Michigan
Wisconsin
Wolverines Win First Six Bouts to Cruise Past Badgers
2/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
MADISON, Wis. -- The third-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team overpowered 16th-ranked Wisconsin on Sunday (Feb. 17), earning a 23-7 team victory to give the Wolverines their sixth consecutive Big Ten Conference win. Michigan won eight individual matches, including the first six, in the win and collected five victories by major decision.
| | Grant |
Michigan's other top-ranked wrestler, Andy Hrovat (Gates Mills, Ohio/St. Edward HS), continued the Wolverines' momentum through the 184-pound match by posting a 6-4 decision over 14th-ranked Ralph DeNisco. At 197 pounds, fifth-ranked Kyle Smith (Butte, Mont./Butte HS) earned Michigan's third major decision in the first four matches of the meet when he collected a 10-2 win over the Badgers' Jareck Horton.
At heavyweight, 12th-ranked Matt Brink (Muskegon, Mich./Fruitport HS) earned his second dual meet victory since returning from a knee injury with a 3-1 decision over Justin Staebler. Eighth-ranked A.J. Grant (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) gave the Wolverines a 22-0 advantage when he earned a 10-1 major decision over 20th-ranked Tony Black.
Wisconsin put some points on the board at the 133 and 141-pound weight classes. In the 133-pound match, seventh-ranked Foley Dowd (Howell, N.J./The Peddie School) lost a close battle to fourth-ranked Kevin Black, who earned the 5-4 decision to give the Badgers three team points. At 141 pounds, 15th-ranked Grant Hoerr earned a 24-9 major decision over Shuan Newton (Davison, Mich./Davison HS), who moved up from 125 pounds to compete in his second career dual meet.
Michigan closed out the meet with a pair of wins at 149 and 157 pounds. Wisconsin elected to forfeit the 149-pound match, giving seventh-ranked Mike Kulczycki (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward HS) the win and the automatic six team points. At 157 pounds, fifth-ranked Ryan Bertin (Broadview Heights, Ohio/St. Edward HS) earned Michigan's fifth major decision of the meet, defeating Chris Bordchardt by a 16-8 margin.
The Wolverines will close out their dual meet season next Sunday (Feb. 24, 1 p.m.) when they host intrastate rival Michigan State at Cliff Keen Arena before taking two weeks off to prepare for the Big Ten Championships on March 9-10 in Champaign, Ill.
#3 Michigan 32, #16 Wisconsin 7
(Individual rankings from Intermat, 2/12/02)
| 165 -- #11 Charles Martelli (U-M) major dec. Ryan Lewis, 12-3 | U-M, 4-0 |
| 174 -- #1 Otto Olson (U-M) major dec. Brady Reinke, 23-12 | U-M, 8-0 |
| 184 -- #1 Andy Hrovat (U-M) dec. #14 Ralph DeNisco, 6-4 | U-M, 11-0 |
| 197 -- #5 Kyle Smith (U-M) major dec. Jareck Horton, 10-2 | U-M, 15-0 |
| Hwt -- #12 Matt Brink (U-M) dec. Justin Staebler, 3-1 | U-M, 18-0 |
| 125 -- #8 A.J. Grant (U-M) major dec. #20 Tony Black, 10-1 | U-M, 22-0 |
| 133 -- #4 Kevin Black (UW) dec. #7 Foley Dowd, 5-4 | U-M, 22-3 |
| 141 -- #15 Grant Hoerr (UW) major dec. Shaun Newton, 24-9 | U-M, 22-7 |
| 149 -- #7 Mike Kulczycki (U-M) won by forfeit | U-M, 28-7 |
| 157 -- #5 Ryan Bertin (U-M) major dec. Chris Bordchardt, 16-8 | U-M, 32-7 |
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
