Michigan
Newberry
Michigan Downs Newberry, Falls to No. 15 Kent State
12/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 13, 2009
Site: Kent, Ohio (M.A.C. Center)
Scores: Michigan 22, Newberry 13; #15 Kent State 28, Michigan 9
Records: U-M (2-4), Newberry (4-3), Kent State (4-0)
Next U-M Event: Tue-Wed., Dec. 29-30 -- at Southern Scuffle (Greensboro, N.C.), 10 a.m.
KENT, Ohio -- The University of Michigan wrestling team split a pair of dual meets, cruising past Newberry, 22-13, before falling to host Kent State, 28-9, on Sunday (Dec. 13) in front of 1,321 fans at the M.A.C. Center.
Michigan won three individual matches in the marquee dual against the Golden Flashes; freshman Sean Boyle (Lowell, Mass./Blair Academy), senior/junior Aaron Hynes (Mt. Morris, Mich./Flint Kearsley HS) and junior/sophomore Justin Zeerip (Fremont, Mich./Hesperia HS) all posted two wins on the day.
The Wolverines held the early advantage against Kent State after Boyle's decision against Troy Opfer at 125 pounds. The Wolverine rookie converted on a second-period takedown and rode the majority of the third to build 1:19 in time advantage and seal up a 4-1 win.
Hynes survived a series of scrambles and flurries in his 165-pound match against Ross Tice, converting on a late takedown to clinch a 7-5 decision. The Wolverine built up an early lead with a pair of takedowns in the first period, but Tice evened the score with a quick pair of back points in the second. With the match knotted up at five apiece late in the third, Tice dove in on a single leg. Hynes neutralized the position and scrambled to the secure the takedown in the bout's final 30 seconds.
After earning a pin in his first match of the day, Zeerip appeared poised to pick up a second when he locked up a cradle in the first period against Keith Witt at 174 pounds. The Wolverine settled instead for a 7-1 decision, scoring takedowns in the first and second periods and accumulating 3:47 in time advantage.
In their first dual of the day, the Wolverines earned back-to-back decisions at the lowerweights to build up a quick lead against Newberry. Boyle struck early with a pair of first-period takedowns against Matt Oliver, ranked third nationally in NCAA Division II competition, to gain the only advantage he needed. The wrestlers traded reversals in the second, and Boyle nearly had another late in the third, but the Wolverine did not need it to secure a 6-4 decision. Sophomore Zac Stevens (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS) converted on takedowns in each period against Newberry's Sheridan Moran and despite giving up a late score, capped the match with a last-second takedown of his own and 2:53 in time advantage to win 9-3.
Newberry gained a momentary lead with a bonus victory at 149 pounds, but the Wolverines surged ahead with three straight wins, earning bonus points at 165 and 174 pounds, to put the dual meet away. Hynes used big efforts in the first and third periods to roll past Josh Whitelock, 16-4, in the former bout, picking up a quick four-point Peterson before three more takedowns, a reversal and a three-point near fall. Zeerip brought an early end to the 174-pound contest, cradling up Newberry's Curtis Chenoweth off a second-period takedown to secure his fourth pin of the season at the 3:39 mark. Zeerip was up eight points at the time of the fall after scoring three takedowns and a pair of back points in the first frame.
Newberry's nationally-ranked wrestlers won close matches at 184 and 197 pounds. Sophomore/freshman Hunter Collins (Gilroy, Calif./Gilroy HS) scored eight third-period points but could not quite overcome a big first-period move from second-ranked Bryant Blanton, losing 12-11 on riding time. Junior/sophomore Erich Smith (Ishpeming, Mich./Westwood HS), wrestling up a weight class, took top-ranked Keeno Griffin to overtime before giving up a takedown midway through the sudden-victory frame to lose 3-1.
Sophomore/freshman Ben Apland (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS) capped the dual with a decisive 7-1 performance in the heavyweight bout, using takedowns in the first and third periods, a third-period reversal and nearly five minutes of riding time to cruise past Steven Butler in his collegiate dual debut.
After a quick break for the holidays, the Wolverines will return to the mat for the Southern Scuffle, scheduled for Dec. 29-30, in Greensboro, N.C. It will be Michigan's first trip to the holiday tournament.
Michigan 22, Newberry 13
Individual rankings from InterMat
| 125 -- Sean Boyle (U-M) dec. Matt Oliver, 6-4 | U-M, 3-0 |
| 133 -- Zac Stevens (U-M) dec. Sheridan Moran, 9-3 | U-M, 6-0 |
| 141 -- Deral Brown (NC) dec. Mark Weber, 2-1 | BU, 6-3 |
| 149 -- Latra Collick (NC) major dec. Mark Beaudry, 16-6 | NC, 7-6 |
| 157 -- Dave Johnson (U-M) dec. Mike Rogers, 4-1 | U-M, 9-7 |
| 165 -- Aaron Hynes (U-M) major dec. Josh Whitelock, 16-4 | U-M, 13-7 |
| 174 -- Justin Zeerip (U-M) pinned Curtis Chenoweth, 3:39 | U-M, 19-7 |
| 184 -- Bryant Blanton (NC) dec. Hunter Collins, 12-11 | U-M, 19-10 |
| 197 -- Bryant Blanton (NC) dec. Erich Smith, 3-1 SV | U-M, 19-13 |
| Hwt -- Ben Apland (U-M) dec. Steven Butler, 7-1 | U-M, 22-13 |
#15 Kent State 28, Michigan 9
Individual rankings from InterMat
| 125 -- Sean Boyle (U-M) dec. Troy Opfer, 4-1 | U-M, 3-0 |
| 133 -- #11 Danny Mitcheff (KSU) dec. Zac Stevens, 10-5 | Tie, 3-3 |
| 141 -- Chase Skonieczny (KSU) dec. Mark Weber, 2-0 | KSU, 6-3 |
| 149 -- #11 Matt Cathell (KSU) pinned Mark Beaudry, 4:46 | KSU, 12-3 |
| 157 -- Mallie Schuster (KSU) dec. Dave Johnson, 7-4 | KSU, 15-3 |
| 165 -- Aaron Hynes (U-M) dec. Ross Tice, 7-5 | KSU, 15-6 |
| 174 -- Justin Zeerip (U-M) dec. Keith Witt, 7-1 | KSU, 15-9 |
| 184 -- #3 Dustin Kilgore (KSU) pinned Erich Smith, 2:26 | KSU, 21-9 |
| 197 -- Adam Cogar (KSU) major dec. Hunter Collins, 15-6 | KSU, 25-9 |
| Hwt -- #19 Brendan Barlow (KSU) dec. Ben Apland, 5-3 | KSU, 28-9 |
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
