Michigan
Michigan State
Wolverines Take Down Intrastate Rival Michigan State
12/8/2000 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In front of a crowd of 1,469 at the Cliff Keen Arena, the eighth-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team defeated No. 10 Michigan State 22-12 on Friday evening (Dec. 8) in the dual-meet season opener. No. 1-ranked Otto Olson (Everett, Wash./Everett HS) ended the dual with a fall at 4:52 to solidify the Wolverine victory.
Junior Andy Hrovat (Gates Mills, Ohio/St. Edwards HS) opened up the meet with a 9-5 victory over MSU's John Wechter at 184 pounds. Hrovat was slated to redshirt this season, but head coach Joe McFarland made the decision this week that Hrovat will better the team being a starter this season. "I want to put my best lineup out on the mat and Andy gives us that," said McFarland.
The Spartans tied the score at three after the next match, but sixth-ranked heavyweight Matt Brink (Muskegon, Mich./Fruitport HS) put the Maize and Blue back on top with a 4-1 decision over ninth-ranked Matt Lamb. The win was Brink's sixth against Lamb in nine career meetings between them.
A.J. Grant (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS), ranked sixth at 125, increased the Wolverine advantage to 9-3 with a heated 3-2 victory over No. 18-ranked Spartan Chris Williams. Grant, who was charged a point at the beginning of the match for unsportsmanlike conduct, executed a takedown with 10 seconds left for the come-from-behind victory.
Michigan State made a comeback and tied the match at nine after two victories. 149-pounder Mike Kulczycki (N. Royalton, Ohio/St. Edwards HS) recorded a 15-6 major decision over Charlie Sageman to put U-M in the lead for good at 13-9. Kulczycki knew the importance of earning the extra point in his matchup. "I knew that I would have an opportunity to get some points and that was my mindset going into the match."
A feisty Spartan team closed the gap to 13-12, but the Wolverines came through with wins in the last two matches -- a 4-3 double-overtime victory by Charles Martelli (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North HS) and a 4:52 fall by Olson -- to win the dual, 22-12. Martelli displayed a gutsy performance, defeating MSU's Corey Posey with an escape in the second overtime period, and Olson put the fans on their feet with a strong showing coming off a shoulder injury.
"I wasn't sure if I was going to wrestle, but I was psyched to see a packed house and get on the mat," said Olson. "It was the first time in about a year and a half that I wrestled a dual at home and I wanted to get the fall to make it extra special. Nesyn was pretty tough though. I wanted to pin him early, but he fought me hard."
"It's been a tough week for our team in practice and academics with finals around the corner," said McFarland. "It's always a tough battle between us and Michigan State and it showed with the intensity on the mat."
The Wolverines will be back at Cliff Keen Arena tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 9) to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas at 7 p.m. A free pre-match clinic by the Michigan coaching staff will precede the event, running from 5-6:15 p.m. Admission to the meet will be free for clinic participants.
Michigan 22, Michigan State 12
| 184 -- #10 Andy Hrovat (U-M) dec. John Wechter, 9-5 | U-M, 3-0 |
| 197 -- #20 Nik Fekete (MSU) dec. Joe DeGain, 6-4 (OT) | Tie, 3-3 |
| Hwt -- #6 Matt Brink (U-M) dec. #9 Matt Lamb, 4-1 | U-M, 6-3 |
| 125 -- #6 A.J. Grant (U-M) dec. #13 Chris Williams, 3-2 | U-M, 9-3 |
| 133 -- #7 Pat McNamara (MSU) dec. #18 Foley Dowd, 10-4 | U-M, 9-6 |
| 141 -- #5 Mike Castillo (MSU) dec. #18 Clark Forward, 7-6 | Tie, 9-9 |
| 149 -- #16 Mike Kulczycki (U-M) major dec. Charlie Sageman, 15-6 | U-M, 13-9 |
| 157 -- #10 Gray Maynard (MSU) dec. Pat Owen, 9-5 | U-M, 13-12 |
| 165 -- Charles Martelli (U-M) dec. Corey Posey, 4-3 (2OT) | U-M, 16-12 |
| 174 -- #1 Otto Olson (U-M) pinned Nate Nesyn, 4:52 | U-M, 22-12 |
Contact: Jason Binge (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
