Week #2: at No. 13 Lehigh
11/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 16, 2010
THIS WEEK
Friday, Nov. 19 -- at Lehigh (Bethlehem, Pa.), 7 p.m.
Live Scoring | Live Video/Radio (fee)
The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team will resume dual competition on the road this weekend, heading to Bethlehem, Pa., to face No. 13 Lehigh on Friday evening (Nov. 19). The non-conference dual is slated for a 7 p.m. start at Stabler Arena.
Michigan's Projected Starting Lineup
| Wgt. | Name | Year/Elig. | Hometown (High School) |
| 125 | Sean Boyle | So./So. | Lowell, Mass. (Blair Academy) |
| 133 | Zac Stevens | Jr./Jr. | Monroe, Mich (Monroe) |
| 141 | Kellen Russell | Sr./Jr. | High Bridge, N.J. (Blair Academy) |
| 149 | Eric Grajales | So./Fr. | Brandon, Fla. (Brandon) |
| 157 | Aaron Hynes | 5th/Sr. | Mt. Morris, Mich. (Flint Kearsley) |
| 165 | Dan Yates | So./Fr. | Hesperia, Mich. (Hesperia) |
| 174 | Justin Zeerip | Sr./Jr. | Fremont, Mich. (Hesperia) |
| 184 | Hunter Collins | Jr./So. | Gilroy, Calif. (Gilroy) |
| 197 | Anthony Biondo | 5th/Sr. | Clinton Twp., Mich. (Chippewa Valley) |
| Hwt | Ben Apland | Jr./So. | Woodridge, Ill. (Downers Grove South) |
WOLVERINE BITES
Hot Hand -- Sophomore Sean Boyle netted Big Ten Co-Wrestler of the Week accolades in recognition of his 8-5 upset victory against Pittsburgh's 14th-ranked Anthony Zanetta last Sunday (Nov. 14). The win was the first of Boyle's career against a ranked opponent and subsequently earned him his first collegiate ranking -- No. 17 in the latest InterMat poll. Boyle is 5-0 on the season, adding his 125-pound title at the Eastern Michigan Open (Nov. 6).
Dual Domination -- Senior/junior Kellen Russell kicked off Michigan's contest against Pittsburgh with a dominant 11-2 major decision against the Panthers' Mike Tully (Nov. 14) to extend his dual winning streak to 17 consecutive matches. The Wolverine captain sat out last season with injury but, after starting 1-1 in 2008-09 dual meets, won 16 consecutive dual appearances to close out the season. Russell boasts an impressive 37-6 dual record over his collegiate career.
New Faces in the Lineup -- Sophomore/freshmen Eric Grajales and Dan Yates made their collegiate varsity debuts against Pittsburgh last Sunday (Nov. 14) at 149 and 165 pounds, respectively. Despite scoring on a body lock, a two-point tilt and a second-period reversal, Grajales dropped a close 10-8 sudden-victory decision to Pitt's Dane Johnson the 10-8 win, while Yates cruised past the Panthers' Adam Counterman 7-0, earning the bulk of his points on a first-period body lock that put Counterman right to his back.
Starting Things with a Bang -- Through 88 years of U-M wrestling history, Michigan has posted a 57-30-2 record in its first dual meet of the season. The Wolverines ended a two-year losing streak in season openers by defeating Pittsburgh, 17-15, at Cliff Keen Arena last Sunday (Nov. 14). Under head coach Joe McFarland, Michigan is 9-3 in season openers, including a 3-2 mark in openers at Cliff Keen Arena.
Calling the Shots -- Head coach Joe McFarland is in his 12th season as head coach of the Michigan wrestling team. Since taking over the reins in 1999, McFarland has helped mold Michigan into a highly-touted national contender, guiding the U-M wrestling squad to three Big Ten dual-meet championships (2004, '05, '06) and eight consecutive top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships (2001-08), including an NCAA runner-up performance in 2005. He is the third-winningest coach in program history with a 137-64-5 record at the helm and has led 18 different student-athletes to three NCAA individual titles, 39 All-America citations and 17 Big Ten individual crowns.
IN THE POLLS
The Wolverines moved up a couple spots -- to the No. 16 position -- in the latest NWCA/USA Today Division I Team Coaches poll, released Tuesday, Nov. 16. Michigan also boasts four individuals ranked among the top 20 wrestlers in their respective weight classes in the InterMat, Amateur Wrestling News or WIN Magazine polls:
| Wt. | Name | IM | AWN | WIN |
| 125 | Sean Boyle | 17 | NR | NR |
| 141 | Kellen Russell | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 174 | Justin Zeerip | 18 | 14 | 17 |
| 197 | Anthony Biondo | 9 | 5 | 8 |
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Fri-Sat. , Dec. 3-4 -- at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Las Vegas, Nev.), 9 a.m. PST
Sunday , Dec. 12 - at Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.), 1 p.m. CT
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
