Michigan
Big Ten Session II
Warren, Logan Advance to Finals at Big Ten Meet
3/6/1999 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 9 University of Michigan wrestling team finds itself in fourth place heading into the final day of the 85th Big Ten Conference Championships, hosted by the Wolverines in Crisler Arena. Michigan accumulated 72.5 points in first-day action Saturday (March 6) to lead fifth-place Illinois by one point. Minnesota (120), Iowa (106) and Penn State (93) hold the top three spots.
The Wolverines had five wrestlers in the semifinals Saturday evening, and two -- 133-pound junior Joe Warren (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood HS) and 141-pound sophomore Damion Logan (Garfield, N.J./St. Joseph's Regional HS) -- earned their way into the finals, where each will wrestle for a Big Ten title against the favorite in his weight class.
Warren, seeded third, scored a 3-2 decision over No. 2 seed Eric Juergens of Iowa in the semifinals and will face top seed Pat McNamara of Michigan State in the championship bout. McNamara has won each of the three previous meetings against Warren this season, including a 7-2 decision on Feb. 5 in their most recent matchup, at East Lansing, Mich.
Logan, the second seed at 141 pounds, kept his hopes for a Big Ten championship alive with an 8-3 decision over No. 3 seed Carl Perry of Illinois in the semifinal round. Logan will meet top-seeded Doug Schwab of Iowa for the championship. In their only previous meeting this season, Schwab decisioned Logan 11-7 on Feb. 7 in Iowa City.
Michigan's other semifinalists included 149-pounder Corey Grant (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS), who dropped a 13-5 major decision to top-seeded T.J. Williams of Iowa in the semifinals; 174-pounder Otto Olson (Everett, Wash./Everett HS), who was pinned by Mark Bybee of Northwestern; and heavyweight Matt Brink (Muskegon, Mich./Fruitport HS), who was major decisioned 12-2 by top seed Brock Lesnar of Minnesota. Grant and Olson both rebounded with victories in the consolation semifinals and will wrestle for third place in their respective weight classes on Sunday.
U-M's five semifinalists plus 197-pounder Frank Lodeserto (North Haledon, N.J./St. Joseph's Regional HS) have assured themselves of top-seven finishes and, with that, berths in the NCAA Championships. The Big Ten's top seven wrestlers in each weight class qualify for the NCAA meet, with two additional wild card selections for a total of 72 Big Ten representations.
Sunday's (March 6) final-day action begins at noon, with the championship finals starting at approximately 3 p.m.
Team Standings (after Session II)
1. Minnesota 120 2. Iowa 106 3. Penn State 93 4. MICHIGAN 72.5 5. Illinois 71.5 6. Wisconsin 52.5 7. Northwestern 50.5 8. Michigan State 43.5 9. Indiana 40 10. Ohio State 28 11. Purdue 26Michigan Results (Session II)
#3 seed Chris Viola (125)
Consolation Quarterfinals -- dec. by #7 Kevin Black (UW), 10-8
#3 seed Joe Warren (133)
Semifinals -- dec. #2 Eric Juergens (IA), 3-2
#2 seed Damion Logan (141)
Semifinals -- dec. Carl Perry, (IL), 8-3
#4 seed Corey Grant (149)
Semifinals -- maj. dec. by #1 T.J. Williams (Iowa), 13-4
Consolation Semifinals -- dec. #7 Dusty Coufal (WI), 5-4
#8 seed Jason Rawls (165)
Consolation Quarterfinals -- dec. by #4 Alex Leykikh (PSU), 9-8
#1 seed Otto Olson (174)
Semifinals -- pinned by #4 Mark Bybee (NU), 0:51
Consolation Semifinals -- maj. dec. Delany Berger (MN), 11-2
#4 seed Andy Hrovat (184)
Consolation Quarterfinals -- dec. by #8 Paul Jenn (IA), 9-3
#7 seed Frank Lodeserto (197)
Consolation Quarterfinals -- dec. Brett Becks (IN), 14-13
Consolations Semifinals -- maj. dec. by Nick Muzashvili (MSU), 12-4
#5 seed Matt Brink (Hwt)
Semifinals -- maj. dec. by #1 Brock Lesnar (MN), 12-2
Consolation Semifinals -- dec. by #6 Matt Lamb (MSU), 2-1
Players Mentioned
