Michigan
Penn State
Michigan Rallies for Season-Opening Win at Penn State
11/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team won five of the final six bouts to overcome an early nine-point deficit and claim a 23-15 road victory against No. 12 Penn State on Saturday (Nov. 26) at Rec Hall. Fifth-year senior captain Ryan Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) posted a fall at 165 pounds, guiding the Wolverines in their season and Big Ten Conference opener.
Churella's pin capped a series of four straight Michigan wins at the middle weights, putting the Wolverines securely ahead by seven points with just two matches remaining. The Wolverine captain, ranked third by NWCA/InterMat, dominated throughout the early stages of his match against Phil Bomberger, scoring a pair of takedowns and three back points to lead 9-0 entering the final frame. With the Nittany Lion wrester starting the period in the down position, Churella locked in the near-side cradle to roll Bomberger to his back and earn the fall at 5:32.
After a U-M loss at 174 pounds, sophomore/freshman Tyrel Todd (Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman HS) sealed the U-M win two matches later, at the closing weight of 184 pounds, posting an 18-5 major decision against Penn State's Neil Bretz. Todd scored six takedowns and added a pair of back points late in the match to earn the win in his collegiate varsity debut.
The Wolverines trailed early in the dual meet after losing three of the opening four bouts. With U-M down 12-3 entering the 141-pound match, junior/sophomore Josh Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS), ranked seventh, kicked off the U-M comeback with a major-decision victory, applying an even attack to defeat the Nittany Lions' DeWitt Driscoll 9-1 in his season debut. Churella opened scoring early, earning the only advantage he would need on a quick first-period takedown. The Wolverine added a second takedown in the opening frame and a second-period reversal to hold a 6-1 lead after two periods. Churella scored a late double-leg takedown in the closing seconds of the match to secure the major decision after riding time.
Junior/sophomore Eric Tannenbaum (Naperville, Ill./North HS), ranked second at 149 pounds, put on a takedown clinic against 14th-ranked James Woodall in search of his own major decision but fell just short, winning by a 10-4 margin. Tannenbaum scored a takedown apiece in the opening two periods and added another pair of low single leges in the final frame while cutting Woodall four times to allow the Nittany Lion just four escapes through seven minutes.
Sophomore/freshman Steve Luke (Massillon, Ohio/Perry HS) continued the Wolverines' momentum at 157 pounds, earning an 11-9 upset victory over No. 10 Nathan Galloway in his collegiate varsity debut. Luke, ranked 19th, built an early advantage on a pair of first-period takedowns and maintained it through the second with a single leg late in the frame. Galloway surged in the closing period with a pair of late takedowns, but Luke held on to claim his first win of the season.
Fifth-year senior Greg Wagner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider HS) collected Michigan's lone win in the opening four matches, defeating Aaron Anspach 8-2. Wagner, ranked third, controlled throughout the contest, scoring a pair of first-period takedowns before adding another in the closing seconds of the third.
In addition to Todd and Luke, two more Wolverines made their varsity debut in the U-M lineup against Penn State as sophomore/freshmen Casey White (Commerce, Mich./Walled Lake Central HS) and Brandon Elliott (Reed City, Mich./Reed City HS) suffered tough losses at 197 and 133 pounds, respectively.
The Wolverines will continue early-season action in two weeks at the 24th annual Cliff Keen Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3, in Las Vegas, Nev. Competition is slated to begin with pigtail rounds on Friday at 9 a.m. at the Cashman Center. U-M returns to the prestigious tournament as the defending team champion.
#3 Michigan 23, #12 Penn State 15
(Individual rankings from NWCA/InterMat)
| 197 -- #6 Phil Davis (PSU) dec. Casey White, 6-0 | PSU, 3-0 |
| Hwt -- #3 Greg Wagner (U-M) dec. Aaron Anspach, 8-2 | Tie, 3-3 |
| 125 -- Tim Haas (PSU) dec. Jim Shutich, 6-4 | PSU, 6-3 |
| 133 -- Jake Strayer (PSU) pinned Brandon Elliott, 5:34 | PSU, 12-3 |
| 141 -- #7 Josh Churella (U-M) major dec. DeWitt Driscoll, 9-1 | PSU, 12-7 |
| 149 -- #2 Eric Tannenbaum (U-M) dec. #10 James Woodall, 10-4 | PSU, 12-10 |
| 157 -- #19 Steve Luke (U-M) dec. #10 Nathan Galloway, 11-9 | U-M, 13-12 |
| 165 -- #3 Ryan Churella (U-M) pinned Phil Bomberger, 5:32 | U-M, 19-12 |
| 174 -- #10 James Yonushonis (PSU) dec. #8 Nick Roy, 3-1 SV | U-M, 19-15 |
| 184 -- Tyrel Todd (U-M) major dec. Neil Bretz, 18-5 | U-M, 23-15 |
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
