Michigan
NCAA Championships
Churella Finishes as National Runner-up at 165 Pounds
3/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Site: Oklahoma City, Okla. (Ford Center)
Event: NCAA Championships
U-M Finish: 7th Place (57.5 Points)
Next U-M Event: Season Completed
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- University of Michigan fifth-year senior captain Ryan Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) fell just short in his bid for an individual national title, falling 9-8 to Oklahoma State's Johny Hendricks in 165-pound championship match Saturday (March 18) at the NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Ford Center. Behind the performances of three All-Americans, the Wolverines took seventh place (57.5 points) in the team race -- their sixth consecutive top-10 finish at the national event.
The Wolverine captain held a three-point advantage entering the final frame of the contest but lost on a couple close takedown calls in the third as Hendricks scored twice along the edge of the mat -- including the deciding blow with just three seconds remaining -- to claim his second straight NCAA crown. Churella himself had rallied from an early deficit after being taken down twice in the opening period. He countered a Hendricks single-leg shot late in the second to lock up a cradle and roll the Cowboy to his back as the buzzer sounded for two back points.
Fifth-year senior captain Greg Wagner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider HS) dominated the final match of his collegiate career, earning a 9-1 major decision against Arizona State's fourth-seeded Cain Velasquez to claim third place at heavyweight, his best career finish at the NCAA tournament. Wagner struck early, scoring on a quick single leg to take immediate control of the bout, and when Velasquez rose to his feet midway through the opening frame, the Wolverine returned him to the mat and quickly using a step-through turk to hold him in a pinning situation for the final minute of the period. Wagner added another takedown in the third and, after earning 1:18 in riding time, locked up the major decision to pick up the bonus point.
Wagner also cruised through his consolation semifinal bout against Virginia Tech's eighth-seeded Michael Faust, dominating the Hokie wrestler to earn a 6-0 shutout. After several single-leg shots early in the first period, Wagner finally converted one late in the frame, driving Faust back inbounds and riding him for the rest of the period. The Wolverine picked up his escape in the second and held Faust on the mat for the entire third period, using a leg turk to add a pair of back points and earn 2:45 in riding time.
Junior/sophomore Eric Tannenbaum (Naperville, Ill./North HS), seeded eighth, suffered a pair of consolation losses on the final day to finish sixth at the 149-pound weight bracket. The Wolverine fell to Oklahoma State's third-seeded Zack Esposito 9-1 in the consolation semifinal after the Cowboy wrestler tallied a big third period with a takedown and three back points. With that first defeat, Tannenbaum dropped into the fifth-place match, where he lost 9-0 to Hofstra's sixth-seeded Jon Masa. Masa scored takedowns in each frame and added a pair of near-fall points in the opening period.
Final Team Standings (Top 10)
1. Oklahoma State 114.5
2. Oklahoma 80.5
3. Minnesota 76
4. Iowa 70
5. Cornell 62
6. Arizona State 61.5
7. MICHIGAN 57.5
8. Edinboro 56
9. Lehigh 53.5
Penn State 53.5
Michigan Results (Day 3)
Numbers listed are tournament seedings
149 pounds -- #8 Eric Tannenbaum
Consolation - major dec. by #3 Zack Esposito (Oklahoma State), 9-1
Fifth Place - major dec. by #6 Jon Masa (Hofstra), 9-0
Finished sixth with a 4-3 record
165 pounds -- #1 Ryan Churella
Final - dec. by #2 Johny Hendricks (Oklahoma State), 9-8
Finished second with a 4-1 record
Heavyweight -- #3 Greg Wagner
Consolation - dec. #8 Michael Faust (Virginia Tech), 6-0
Third Place - major dec. #4 Cain Velasquez (Arizona State), 9-1
Finished third with a 5-1 record
Previous Results: Day 1 | Day 2
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
