Michigan
Maize and Blue Intrasquad (ex)
Favorites Prevail at Annual Maize and Blue Intrasquad
11/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan wrestling team set its 2005-06 starting rotation at the annual Maize and Blue Intrasquad on Friday (Nov. 18) at Cliff Keen Arena. After preliminary matches were held in practice throughout the preceding week, the intrasquad featured the final round of wrestleoffs at eight different weight classes.
A pair of new U-M starters emerged from the intrasquad meet as sophomore/freshmen Steve Luke (Massillon, Ohio/Perry HS) and Tyrel Todd (Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman HS) each swept his respective series at 157 and 194 pounds. Luke struck quickly in his final bout against junior/sophomore Jeff Marsh (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS), scoring a takedown just 20 seconds into the opening frame to take the lead for good. Marsh knotted the score at 2-2 with a pair of escapes, but Luke regained the advantage with an early escape in the third frame, giving him the final 3-2 edge.
Todd used a balanced attack against junior/sophomore Omar Maktabi (Iowa City, Iowa/West HS), scoring a takedown early in the first period and adding another with just 10 seconds remaining in the final frame. The Wolverine freshman also registered 2:15 in riding time to gain an extra point and the 6-2 victory.
The final round of wrestleoffs left one weight class unresolved as the 197-pound series between fifth-year senior Willie Breyer (Oxford, Mich./Oxford HS), the returning starter, and sophomore/freshman Casey White (Commerce, Mich./Walled Lake Central HS) is locked up at 1-1. White needed extra time to even the series in this evening's final round, holding Breyer without an escape in the second tiebreaker to claim a 3-2 win. The two Wolverines prepared to square again after a 30-minute break, but Breyer was unable to compete due to injury. The starting job will be determined in a final wrestleoff during the next week.
The meet opened and closed at the 125-pound weight class as both wrestleoff matches between junior Jim Shutich (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) and freshman Michael Watts (Riverton, Utah/Riverton HS) were contested. Shutich won both matches by slim margins, using a third-period reversal each time to come from behind and win 4-3 and 4-2.
Senior/junior Mark Moos (Lorain, Ohio/St. Edward HS) shut out freshman Justin Chrzanowski (Metamora, Mich./Lapeer West HS) 5-0 at 133 pounds on the strength of an early takedown and second-period reversal. Moos earned 1:11 in riding time after holding the advantage for most of the opening frame.
Returning junior/sophomore All-Americans Josh Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) and Eric Tannenbaum (Naperville, Mich./North HS) won handily at 141 and 149 pounds, respectively, to resume their starting roles. Churella scored six takedowns against junior/sophomore Brad Cusumano (Utica, Mich./Utica HS) and added 3:40 in riding time to earn a 14-4 major decision victory. Tannenbaum registered a pair of first-period takedowns and added another in the second en route to an 8-2 decision over freshman Braden L'Amoreaux (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS).
Rounding out the evening's matches at 174 pounds, senior/junior Nick Roy (Wall, N.J./Wall HS) tallied a 9-5 decision against sophomore/freshman Cody Waters (Adrian, Mich./Adrian HS) behind four takedowns, three of which came in the first period.
Michigan will kick off the season next Saturday (Nov. 26) in a Big Ten Conference dual against Penn State in State College, Pa. The meet is slated for a 1 p.m. start at Rec Hall.
Following are results from Friday:
125 Pounds
1 -- Jim Shutich dec. Michael Watts, 4-3
2 -- Shutich dec. Watts, 4-2
Shutich wins series 2-0
133 Pounds
Mark Moos dec. Justin Chrzanowski, 5-0
Moos wins series 2-0
141 Pounds
Josh Churella major dec. Brad Cusumano, 14-4
Churella wins series 2-0
149 Pounds
Eric Tannenbaum dec. Braden L'Amoreaux, 8-2
Tannenbaum wins series 2-0
157 Pounds
Steve Luke dec. Jeff Marsh, 3-2
Luke wins series 2-0
165 Pounds
No Match
Ryan Churella will be the starter at 165 pounds
174 Pounds
Nick Roy dec. Cody Waters, 9-5
Roy wins series 2-0
184 Pounds
Tyrel Todd dec. Omar Maktabi, 6-2
Todd wins series 2-0
197 Pounds
Casey White dec. Willie Breyer, 3-2 TB
Series tied 1-1
Heavyweight
No final match
Greg Wagner will be the starter at heavyweight
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Joe McFarland
On the purpose of the intrasquad ... "The intrasquad is the final round of our wrestleoffs. We get down to the top-two guys at each weight class, and then we wrestle a two-out-of-three series. So, throughout the course of this week, we've already had one finals match at most of these weight classes. The winner of the final series is my starter at that particular weight class. There's a lot at stake for these guys. They've trained all summer and all far for these wrestleoffs."
On holding the final matches at Cliff Keen ... "It's a different kind of intensity when you go in front of a big crowd. This is a much different environment than when we have wrestleoffs in the room; that's why I like doing this. It's in front of a crowd; it's with officials. It makes it match-like, and it's a great environment. We like to showcase our program in front of our fans, and it gives them a glimpse of what they're going to see this year."
On Steve Luke and Tyrel Todd joining the starting lineup ... "Both of those guys are redshirt freshman, and I think they're both going to have great careers at Michigan. They had great redshirt seasons last year. They both are hard workers in our room. I think if these guys continue to get better, you're going to be reading a lot about them both. Both Steve and Ty are really going to add a lot to our team this year. They're young, but they're tough, and I really like the way they compete. They are both really commited to it. They have the desire and committment to be national champions. We're really excited to have them both in our program, and I think they're really going to solify a tough lineup for us."
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
