Michigan Slips By Penn in Home Opener

Saturday, January 15

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

Pennsylvania

1/15/2000 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University Michigan wrestling team showed a lot of heart in defeating eighth-ranked Pennsylvania 18-17 on Saturday (Jan. 15) at Cliff Keen Arena. The ninth-ranked Wolverines prevailed despite missing the services of No. 1-ranked 174-pounder Otto Olson (Everett, Wash./Everett HS), who is out for the season with a knee injury, and fourth-ranked 133-pounder Joe Warren (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood), who is out until next week with a sprained knee.

Stepping up their performances were A.J. Grant (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) and seventh-ranked Damion Logan (Garfield, N.J./St. Joseph Regional HS), who put the Maize and Blue in a 8-6 lead with two victories by major decision at 125 and 141, respectively.

"I motivate myself to do better each match," said Logan, "and we got a lot of guys on this team that can take charge and step it up."

Mike Kulczycki (N. Royalton, Ohio/St. Edwards HS), who wrestled for the first time since being sidelined with a knee injury on Dec. 5, registered his first dual meet victory of his career, outlasting Penn's Jon Gough 8-7 in a see-saw battle.

"It felt good to get back on the mat," Kulczycki said. "I feel our conditioning was the difference in the match."

Jason Rawls (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg HS) grinded out a 7-4 decision at 165, taking the Wolverines to a 14-10 advantage. At 184 pounds, Andy Hrovat (Gates Mills, Ohio/St. Edwards HS) put the Wolverines up for the remainder of the match with an impressive 11-3 major decision, earning his team four points and the lead at 18-14.

Holding off a comeback by the Quakers' 15th-ranked Mike Fickel was 197-pounder Joe Degain (White Lake, Mich./Clarkston, HS), who was nearly pinned 30 seconds into the last match but rallied, only losing 15-10 to preserve the victory.

"I was pleased to get the win," head coach Joe McFarland said. "There were some tough matches out there. The extra points from Grant, Hrovat and Logan's major decisions were the differences. Our kids fought real tough tonight."

The Wolverines will turn around and wrestle at Central Michigan on Sunday, Jan. 16. Match time is 2 p.m. in Mount Pleasant.

Michigan 18, Pennsylvania 17

Hwt -- #3 Bandele Adeniyi-Bada (Penn) dec. #15 Matt Brink, 7-3	(Penn, 3-0)
125 -- A.J. Grant (U-M) major dec. Kevin Rucci, 12-2	(UM, 4-3)
133 -- Jason Nagle (Penn) dec. Mat Warner, 6-2	(Penn, 6-4)
141 -- #7 Damion Logan (U-M) major dec. Jody Giuricich, 10-2	(UM, 8-6)
149 -- Mike Kulczycki (U-M) dec. Jon Gough, 8-7	(UM, 11-6)
157 -- #2 Brett Matter (Penn) major dec. Tony Holifield, 10-2	(UM, 11-10)
165 -- Jason Rawls (U-M) dec. Tim Ortman, 7-4	(UM, 14-10)
174 -- #3 Rick Springman (Penn) major dec. Charles Martelli, 12-3	(tie, 14-14)
184 -- #8 Andy Hrovat (U-M) major dec. Craig Melcher, 11-3	(UM, 18-14)
197 -- #15 Mike Fickell (Penn) dec. Joe Degain, 15-10	(UM, 18-17)