U-M Romps Past Northwestern in Regular-Season Finale

Sunday, February 18

Evanston, Ill.

2:00 PM CT

Michigan

Northwestern

2/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling

EVANSTON, Ill. -- The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team closed out the regular season with a 36-7 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats in Big Ten Conference action Sunday (Feb. 18) at Welsh-Ryan Arena. After giving up the first two weight classes, the Wolverines went on to win the next eight matches to improve their Big Ten record to 7-1.

Charles Martelli (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North HS) turned the momentum over to the Maize and Blue with his fall over Ryan Kane 4:34 into the 165-pound contest. All-America 174-pounder Otto Olson (Everett, Wash./Everett HS) then gave U-M the lead for good, 11-7, with his technical fall over Andrew Curran, winning 24-8 in a match terminated at the 4:36 mark.

Wolverines scored major decisions in the next three matches, with Andy Hrovat (Gates Mills, Ohio/St. Edwards HS) winning 23-8 at 184 pounds, 197-pounder Joe DeGain (White Lake, Mich./Clarkston HS) prevailing 15-5, and heavyweight Matt Brink (Muskegon, Mich./Fruitport HS) scoring a 10-2 victory.

A.J. Grant (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) had an 8-1 decision over Rob Potashnick at 125 pounds and 133-pounder Katsuhiko Sueda (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) won by forfeit before Clark Forward (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold HS) capped the win with his 12-4 major decision over Josh Ballard.

U-M will return to Evanston, Ill., in two weeks for the Big Ten Championships, which will be held March 3-4 at Northwestern's Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Michigan 36, Northwestern 7
(Individual rankings from Intermat, 2/13/01)

149 -- Ryan Cumbee (NU) major dec. James Gonzalez, 13-2	NU, 4-0
157 -- Jason Erwinski (NU) dec. Pat Owen, 7-2	NU, 7-0
165 -- #10 Charles Martelli (U-M) pinned Ryan Kane, 4:34	NU, 7-6
174 -- #2 Otto Olson (U-M) tech. fall Andrew Curran, 24-8 (4:36)	U-M, 11-7
184 -- #6 Andy Hrovat (U-M) major dec. Brendan Curran, 23-8	U-M, 15-7
197 -- #11 Joe DeGain (U-M) major dec. Will Marcantel, 15-5	U-M, 19-7
Hwt -- #3 Matt Brink (U-M) major dec. #16 Josh Saul, 10-2	U-M, 23-7
125 -- #9 A.J. Grant (U-M) dec. Rob Potashnick, 8-1	U-M, 26-7
133 -- Katsuhiko Sueda (U-M) won by forfeit	U-M, 32-7
141 -- #16 Clark Forward (U-M) major dec. Josh Ballard, 12-4	U-M, 36-7