Michigan
Southern Scuffle
Biondo, Johnson Lead Wolverines' Southern Scuffle Effort
12/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 30, 2009
Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Greensboro Coliseum)
Event: Southern Scuffle (Day 2 of 2)
U-M Standing: 14th Place of 31 Teams (54 Points)
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sat., Jan. 8-9 -- at Virginia Duals (Hampton, Va.)
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Senior/junior captain Anthony Biondo (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley HS) and junior/sophomore Dave Johnson (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) placed at 197 and 157 pounds, respectively, as the University of Michigan wrestling team fell to 14th place (54 points) after a tough second day at the annual Southern Scuffle on Wednesday (Dec. 30) at the Greensboro Coliseum.
After dropping a close sudden-victory decision to Ohio's Erik Schuth in the semifinal round, Biondo rebounded with a pair of wins in the wrestlebacks to claim third place in his first appearance since the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 5-6). Biondo's third-place contest against North Carolina's Dennis Drury provided his most lopsided win of the day; the Wolverine captain converted on takedowns in each period -- two in the third -- and added a pair of reversals and two back points to secure a 15-8 decision.
Biondo kicked off the day with a strong 10-5 decision Minnesota's Sonny Yohn in the quarterfinals. He converted on two takedowns in first period, split Yohn for three back points in third and added a late takedown to knock off the Big Ten foe in the quarterfinal round. His semifinal loss, which halted his winning streak at 14 matches, came with a bit of controversy when the officials overturned a call to award Schuth a takedown on the edge of the mat to even the match score. After Schuth traded points in the third on Schuth's escape and Biondo's riding time, but the Bobcat wrestler struck again in the extra frame, scoring out of a scramble to claim the 6-4 decision.
Johnson split his second-day matches, posting a 2-2 record en route to eighth place at 157 pounds -- his best tournament finish since joining the Wolverines' starting lineup. Johnson opened the day with a close sudden-victory decision, using a double-leg takedown to defeat Liberty's Shaun Smith, 5-3, in the overtime frame. He used the opposite approach in his second bout, building up a significant lead against Sacred Heart's Anthony Priore with three first-period takedowns and three back points. Priore reversed in the second and rode the Wolverine for much of the final two periods, but Johnson held on for a 9-8 decision.
He lost his final two bouts by similar 5-4 margins, falling first to Ohio's Clay Tucker on a late escape before losing to Kent State's Mallie Schuster on a late reversal.
Michigan will return to dual-meet competition next weekend (Jan. 8-9) at the 30th annual Virginia Duals in Hampton, Va. The Wolverines will compete at the prestigious tournament for the first time in 10 years. First-round pairings will be announced on next week.
Team Standings (Top 10)
1. Cornell 164 2. Minnesota 151.5 3. Indiana 131.5 4. Edinboro 97.5 5. Virginia 96.5 6. Ohio 85.5 7. Kent State 75.5 8. Bloomsburg 74 9. North Carolina 68.510. Navy 65.5 -----------------14. MICHIGAN 54
Michigan Results (Day 2)
125 - Sean Boyle
Quarterfinals - pinned by #3 Zach Sanders (Minnesota), 6:19
Consolations - pinned by Eric Chandler (UNC Greensboro), 4:59
Eliminated with a 3-2 record
133 - Zac Stevens
Quarterfinals - dec. by Jordan Thome (Army), 8-6
Consolations - dec. by Ashton Osterberg (Edinboro), 7-4
Eliminated with a 2-2 record
157 - Dave Johnson
Consolations - dec. Shaun Smith (Liberty), 5-3 SV
Consolations - dec. Anthony Priore (Sacred Heart), 9-8
Consolations - dec. by Clay Tucker (Ohio), 5-4
Seventh Place - dec. by Mallie Schuster (Kent State), 5-4
Finished in eighth place with a 5-3 record
174 - #4 Justin Zeerip
Quarterfinals - dec. by #5 Bagna Tovuujav (George Mason), 4-3
Consolations - dec. by Scott Glasser (Minnesota), 3-1
Eliminated with a 2-2 record
184 - Hunter Collins
Consolations - major dec. by Jonathan Fausey (Virginia), 16-7
Eliminated with a 3-2 record
197 - #3 Anthony Biondo
Quarterfinals - dec. Sonny Yohn (Minnesota), 10-5
Semifinals - dec. by Erik Schuth (Ohio), 6-4 SV
Consolations - dec. Jesse Strawn (Old Dominion), 8-3
Third Place - dec. Dennis Drury (North Carolina), 15-8
Finished in third place with a 5-1 record
Hwt - Ben Apland
Consolations - dec. by David Morgan (Cal State Bakersfield), 3-1 SV
Eliminated with a 3-2 record
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
