Six Wolverines Advance to Semifinals at Big Ten Meet

Saturday, March 9

Champaign, Ill.

10:00 AM CT

Michigan

Big Ten Session I

3/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The second-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team stormed into the Big Ten Championships with six wrestlers advancing into the semifinal round on Saturday (March 9). In front of 3,005 fans, the Wolverines wrestled into fourth place (52 points) after the first session. Top-ranked University of Minnesota holds first place after the first session with 71 points, followed closely by Iowa (70) and Ohio State (57).

Bertin

Advancing to the semifinals for the Wolverines were A.J. Grant (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) at 125 pounds, Mike Kulczcycki (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward HS) at 149 pounds, Ryan Bertin (Broadview Heights, Ohio/St. Edward HS) at 157 pounds, Otto Olson (Everett, Wash/Everett HS) at 174 pounds, Andy Hrovat (Gates Mills, Ohio/St. Edward HS) at 184 pounds, and Kyle Smith (Butte, Mont./Butte HS) at 197 pounds. With the top seven finishers at each weight class qualifying for the NCAA Championships (March 21-23 in Albany, N.Y.), early success proved beneficial for the Wolverines as all six wrestlers who advanced into the semifinal round have already earned spots in the national meet.

At 125 pounds, third-seed Grant dominated in early action, recording a 13-3 major decision over Penn State's Adam Smith in the first round and holding Indiana's Greg Schaefer without a point to earn a 6-0 decision in the quarterfinal bracket. Seeded third in the 133-pound bracket, Foley Dowd (Howell, N.J./The Peddie School) was upset in the quarterfinal round by sixth-seed Chad Hay of Illinois by a 4-1 margin.

At 141 pounds, redshirt freshman Nick Velissaris (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North HS) was sent into the consolation bracket after being pinned by Iowa's Luke Moffitt at the 6:23 mark of his first-round bout. Velissaris competed in place of season-long starter Clark Forward (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold HS), who was unable to compete in the postseason tournaments due to injury.

After automatically advancing to the 149-pound quarterfinals with a first-round bye, third seed Kulczcyki held off a late charge by sixth seed Karl Nadolsky of Michigan State to earn a 5-4 decision and advance to the semifinals. Second seed Bertin scored a pair of third-period takedowns and held off a comeback by Penn State's James Woodall, seeded seventh, to earn a 9-6 decision and advance into the semifinals.

After a first-round bye, seventh-seed Charles Martelli (Naperville, Ill./North HS) was pinned at the 2:35 mark of his quarterfinal bout by second seed John Clark of Ohio State.

As the defending Big Ten champion at 174 pounds, No. 1 seed Olson began the defense of his title in dominant fashion, scoring a quick fall at the 2:37 mark of his quarterfinal match against Indiana's Andrew Wolfe. Also seeded No. 1, 184-pounder Hrovat dominated in his quarterfinal bout against eighth seed Blake Kaplan of Ohio State, earning a 13-1 major decision to easily advance to the semifinal round.

Appearing in his first career Big Ten Championships, third seed Smith made a strong debut in the 197-pound bracket, earning a 7-2 decision over Wisconsin's Jareck Horton to advance into the semifinal round. Squaring off against third seed Garrett Lowney of Minnesota, sixth seed Matt Brink (Muskegon, Mich./Fruitport HS), was defeated by a 7-0 margin and sent to the consolation bracket.

The Wolverines will return to the mat tonight at 7 p.m. CST to compete in the second session of the Big Ten Championships. The second session will feature semifinal matches for all weight classes as well as first two rounds of the consolation bracket. The seventh-, fifth- and third-place matches begin Sunday at 11 a.m. CST, with the championship matches starting at 2 p.m.

Team Standings (After Session I)

 1. Minnesota 71 2. Iowa 70 3. Ohio State 57 4. MICHIGAN 52 5. Illinois 44 6. Penn State 29 7. Indiana 21 8. Michigan State 19 Purdue 19 10. Wisconsin 18 11. Northwestern 4

Michigan Results (Session I)
Numbers listed are tournament seedings

#3 A.J. Grant (125)
First Round - major dec. Adam Smith (Penn State), 13-3
Quarterfinals - dec. #7 Greg Schaefer (Indiana), 6-0
Semifinals - vs. #6 Luke Eustice (Iowa)

#3 Foley Dowd (133) First Round - Bye
Quarterfinals - dec. by #6 Chad Hay (Illinois), 4-1
Consolations - vs. Rene Hernandez (Purdue)

Nick Velissaris (141)
First Round - pinned by #6 Luke Moffitt (Iowa), 6:23
Consolation - vs. #5 Coyte Cooper (Indiana)

#3 Mike Kulczycki (149)
First Round - Bye
Quarterfinals - dec. #6 Karl Nadolsky (Michigan State), 5-4
Semifinals - vs. #2 Jared Lawrence (Minnesota)

#2 Ryan Bertin (157)
First Round - Bye
Quarterfinals - dec. #7 James Woodall (Penn State), 9-6
Semifinals - vs. #6 Gray Maynard (Michigan State)

#7 Charles Martelli (165)
First Round - Bye
Quarterfinals - pinned by #2 John Clark (Ohio State), 2:35
Consolations - vs. Ben Shirk (Iowa)

#1 Otto Olson (174)
First Round - Bye
Quarterfinals - pinned Andrew Wolfe (Indiana), 2:37
Semifinals - vs. #4 Ryan Lange (Purdue)

#1 Andy Hrovat (184)
First Round - Bye
Quarterfinals - major dec. #8 Blake Kaplan (Ohio State), 13-1
Semifinals - vs. #4 Jessman Smith (Iowa)

#3 Kyle Smith (197)
First Round - Bye
Quarterfinals - dec. #7 Jareck Horton (Wisconsin), 7-2
Semifinals - vs. #2 Owen Elzen (Minnesota)

#6 Matt Brink (Hwt)
First Round - Bye
Quarterfinals - dec. by #3 Garrett Lowney (Minnesota), 7-0
Consolations - vs. Ty Matthews (Indiana)

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423