Tannenbaum, Luke To Represent U.S at Freestyle Meet
6/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- University of Michigan wrestlers Eric Tannenbaum (Naperville, Ill./North HS) and Steve Luke (Massilon, Ohio/Perry HS) earned selection to the U.S. Junior Freestyle World team after capturing first place in the 66- and 74-kg weight classes, respectively, at the FILA Junior World Team Trials on Friday and Saturday (May 27-28).
Tannenbaum rallied after falling behind to Brent Metcalf, a Davison, Mich., native, in the best-of-three championship series. After both of the opening two matches were decided by the narrowest of margins -- Metcalf claiming the first victory 1-0, 4-3 and Tannenbaum evening the series with a 1-0, 1-2, 3-1 decision -- the Wolverine cruised through the deciding bout, shutting out the future Virginia Tech wrestler with a 2-0, 6-0 technical fall to qualify for his second world competition in as many years, adding to his 2004 World University Championships appearance.
Tannenbaum earned a pair of wins in the challenge tournament en route to his showdown against Metcalf, including a 3-0, 3-1 decision over Wolverine teammate Josh Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) in the finals. Churella posted a 2-1 record with wins against Lock Haven's Clint Shirk and Ohio State's Jeff Jaggers.
Luke, who earned an automatic bid to the championship series by virtue of his junior national title in late April, dominated Cornell's Joey Hooker in the best-of-three matchup, allowing the Big Red wrestler just one point with 7-0, 2-0 and 2-1, 1-0 victories.
Freshman Tyrel Todd (Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman HS) fell short in his qualification attempt at 80 kg, losing to Jake Varner 3-1, 1-0 in the challenge tournament finals. A future Iowa State Cyclone, Varner went on to sweep Northwestern's Jake Herbert in the championship series to advance and will join Tannenbaum and Luke on the eight-man U.S. Junior World sqaud. In his one preliminary bout, Todd shut out Western Virginia's Kurt Brenner 3-0, 4-0 in the semifinal round.
The 2005 FILA Junior World Championships are scheduled for July 5-10 in Vilnius, Lithunania.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
