Michigan
Midlands Open
Michigan Finishes Eighth at Midlands Championships
12/30/1999 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
In a tournament comprised of 17 ranked teams as well as former collegiate champions and current U.S. National wrestlers, the Wolverines had an impressive run led by junior Otto Olson (Everett, Wash./Everett HS), the No. 1-ranked 174-pounder, who recorded his 95th career victory before losing in the finals to six-time Midlands champion Joe Williams of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club.
Others placing for the Maize and Blue were senior Joe Warren (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood HS), who finished in fourth place at 133 pounds, and junior Joe Degain (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS), who placed seventh at 184 pounds. Degain held Michigan's volunteer coach Kevin Vogel, who wrestled for the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club, to a scoreless tie before being pinned at 3:55 in the quarterfinal round.
Two former Michigan All-Americans wrestled at the Midlands. John Fisher (1985, '87-89), wrestling for the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, placing sixth at 149 and Airron Richardson (1995-98) wrestled for the Wildcat Wrestling Club and placed fifth at heavyweight.
Michigan will travel to Hampton, Va., to compete against 15 other schools at the prestigious Virginia Duals on Friday and Saturday (Jan. 7-8).
Top Team Finishes
1. Iowa 151 2. Illinois 98 3. Hawkeye Wrestling Club 88.5 4. Pennsylvania 70 5. Sunkist Kids 65 6. Edinboro 54 Iowa State 54 8. MICHIGAN 51 9. Dave Schultz WC 46.5 10. Central Michigan 45
Michigan Finishes
A.J. Grant (125)
First Round -- dec. Rocco Mansuetto (Cleveland State), 4-3
Second Round -- dec. by Ahmad Sanders (Central Michigan), 7-4
Consolations -- dec. Kevin Rucci (Pennsylvania), 7-2
Consolations -- dec. by Skylar Holman (North Carolina), 7-1
Finished with a 2-2 record
Mat Warner (125)
First Round -- dec. Jeremy Sluyter (E. Stroudsburg), 1-1 Tiebreaker
Second Round -- dec. Chad Hay (Illinois), 3-1
Quarterfinals C- major dec. by Jason Gabrielson (Edinboro), 9-0
Consolations -- dec. by Skylar Holman (North Carolina), 2-1
Finished with a 2-2 record
Joe Warren (133)
First Round -- pinned Jesse Leng (Ohio State), 5:59
Second Round -- major dec. Sean Doyle (Cornell), 12-4
Quarterfinals -- dec. Roman Fleszar (Hofstra), 8-7
Semifinals -- dec. by Eric Juergens (Iowa), 7-2
Consolations -- dec. Matt Dernlan (Wildcat WC), 6-2
Third Place -- inj default Mike Mena (Hawkeye WC)
Finished in fourth place with a 4-2 record
Damion Logan (141)
First Round -- dec. Matt Goldstein (Lehigh), 5-0
Second Round C- major dec. Darrell Carr (Manchester), 10-1
Quarterfinal -- dec. by Mark Ironside (Hawkeye WC), 9-4
Consolations -- dec. by Carl Perry (Illinois), 7-5
Finished with a 2-2 record
Dan Sedar (149)
First Round -- dec. by Ryan Shapert (Edinboro), 8-2
Consolations -- dec. by Jeremy Hardman (Central Michigan), 11-8
Finished with a 0-2 record
Mark Churella (157)
First Round -- pinned by Dom Dellagatta (Montana State), 0:34
Consolations -- dec. Greg Stanislaus (North Carolina), 6-0
Consolations -- dec. by Shane McChesney (Clarion), 6-3
Finished with a 1-2 record
Tony Holifield (157)
First Round -- dec. by Nate Vasquez (Cal-State Bakersfield), 8-1
Consolations -- dec. Josh Wheeler (San Fran State), 6-4
Consolations -- dec. by Gray Maynard (Michigan State), 6-5
Finished with a 1-2 record
Jason Rawls (165)
First Round -- major dec. by Joey Killar (Harvard), 11-1
Consolations -- dec. by Fronhofer (Pittsburgh), 10-4
Finished with a 0-2 record
Otto Olson (174)
First Round -- major dec. Perry Parks (Iowa State), 15-4
Second Round -- major dec. Gerald Harris (Cleveland State), 13-4
Quarterfinal -- dec. Mark Bybee (Northwestern), 5-4
Semifinal -- dec. Rick Springman (Pennsylvania), 6-3
Finals -- major dec. by Joe Williams (Hawkeye WC), 15-5
Finished as the 174-pound runner-up with a 4-1 record
Joe Degain (184)
First Round -- dec. David Potter (Northern Illinios), 3-1
Second Round -- dec. Rost Aizenberg (Cornell), 7-0
Quarterfinal -- pinned by Kevin Vogel (Cliff Keen WC), 3:55
Consolations -- dec. Shawn Scannell (Rider), 7-4
Consolations -- dec. by Lionel Halsey (Cal-State Bakersfield), 7-3
Consolations -- dec. by Lionel Halsey (Cal-State Bakersfield), 2-0
Seventh Place-- forfeit by Sean Salmon (Montana State Northern)
Finished in seventh place with a 4-3 record
Andy Hrovat (184)
First Round -- dec. by Dax Picaro (North Carolina-Greensboro), 10-8 (OT)
Consolations -- dec. Akinnagbe (Bucknell), 8-3
Consolations -- dec. by Aizenberg (Cornell), 9-5
Finished with a 1-2 record
Kyle Smith (197)
First Round -- inj. default by Don Elfstrom (Wildcat WC)
Second Round -- dec. by Zach Thompson (Iowa State), 11-5
Consolations -- dec. Carl Perrone (Bucknell), 10-4
Consolations -- dec. by Nick Preston (Ohio State), 8-1
Finished with a 2-2 record
Matt Brink (Hwt)
First Round -- major dec. Kellan Fluckiger (Arizona State), 8-0
Second Round -- dec. by Jon Lovrich (Northern Illinois), 9-6
Consolations -- dec. by Mark Knauer (Iowa State), 14-8
Finished with a 1-2 record
Contact: Jason Binge (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
