Michigan
Boise State
Michigan Splits Four Matches on Day One of National Duals
1/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Event: Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals (Day 1)
Scores: #9 Michigan 21, #20 Boise State 9; #2 Iowa 29, #9 Michigan 11;
#9 Michigan 26, #15 Northern Iowa 14; #4 Cornell 19, #9 Michigan 16
Records: U-M (5-3)
Next U-M Match: Sunday, Jan. 19 -- vs. Arizona State at Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals (Columbus, Ohio), 11 a.m.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The University of Michigan will wrestle in the seventh-place match of the Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals after splitting a quartet of dual meets during the first day of competition Saturday (Jan. 18) at Ohio State's St. John Arena. The No. 9-ranked Wolverines, who earned victories over No. 20 Boise State and No. 15 Northern Iowa while falling to No. 2 Iowa and No. 4 Cornell, will battle for seventh place against 10th-ranked Arizona State at 11 a.m. Sunday.
| | Grant joined the 100-win club with his upset of No. 3 Luke Eustice of Iowa. |
In his first match of the season, Kulczycki rebounded from an early deficit to score a takedown and three-point near fall in the final seconds of the first period. Never losing his intensity, the Wolverine added a takedown in each of the final two periods while collecting nearly two minutes of riding time to earn the 12-4 major decision over Nathan Phloen. Redshirt freshman Greg Wagner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider HS) put a cap on the Wolverines' victory by upsetting the Broncos' sixth-ranked Boe Rushton at heavyweight. With the score tied 1-1 at the end of regulation as well as the extra overtime period, Wagner was able to hang on from the top position in the 30-second tiebreaker to take the decision.
Michigan was sent to the consolation bracket after falling to Iowa 29-11 in the quarterfinal round. Michigan gained the early lead with a win at 125 pounds, where A.J Grant (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) earned a 4-0 upset victory over third-ranked Luke Eustice after collecting a pair of escapes and a third-period takedown, but the Hawkeyes bounced back, winning three consecutive matches. Kulczycki retook the lead for the Wolverines after the 165-pound bout with a 16-1 technical fall over Iowa's Jason D'Agata. The Wolverine wrestler jumped to a commanding lead in the first period after turning D'Agata twice at the end of the first period for two three-point near falls. Kulczycki earned a reversal in the second period and after scoring a takedown early in the final frame, the bout was stopped at the 5:21 mark. The lead, however, was short-lived for the Wolverines as Iowa won the final four bouts, including falls at 197 pounds and heavyweight, to earn the team victory.
Michigan rebounded in the consolation bracket with a 26-14 win over Northern Iowa. After winning five of the first six matches to develop a commanding lead, the Wolverines withstood a late charge by Northern Iowa to stay alive in the tournament. At 149 pounds, redshirt freshman Ryan Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) earned his first collegiate win with a 5-0 decision over Northern Iowa's Jon Garvin. Controlling the action throughout the match, Churella scored a first-period takedown and added a reversal early in the second while collecting three minutes of riding time in his shutout victory.
Wagner collected his second upset of the tournament over fourth-ranked Paul Hynek, and like the first, he pulled it off in the tiebreaker. Starting in the down position, Wagner got to his feet and nearly kicked loose three times. After going out of bounds on the second attempt, Hynek was warned for stalling, and after Wagner's third attempt to free himself, the Panther wrestler received his second stalling call and Wagner was awarded the point for the victory.
Michigan was sent to the seventh-place bout after dropping its second meet of the tournament, a close 19-16 decision to Cornell. The Wolverines had held the lead for much of the meet, but Cornell rallied at the heavier weights, winning four consecutive bouts to take the lead and earn the victory. Michigan immediately jumped out to a sizable lead after earning six team points for a Cornell forfeit at 125 pounds and a big win by senior/junior Foley Dowd (Howell, N.J./The Peddie School) at 133 pounds, where he scored six takedowns in a 16-9 decision over Ajejandro Alvarez.
After Cornell won back-to-back matches at 141 and 149 pounds, Kulczycki, wrestling at 157 pounds for the first time in the tournament, widened the Wolverines' point advantage with a 7-4 decision over Gabe Webster. The Big Red clinched the team victory at 197 pounds, where 13th-ranked Matt Greenberg upset 10th-ranked Kyle Smith (Butte, Mont./Butte HS) 11-5.
#9 Michigan 21, #20 Boise State 9
(Individual rankings from Intermat, 1/14/03)
| 125 -- #5 Ben Vombaur (BSU) dec. #7 A.J. Grant, 1-0 | BSU, 3-0 |
| 133 -- #6 Foley Dowd (U-M) dec. Scott Jorgensen, 10-7 | Tie, 3-3 |
| 141 -- #9 Gabe Vigil (BSU) dec. #18 Clark Forward, 3-1 TB | BSU, 6-3 |
| 149 -- Collin Robertson (BSU) dec. Ryan Churella, 7-4 | BSU, 9-3 |
| 157 -- #3 Ryan Bertin (U-M) dec. Ben Cherrington, 8-5 | BSU, 9-6 |
| 165 -- Mike Kulczycki (U-M) major dec. Nathan Phloen, 12-4 | U-M, 10-9 |
| 174 -- R.J. Boudro (U-M) dec. Pat Owens, 10-5 | U-M, 13-9 |
| 184 -- Willie Breyer (U-M) dec. Tony D'Amico, 11-9 | U-M, 16-9 |
| 197 -- #10 Kyle Smith (U-M) dec. Casey Phelps, 6-1 | U-M, 19-9 |
| Hwt -- #14 Greg Wagner (U-M) dec. #6 Boe Rushton, 1-1 TB | U-M, 21-9 |
#2 Iowa 29, #9 Michigan 11
| 125 -- #7 A.J. Grant (U-M) dec. #3 Luke Eustice, 4-0 | U-M, 3-0 |
| 133 -- #5 Cliff Moore (Iowa) dec. #6 Foley Dowd, 6-5 | Tie, 3-3 |
| 141 -- #13 Luke Moffitt (Iowa) dec. #18 Clark Forward, 7-2 | Iowa, 6-3 |
| 149 -- #13 Ty Eustice (Iowa) dec. Ryan Churella, 3-2 TB | Iowa, 9-3 |
| 157 -- #3 Ryan Bertin (U-M) dec. Joe Johnston, 13-10 | Iowa, 9-6 |
| 165 -- Mike Kulczycki (U-M) tech. fall Jason DAgata, 16-1 (5:21) | U-M, 11-9 |
| 174 -- #3 Tyler Nixt (Iowa) dec. R.J. Boudro, 6-3 | Iowa, 12-11 |
| 184 C #1 Jessman Smith (Iowa) tech. fall Willie Breyer, 19-3 (3:42) | Iowa, 17-11 |
| 197 -- Ryan Fulsaas (Iowa) pinned #10 Kyle Smith, 5:46 | Iowa, 23-11 |
| Hwt -- #1 Steve Mocco (Iowa) pinned #14 Greg Wagner, 1:40 | Iowa, 29-11 |
#9 Michigan 26, #15 Northern Iowa 14
| 125 -- #7 A.J. Grant (U-M) dec. Chris Helgeson, 7-2 | U-M, 3-0 |
| 133 -- #6 Foley Dowd (U-M) major dec. Pat Garcia, 12-4 | U-M, 7-0 |
| 141 -- #3 Dylan Long (UNI) major dec. #18 Clark Forward, 8-0 | U-M, 7-4 |
| 149 -- Ryan Churella (U-M) dec. Jon Garvin, 5-0 | U-M, 10-4 |
| 157 -- #3 Ryan Bertin (U-M) major dec. Chris Bitetto, 14-5 | U-M, 14-4 |
| 165 -- Mike Kulczycki (U-M) dec. #12 Drew Kelly, 12-10 | U-M, 17-4 |
| 174 -- R.J. Boudro (U-M) over #7 Eric Hauan, inj. default | U-M, 23-4 |
| 184 -- #11 Jordan Holm (UNI) major dec. Willie Breyer, 14-5 | U-M, 23-8 |
| 197 -- #9 Sean Stender (UNI) pinned Steve Heleniak, 2:59 | U-M, 23-14 |
| Hwt -- #14 Greg Wagner (U-M) dec. #4 Paul Hynek, 2-1 TB | U-M, 26-14 |
#4 Cornell 19, #9 Michigan 16
| 125 -- #7 A.J. Grant (U-M) won by forfeit | U-M, 6-0 |
| 133 -- #6 Foley Dowd (U-M) dec. Alejandro Alvarez, 16-9 | U-M, 9-0 |
| 141 -- Byron Warner (Cornell) dec. # 18 Clark Forward, 5-3 | U-M, 9-3 |
| 149 -- #5 Dustin Manotti (Cornell) dec. Ryan Churella, 6-5 | U-M, 9-6 |
| 157 -- Mike Kulczycki (U-M) dec. Gabe Webster, 7-5 | U-M, 12-6 |
| 165 -- Scott Roth (Cornell) dec. Matt Thomas, 7-3 | U-M, 12-9 |
| 174 -- Tyler Baier (Cornell) dec. R.J. Boudro, 4-3 | Tie, 12-12 |
| 184 -- #2 Clint Wattenberg (Cornell) major dec. Willie Breyer, 14-3 | CU, 16-12 |
| 197 -- #13 Matt Greenberg dec. #10 Kyle Smith, 11-5 | CU, 19-12 |
| Hwt -- #14 Greg Wagner (U-M) major dec. Matt Bogumil, 10-1 | CU, 19-16 |
N O T E S
This morning's first round marked the first meeting on the mat between Michigan and Boise State. With the Wolverines taking the 21-9 victory, Michigan now owns a 9-2-1 record against teams from the Pac-10 wrestling conference.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Churella and senior/junior Matt Thomas (Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Central HS) both made their varsity debuts, at 149 and 165 pounds, respectively, in the first day of competition at the National Duals. Eight different Michigan wrestlers have now competed in his first collegiate dual meet this season. Other Wolverines who broke into the starting lineup for the first time are redshirt freshman R.J. Boudro (Richmond, Mich./Armada HS), redshirt freshman Willie Breyer (Oxford, Mich./Oxford HS), redshirt freshman Tommy Garza (Southgate, Mich./Anderson HS), freshman Rob Sulaver (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn HS), junior/sophomore Jeremiah Tobias (Manchester, Mich./Manchester HS) and redshirt freshman Greg Wagner.
The Boise State meet also marked the season debut of fifth-year senior captain Mike Kulczycki, who had yet to wrestle this season after suffering a preseason injury. Kulczycki moved up into the 165-pound spot after competing at 149 his previous three seasons. Also returning from injury was junior/sophomore Ryan Bertin, who had been out of commission since the Cliff Keen Invitational (Dec. 6-7).
Senior captain A.J. Grant collected his 100th career victory with his 4-0 decision over Iowa's Luke Eustice. Grant is the 22nd Wolverine wrestler to enter Michigan's prestigious 100-win club, in which he joins fellow captain and fifth-year senior Mike Kulczycki.
With the Wolverines' 26-14 win over Northern Iowa in the consolation round, head coach Joe McFarland earned his 50th victory since taking the helm at Michigan four years ago. He is also one win shy of reaching 75 for his entire career. Prior to Michigan, McFarland was the head coach at Indiana University, where he compiled a 24-20 record in three seasons.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
