Michigan
Clarion
Wolverines Claim Eighth Place at Virginia Duals
1/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 9, 2010
Site: Hampton, Va. (Hampton Coliseum)
Event: Virginia Duals (Day 2 of 2)
Scores: Michigan 29, Clarion 15; #13 Kent State 27, Michigan 9; #23 Virginia 19, Michigan 13
Records: U-M (4-7), Clarion (1-3), Kent State (10-1), Virginia (10-3)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Jan. 22 -- vs. Iowa (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
HAMPTON, Va. -- The University of Michigan wrestling team locked up eighth place behind a 1-2 record on the second and final day of the 30th annual Virginia Duals on Saturday (Jan. 9) at the Hampton Coliseum. The Wolverines defeated Clarion, 29-15, in the morning session before falling to No. 13-ranked Kent State, 27-9, and No. 23 Virginia, 19-13, in continued wrestleback action.
The Wolverines' early win against the Golden Eagles advanced them into the medal round. U-M won early and late in the contest, claiming seven individual matches, including the final five straight.
Freshman Sean Boyle (Lowell, Mass./Blair Academy) and sophomore captain Zac Stevens (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS) gave Michigan an early seven-point advantage with back-to-back wins at the opening weight classes. Boyle spent nearly half of his 125-pound match on top, accumulating 3:22 in riding-time advantage, and scored on a first-period single leg and second-period ankle pick to cruise past Trey Hicks, 6-1. Stevens claimed a 10-2 major decision -- his second bonus win of the weekend -- against Jay Ivanco at 133 pounds, scoring takedowns out of three flurries, including two in the first period, and using a half to add a three-point near fall in the opening frame.
But after Clarion surged ahead with three straight wins, including back-to-back pins at 149 and 157 pounds, the Wolverines needed big points of their own to overcome an eight-point deficit at the dual's midway point. They got them at 174 pounds and heavyweight, where junior/sophomore Justin Zeerip (Fremont, Mich./Hesperia HS) and sophomore/freshman heavyweight Ben Apland (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS) picked up falls of their own.
Zeerip converted on a quick snap down against Steven Cressley before going to work on top. He scooped Cressley's head to a half to secure his three points then flattened the Golden Eagle to his back to end the bout at the 2:17 mark. Apland needed a little longer against Quintas McCorkle in the heavyweight contest. He led by five points at the time of the pin after converting on a throw by in the first period and a snap down in the second. The Wolverine wrestler locked up a crossface cradle on the latter takedown, sticking McCorkle at 4:24.
Sophomore/freshman Hunter Collins (Gilroy, Calif./Gilroy HS) also picked up a bonus point down the stretch for the Wolverines, using four takedowns -- two in the third period -- and 1:16 in riding-time advantage to defeat Justin McCrillis, 10-1, at 184 pounds. It was his second bonus win in as many matches.
Michigan similarly started with early leads against Kent State and Virginia -- Boyle posted a perfect 3-0 on the day -- but could not maintain the advantage through the remainder of the match. U-M came close against Virginia in the eighth-place contest and entered the heavyweight bout trailing by three points, but the Cavaliers' Jack Danilkowicz rallied from an early deficit to win, 6-5, and seal his team's victory. With just seconds remaining on the clock, Apland shot in on a single leg and after a brief scramble, appeared to settle into a Peterson, but the referee signaled no control as time expired in a 6-5 Virginia decision.
Boyle and Stevens again provided Michigan an early seven-point advantage with consecutive wins at the opening weights. Boyle battled through several early and wild scrambles against Matt Synder at 125 pounds before earning the only points he needed on a third-period reversal. Boyle, who rode out the second period, accumulated 3:18 in time advantage to seal up a 3-1 decision. Stevens scored six takedowns -- two in each period -- and built up 3:24 in riding time to roll past Ross Gitomer 14-5.
After Virginia surged ahead with three straight wins, including a major decision at 149 pounds, senior/junior Aaron Hynes (Mt. Morris, Mich./Flint Kearsley HS) knotted up the dual score with a 4-0 decision against Beau Fisher at 165. Hynes countered an early single-leg attempt, coming around back to settle into a cross-body ride to remain on top in the first. He added a ride out in the second and a quick escape in the third.
Senior/junior captain Anthony Biondo (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley HS) claimed Michigan's only win in the final four matches, using a big second period to persevere, 13-10, against 16th-ranked Brent Jones at 197 pounds. The two wrestlers traded takedowns and escapes in the opening period before the Wolverine broke open the match with a single-leg takedown and subsequent three-point cradle midway through the second. Jones narrowed the score late in the third, scoring out of two scramble scenarios, but Biondo kept pace with a late takedown of his own and added 1:21 in riding-time advantage to net his seventh consecutive win.
Michigan's second dual of the day was not nearly as close. Mirroring their effort against the Golden Flashes from several weeks ago, Michigan won three individual matches. Boyle and Zeerip repeated as winners, while U-M swapped results between 165 and 197 pounds with Biondo claiming a decision victory.
Boyle needed nothing more than a second-period escape and riding time to edge past the Golden Flashes' Troy Opfer, 3-1, for the second time. The Wolverine rookie rode out all but the final second of the third period to accumulate 1:44 in total time advantage and picked up a penalty point late in the frame when Opfer intentionally kicked him in the head.
At 174 pounds, Zeerip only needed a first-period takedown to eke out a 2-1 decision against Keith Witt. Zeerip wrapped up a single leg early on the edge in the period, pulled the Golden Flash wrestler back in bound to convert and rode out the period. Witt scored a quick escape in the second and rode out the third to erase Zeerip's time advantage.
Biondo, who missed the previous Kent State dual with injury, built up an early advantage against Adam Cogar and ended on top en route to a 9-2 decision. Biondo scored on takedowns in the first and second periods and, after getting taken down himself midway through the third, immediately reversed the position to end up with 3:32 in time advantage.
The Wolverines will take a two-week break before returning to action against top-ranked Iowa in their Big Ten Conference opener on Friday, Jan. 22. The dual is slated for a 7 p.m. start at Cliff Keen Arena.
Michigan 29, Clarion 15
Individual Rankings by InterMat
| 125 -- Sean Boyle (U-M) dec. Trey Hicks, 6-1 | U-M, 3-0 |
| 133 -- Zac Stevens (U-M) major dec. Jay Ivanco, 10-2 | U-M, 7-0 |
| 141 -- Greg Lewis (CU) dec. Mark Weber, 7-3 | U-M, 7-3 |
| 149 -- James Fleming (CU) pinned Mike Sears, 3:46 | CU, 9-7 |
| 157 -- Hadley Harrison (CU) pinned Mark Boyer, 2:42 | CU, 15-7 |
| 165 -- Aaron Hynes (U-M) dec. Nick Milano, 5-1 | CU, 15-10 |
| 174 -- Justin Zeerip (U-M) pinned Steven Cressley, 2:17 | U-M, 16-15 |
| 184 -- Hunter Collins (U-M) major dec. Justin McCrillis, 10-1 | U-M, 20-15 |
| 197 -- #9 Anthony Biondo (U-M) dec. Alex Thomas, 8-2 | U-M, 23-15 |
| Hwt -- Ben Apland (U-M) pinned Quintas McCorkle, 4:24 | U-M, 29-15 |
#13 Kent State 27, Michigan 9
Individual Rankings by InterMat
| 125 -- Sean Boyle (U-M) dec. Troy Opfer, 3-1 | U-M, 3-0 |
| 133 --#11 Danny Mitcheff (KSU) dec. Zac Stevens, 10-5 | Tie, 3-3 |
| 141 -- Chase Skonieczny (KSU) dec. Mark Weber, 4-1 | KSU, 6-3 |
| 149 -- Tommy Sasfy (KSU) major dec. Mike Sears, 11-2 | KSU, 10-3 |
| 157 -- Mallie Schuster (KSU) dec. Mark Boyer, 8-3 | KSU, 13-3 |
| 165 -- Obie Simpson (KSU) dec. Aaron Hynes, 4-3 | KSU, 16-3 |
| 174 -- Justin Zeerip (U-M) dec. Keith Witt, 2-1 | KSU, 16-6 |
| 184 -- #5 Dustin Kilgore (KSU) tech. fall Hunter Collins, 20-5 (5:24) | KSU, 21-6 |
| 197 -- #9 Anthony Biondo (U-M) dec. Adam Cogar, 9-2 | KSU, 21-9 |
| Hwt --Joe Tymosuzuk (KSU) pinned Ben Apland, 3:39 | KSU, 27-9 |
#23 Virginia 19, Michigan 13
Individual Rankings by InterMat
| 125 -- Sean Boyle (U-M) dec. Matt Snyder, 3-1 | U-M, 3-0 |
| 133 -- Zac Stevens (U-M) major dec. Ross Gitomer, 14-5 | U-M, 7-0 |
| 141 -- Derek Valenti (UVA) dec. Mark Weber, 8-4 | U-M, 7-3 |
| 149 -- Shawn Harris (UVA) major dec. Mike Sears, 18-4 | Tie, 7-7 |
| 157 -- Dan Clarke (UVA) dec. Mark Boyer, 6-3 | UVA, 10-7 |
| 165 -- Aaron Hynes (U-M) dec. Beau Fisher, 4-0 | Tie, 10-10 |
| 174 -- #4 Chris Henrich (UVA) dec. Justin Zeerip, 3-1 | UVA, 13-10 |
| 184 -- #19 Mike Salopek (UVA) dec. Hunter Collins, 9-5 | UVA 16-10 |
| 197 -- #9 Anthony Biondo (U-M) dec. #16 Brent Jones, 13-10 | UVA, 16-13 |
| Hwt -- Jack Danilkowicz (UVA) dec. Ben Apland, 6-5 | UVA, 19-13 |
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
