Michigan
Big Ten Championships
Trio of Wolverines Win Big Ten Titles
3/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Site: Minneapolis, Minn. (Williams Arena)
Event: Big Ten Championships
U-M Standing: 3rd Place of 11 Teams (97.5 Points)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Mar. 9 -- Day 2 at Big Ten Championships (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Notes & Quotes
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Freshman Kellen Russell(High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy), fifth-year senior Eric Tannenbaum(Naperville, Ill./North HS) and senior/junior Steve Luke(Massillon, Ohio/Perry HS) each captured individual titles at 141, 165 and 174 pounds, respectively, to lead the No. 11-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team to third place (97.5 points) at the Big Ten Championships on Sunday (March 9) in Williams Arena. Iowa captured the team title with 127 points, while Minnesota took second with 112.5 points.
With three wrestlers atop the winner's podium, the Wolverines matched their most champions at the conference tournament in 31 years and claimed more individual titles than any other school -- no other school had multiple champions.U-M's championship finals did not prove easy, however, as all four matches were decided by two points or less.
Russell, who was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, captured the 141-pound title in his first collegiate season, becoming just fourth Wolverine rookie to claim an individual conference title. Russell, the No. 1 seed, won a close 3-2 decision against Minnesota's sixth-seeded Manuel Rivera, using a first-period takedown to claim the match's only offensive points. The score came off a Minnesota attempt late in the opening frame as Rivera shot deep on a single leg and Russell turned away and yanked his foot loose. The Wolverine rookie immediately spun and jumped on top of Rivera for the takedown. The wrestlers traded escapes in the second and third periods but limited each other's attacks as Russell held on for the win.
Tannenbaum claimed his second conference crown, adding a 149-pound title from his freshman season, with a 3-2 decision over Iowa's top-seeded Mark Perry in the 165-pound championship match. The Wolverine captain, seeded second, took several shots in the first period, finally converting on a double leg late in the frame to gain the first lead. Perry knotted up the score before period's end, however, on a U-M locked-handed call and a late escape. The points would be Perry's last as Tannenbaum rode out the entirety of the second frame, accumulating 2:20 in time advantage, which would prove the deciding factor.
Luke repeated as the 174-pound Big Ten champion, claiming a 5-3 decision over Minnesota's third-seeded Gabriel Dretsch -- his third win over the Gopher this season -- in the championship bout. Luke, the No. 1 seed, finished on two first-period takedowns -- a double leg and a low single, both coming before the frame's midway point -- to establish the only advantage he would need. The two wrestlers traded escapes and mild shots for the remainder of the match, but no additional points were scored as Luke held on for the title.
Senior/junior Tyrel Todd(Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman HS) fell just seconds shy of earning Michigan's fourth individual title, falling to Ohio State's top-seeded Mike Pucillo 4-3 in the 184-pound final. After a scoreless first period, Todd gained the match's first advantage with a single-leg takedown in the closing 30 seconds of the middle frame. The Wolverine captain padded his lead to two points with an early escape in the third but, after giving up a point for fleeing the mat, was taken down by an OSU single leg with just 12 seconds left in the bout.
In addition to their four finalists, the Wolverines boasted another two placewinners -- both of which scored necessary team points in wrestleback action.
Fifth-year senior Josh Churella(Northville, Mich./Novi HS) avenged his only loss of the tournament with a 6-5 overtime decision against Purdue's sixth-seeded Jake Patacsil in the third-place bout. Churella, seeded third, set the early tempo of the match, taking shot after shot and eventually drawing a stalling on Patacsil as a result. The Wolverine finished on two attempts -- a first-period double leg and a second-period low single -- and carried a two-point lead into the third. Patacsil rode out Churella for the entirety of the final frame, drawing a pair of warnings and accumulating 1:08 in riding time to even the tally at 4-4. After a scoreless sudden-victory frame, a Churella gamble paid off as the U-M captain scrambled for a reversal early in the first 30-second go and held Patacsil down for most of the second to hang on for the win.
Churella rolled into the third-place contest after a dominant 16-5 victory over Penn State's fourth-seeded Bubba Jenkins in the consolation semifinal round. The Wolverine captain rallied from an early deficit to score five takedowns, including one late in the first period that put Jenkins directly on his back and resulted in five points. Churella scored his final takedown early in the third period and rode out the remainder of the match to accumulate 2:13 in time advantage.
Fifth-year senior Jeff Marsh(Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) claimed fifth place in his first career appearance at the Big Ten meet, accepting a medical forfeit from Minnesota's C.P. Schlatter in the placing match and earn an extra two points as a result. Marsh suffered a heartbreaking overtime defeat in the consolation semifinal round, falling to Ohio State's Jason Johnstone 7-5 in overtime. The wrestlers traded points and the lead throughout the match, and Marsh held a narrow one-point edge and riding time until late in the third period when Johnstone converted his second takedown of the match. The Buckeye took advantage of a Marsh single-leg shot in the extra frame, draping over top and locking up a cradle on the edge of the mat to end the bout.
The Maize and Blue will take a two-week break to prepare for the NCAA Championships on March 20-22 in St. Louis, Mo. Michigan will send six wrestlers to the annual tournament, being held for the at the Scottrade Center for the third time in five years.
Final Team Standings
1. Iowa 127 2. Minnesota 112.5 3. MICHIGAN 97.5 4. Illinois 94 5. Ohio State 92.5 6. Wisconsin 85.5 7. Penn State 84.5 8. Indiana 80 Northwestern 80 10. Purdue 51.5 11. Michigan State 34
Michigan Results (Day 2)
Numbers listed are tournament seedings
141 pounds -- #1 Kellen Russell
Final - dec. #6 Manuel Rivera (Minnesota), 3-2
Finished as the 141-pound champion with a 4-0 record
149 pounds -- #3 Josh Churella
Consolations - major dec. #4 Bubba Jenkins (Penn State), 16-5
Third Place - dec. #6 Jake Patacsil (Purdue), 6-5 TB1
Finished third with a 3-1 record
157 pounds -- #6 Jeff Marsh
Consolations - dec. by Jason Johnstone (Ohio State), 7-5 SV
Fifth Place - won by medical forfeit over #4 C.P. Schlatter (Minnesota)
Finished fifth with a 3-2 record
165 pounds -- #3 Eric Tannenbaum
Final - dec. #1 Mark Perry (Iowa), 3-2
Finished as the 165-pound champion with a 4-0 record
174 pounds -- #1 Steve Luke
Final - dec. #3 Gabriel Dretsch (Minnesota), 5-3
Finished as the 174-pound champion with a 3-0 record
184 pounds -- #2 Tyrel Todd
Final - dec. by #1 Mike Pucillo (Ohio State), 4-3
Finished second with a 2-1 record
Contat: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
