Michigan
Cliff Keen Invitational
Four Champs Lead U-M to Team Title at Cliff Keen Meet
12/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Site: Las Vegas, Nev. (Cashman Center)
Event: Cliff Keen Invitational
U-M Finish: 1st Place of 45 Teams (148 Points)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Dec. 10 -- vs. Cleveland State (Cliff Keen Arena), 6:30 p.m.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team captured the Cliff Keen Invitational team title (148 points) behind the performances of four individual champions on Saturday (Dec. 4) at the Cashman Center. Trailing Nebraska by a half point after the morning session, U-M won all five of its evening matches to leapfrog the Huskers into first place. Nebraska was runner-up with 139.5 points.
It is Michigan's second Cliff Keen Invitational title in its 22 appearances at the annual tournament -- and second in four seasons -- and gives the Wolverines their second tournament team title in the 2004-05 season, adding to the Body Bar Invitational (Nov. 20).
In a reversal of fortune from last season's tournament when Michigan narrowly fell to Nebraska after losing all four of its championship bouts, junior/sophomore Mark Moos (Lorain, Ohio/St. Edwards HS), fifth-year senior Ryan Bertin (Broadview Heights, Ohio/St. Edwards HS), senior/junior Ryan Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) and senior/junior Greg Wagner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider HS) each claimed the top spot at their respective weights, registering perfect 6-0 marks to lead the Wolverine squad. Moos, Bertin and Wagner all placed second at last season's event while Churella was third at 149 pounds.
Moos captured the tournament's first individual title with a 6-5 victory at 125 pounds over top-seeded Vic Moreno of Cal Poly. Moos, seeded third, struck first with a takedown midway through the opening frame, but Moreno was able to escape and score a takedown of his own to even the score at three apiece entering the second period. The Wolverine wrestler tallied the deciding point early in middle frame, using a high crotch to build three-point advantage and, despite a pair of escapes by Moreno, hold on for the victory. Moos remains undefeated on the season, improving his record to a perfect 11-0.
Bertin won his first Cliff Keen Invitational individual title in his final appearance at the annual tournament, defeating Montana State's Stryder Davis 9-0 in the 157-pound championship match. Bertin wrestled tough from the top position, turning Davis in the first and third periods for a combined six near-fall points. In his previous three appearances, Bertin placed third (2001), sixth (2002) and second (2003).
Churella claimed the 165-pound title with a 7-1 victory over Edinboro's fourth-seeded Nate Yetzer. Churella scored the only points he would need midway through the first frame on a single-leg takedown while adding a second-period reversal and another takedown in the third. The Wolverine dominated on top, accumulating 3:16 in riding time while allowing Yetzer just a single escape.
Wagner capped the Wolverines' dominant final-round performance by upsetting top-seeded Matt Feast of Pennsylvania 8-5 to capture the heavyweight title. After a scoreless first period, Wagner struck first early in the middle frame with a reversal after starting the period in the down position. Feast stole the lead after scoring a quick escape and takedown, but Wagner responded with a second reversal late in the frame to retain the narrow advantage. The Wolverine controlled the third period, scoring a pair of takedowns, including one with just 15 seconds remaining, to claim his first career victory against Feast in the third meeting between the two wrestlers.
In addition to the Wolverines' four individual champions, sophomore/freshman Eric Tannenbaum (Naperville, Ill./North HS) and junior/sophomore Nick Roy (Wall, N.J./Wall HS) placed among the top-five in their weight classes, claiming third at 149 pounds and fifth at 174 pounds, respectively. After suffering a narrow 4-1 loss to Cornell's top-seeded Dustin Manotti in the semifinals, Tannenbaum rallied with a pair of wins in the wrestlebacks, including an 8-2 decision over Boise State's Ben Cherrington in the third-place bout. The Wolverine scored three takedowns and accumulated 1:09 in riding time while holding Cherrington to just a pair of escapes in the second meeting of the tournament between the two wrestlers. Roy suffered a pair of close, disappointing losses in the semifinals and consolation bracket but ended the tournament strong with a 4-3 victory over Virgina's Rocco Caponi in the fifth-place match.
The Maize and Blue will open the home portion of its 2004-05 season by hosting Cleveland State next Friday (Dec. 10) in its final dual meet before the holiday break. The event is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena.
Top 10 Teams (Final)
1. MICHIGAN 148
2. Nebraska 139.5
3. Hofstra 108.5
4. Arizona State 103.5
5. Cornell 97.5
6. Missouri 88.5
7. Purdue 83.5
8. Boise State 75
9. Wisconsin 65.5
10. Edinboro 64.5
Pittsburgh 64.5
Michigan Results (Day 2)
125 pounds - #3 Mark Moos
Semifinals - pinned #2 Matt Keller (Nebraska), 1:30
Final - dec. #1 Vic Moreno (Cal Poly), 6-5
Finished as the 125-pound champion with a 6-0 record
149 pounds - #4 Eric Tannenbaum
Semifinals - dec. by #1 Dustin Manotti (Cornell), 4-1
Consolations - dec. Matt Kocher (Pittsburgh), 3-2
Third place - dec. #5 Ben Cherrington (Boise State), 8-2
Finished third with a 5-1 record
157 pounds - #1 Ryan Bertin
Semifinals - dec. #4 Matt Lebe (West Virgnia), 6-4 OT
Final - major dec. Stryder Davis (Montana State), 9-0
Finished as the 157-pound champion with a 6-0 record
165 pounds - #2 Ryan Churella
Semifinals - dec. #3 Tyron Woodley (Missouri), 3-1
Final - dec. #4 Nate Yetzer (Edinboro), 7-1
Finished as the 165-pound champion with a 6-0 record
174 pounds - #2 Nick Roy
Semifinals - dec. by #3 Paul Siemon (Hofstra), 3-2
Consolations - dec. by Marc Harwood (Nebraska), 8-6
Fifth place - dec. Rocco Caponi (Virginia), 4-3
Finished fifth with a 4-2 record
184 pounds - #11 Joshua Weitzel
Consolations - dec. by #4 Benjamin Wissel (Purdue), 7-3
Finished with a 3-2 record
Heavyweight - #2 Greg Wagner
Semifinals - dec. #3 Cain Velasquez (Arizona State), 8-4
Final - dec. #1 Matt Feast (Pennsylvania), 8-5
Finished as the heavyweight champion with a 6-0 record
Players Mentioned
