Michigan
Central Michigan
Falls by Owen, Weitzel Propel Michigan Past Chippewas
11/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Fifth-year senior Pat Owen (Polson, Mont./Polson HS) and freshman Joshua Weitzel (Lincoln University, Pa./Oxford HS) recorded first-period falls as the No. 5-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team earned a 27-16 victory over 18th-ranked Central Michigan in its season opener Sunday (Nov. 23) at Cliff Keen Arena. Wrestling in front of 1,530 fans, the Wolverines won six individual matches in the victory.
| | Joshua Weitzel pinned his opponent 2:15 into their bout. |
After CMU cut the Wolverines' lead with a decision at 174 pounds, Weitzel sealed Michigan's victory in his varsity debut with a pin at 2:15 against Russ Vanderheyden. Countering a leg attack near the two-minute mark in the first period, Weitzel locked in the cradle, and after nearly getting put on his back himself, rolled the Chippewa wrestler through to earn the fall.
Sophomore/freshman Mark Moos (Lorain, Ohio/St. Edward HS), ranked 10th by Amateur Wrestling News, gave Michigan the early lead, defeating the Chippewas' 19th-ranked Kyle Stoffer 6-4 at 125 pounds. Moos struck first with a reversal early in the second period and added a two-point near fall in the final seconds of the frame to hold a four-point advantage heading into the final period. Stoffer went on the offensive in the third, scoring a pair of takedowns, but with two escapes, Moos hung on for the victory.
Central Michigan jumped into the lead with back-to-back wins at 133 and 141 pounds. Seventh-ranked Jordan Webster scored three takedowns and eight back points to build a 15-0 advantage over Michigan sophomore/freshman Chase Metcalf (Davison, Mich./Davison HS) and put a five-point technical fall on the board for the Chippewas. Jason Mester, ranked fourth, added another four points to Central Michigan's team score with a 10-2 major decision over 10th-ranked fifth-year senior Clark Forward (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold HS). Forward held the early advantage with a first-period takedown but could not score any points in the final two frames as Mester collected two takedowns and a three-point near fall in the third period.
After Central Michigan forfeited 149 pounds to knot the score at nine points, top-ranked senior/junior Ryan Bertin (Broadview Heights, Ohio/St. Edward HS) put the Wolverines back into the lead with a 9-4 decision against 11th-ranked Ty Morgan. After a scoreless first period, Bertin struck first with a pair of second-period takedowns to take a four-point advantage into the final frame. The wrestlers scored a takedown apiece in the third as the Bertin held on for the win.
The Chippewas collected wins at 174 and 197 pounds as Mitch Hancock earned a 2-0 victory over junior/sophomore R.J. Boudro (Richmond, Mich./Armada HS) and Joe Yager scored a major decision over sophomore/freshman Chase Verdoorn (Platte City, Mo./Platte County HS), winning by a 10-2 margin.
Junior/sophomore Greg Wagner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider HS), ranked sixth, capped the Wolverines' victory with a 5-2 decision against Bill Stouffer at heavyweight. Wagner opened the scoring with a reversal early in the second period and added a takedown in the final 25 seconds of the third to earn the victory.
The Wolverines will hit the mat later today at 5 p.m., facing No. 7 Lehigh at Cliff Keen Arena.
#5 Michigan 27, #18 Central Michigan 16
(Individual rankings from Amateur Wrestling News)
| 125 -- #10 Mark Moos (U-M) dec. #19 Kyle Stoffer, 6-4 | U-M, 3-0 |
| 133 -- #7 Jordan Webster (CMU) tech. fall Chase Metcalf, 15-0 | CMU, 5-3 |
| 141 -- #4 Jason Mester (CMU) major dec. #10 Clark Forward, 10-2 | CMU, 9-3 |
| 149 -- #6 Ryan Churella (U-M) won by forfeit | Tie, 9-9 |
| 157 -- #1 Ryan Bertin (U-M) dec. #11 Ty Morgan, 9-4 | U-M, 12-9 |
| 165 -- #16 Pat Owen (U-M) pinned David Bolyard, 1:14 | U-M, 18-9 |
| 174 -- Mitch Hancock (CMU) dec. R.J. Boudro, 2-0 | U-M, 18-12 |
| 184 -- Joshua Weitzel (U-M) pinned Russ Vanderheyden, 2:15 | U-M, 24-12 |
| 197 -- Joe Yager (CMU) major dec. Chase Verdoorn, 10-2 | U-M, 24-16 |
| Hwt -- #6 Greg Wagner (U-M) dec. Bill Stouffer, 5-2 | U-M, 27-16 |
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
