Michigan
Minnesota
Wolverines Fall at No. 1 Minnesota in Big Ten Opener
1/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team opened its Big Ten Conference dual match schedule with a 29-6 loss at No. 1 Minnesota on Friday (Jan. 26) at the Sports Pavilion. The Golden Gophers won eight of the 10 weights in their first action since taking over the No. 1 spot in the national rankings this week.
The match began with the 174-pound bout, and No. 2-ranked Otto Olson (Everett, Wash./Everett HS) scored a 5-2 decision over Jacob Volkmann to stake the Wolverines (10-3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) to an early 3-0 lead. The win raised Olson's record to 22-1.
The Golden Gophers (12-1, 1-0 Big Ten) gained control of the match with four straight wins, including three tight decisions between ranked opponents. No. 11 Andy Hrovat (Gates Mills, Ohio/St. Edwards HS) dropped a 5-3 decision to No. 4 Damion Hahn at 184 pounds, No. 2 heavyweight Matt Brink (Muskegon, Mich./Fruitport HS) was upset 6-3 by No. 4 Garrett Lowney, and No. 8 A.J. Grant (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) was edged out 8-7 by No. 3 Leroy Vega at 125 pounds.
Trailing 12-3, Michigan earned its other victory of the night as 14th-ranked 133-pounder Foley Dowd (Howell N.J./The Peddie School) upset No. 3 Brett Lawrence, 7-4, bringing the Wolverines within six points, 12-6. The 141-pound match between No. 12 Clark Forward (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold HS) and Ryan Lewis ended up 1-1 in overtime, and Lewis won the tiebreaker to start a string of four straight Gopher victories to close out the match.
The Wolverines will head for East Lansing, Mich., to take on No. 8 Michigan State Sunday (Jan. 28) at 1 p.m. at Jenison Field House. Earlier this season (Dec. 8), U-M downed the Spartans 22-12 in a non-conference matchup in Cliff Keen Arena.
Minnesota 29, Michigan 6
| 174 -- #2 Otto Olson (Mich.) dec. Jacob Volkmann, 5-2 | Mich., 3-0 |
| 184 -- #4 Damion Hahn (Minn.) dec. #11 Andy Hrovat, 5-3 | Tie, 3-3 |
| 197 -- #9 Owen Elzen (Minn.) dec. #14 Joe DeGain, 6-1 | Minn., 6-3 |
| Hwt -- #4 Garrett Lowney (Minn.) dec. #2 Matt Brink, 6-3 | Minn., 9-3 |
| 125 -- #3 Leroy Vega (Minn.) dec. #8 A.J. Grant, 8-7 | Minn., 12-3 |
| 133 -- #14 Foley Dowd (U-M) dec. #3 Brett Lawrence, 7-4 | Minn., 12-6 |
| 141 -- Ryan Lewis (Minn.) dec. #12 Clark Forward, 1-1 (OT, TB) | Minn., 15-6 |
| 149 -- #3 Jared Lawrence (Minn.) pinned #13 Mike Kulczycki, 4:10 | Minn., 21-6 |
| 157 -- #5 Luke Becker (Minn.) major dec. Pat Owen, 14-0 | Minn., 25-6 |
| 165 -- #3 Brad Pike (Minn.) major dec. #6 Charles Martelli, 19-7 | Minn., 29-6 |
N O T E S
The loss moved the Wolverines' all-time record against Minnesota to 24-20-2. The Golden Gophers have won the last five meetings.
Each of Michigan's three losses this season has come to a team ranked in the NWCA/TheMat.com poll's top four at the time of the match -- No. 3 Iowa (Jan. 20), No. 4 Iowa State (Jan. 21) and No. 1 Minnesota (Jan. 26).
Contact: Karen Simpson (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
