blades.

The Fighting Illini earned three consecutive wins -- including a major decision at 184 pounds -- to retake a three-point team advantage heading into the final bout of the dual meet. Third-ranked senior/junior Greg Wagner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider HS) could not corral Illinois' Mark Behnke to earn the necessary bonus for a U-M team victory but posted a 6-2 decision to knot the final score at 17 points a side. The Wolverine heavyweight converted on a go-behind late in the first period to break the scoreless match and added another takedown midway through the third -- countering a Behnke shot -- to seal it up.

The Maize and Blue will continue the grind of the Big Ten schedule next weekend, hosting Ohio State on Friday (Feb. 11) at 7 p.m. before hitting the road to face Iowa on Sunday (Feb. 13) at 6 p.m. CST in Iowa City.

#5 Michigan 17, #2 Illinois 17
(Individual rankings from Amateur Wrestling News)

125 -- #2 Kyle Ott (UI) major dec. Jim Shutich, 14-5		UI, 4-0
133 -- #3 Mark Jayne (UI) dec. #13 Mark Moos, 5-2		UI, 7-0
141 -- #5 Josh Churella (U-M) dec. Casio Perro, 7-2		UI, 7-3
149 -- #7 Eric Tannenbaum (U-M) dec. #14 Anton Dietzen, 5-2		UI , 7-6
157 -- #4 Ryan Bertin (U-M) dec. #2 Alex Tirapelle, 3-2		U-M, 9-7
165 -- #2 Ryan Churella (U-M) tech. fall Anthony Castillo, 17-1 (6:30)		U-M, 14-7
174 -- #4 Pete Friedl (UI) dec. #13 Nick Roy, 6-3		U-M, 14-10
184 -- #5 Brian Glynn (UI) major dec. Joshua Weitzel, 10-2		Tie, 14-14
197 -- #7 Tyrone Byrd (UI) dec. Willie Breyer, 4-2		UI, 17-14
Hwt -- #3 Greg Wagner (U-M) dec. Mark Behnke, 6-2		Tie, 17-17