Michigan
NCAA Session V
Michigan in Second Heading into Final Round of NCAAs
3/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Behind strong performances by a quartet of All-Americans, the No. 6-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team climbed to the second position (79 points) in the team standings after the fifth session at the NCAA Championships on Saturday (March 19) at the Savvis Center. Oklahoma State already has the team title locked up with 133 points.
Sophomore/freshman Eric Tannenbaum (Naperville, Ill./North HS) claimed fourth place at 149 pounds after suffering an 8-1 defeat against Hofstra's ninth-seeded Jon Masa in his final bout. For the first time in the tournament, the Wolverine, seeded fifth, could not score any offensive points against an opponent as Masa scored two takedowns, two back points and 2:43 in riding time. Tannenbaum had rolled to a 5-3 decision over Iowa's sixth-seeded Ty Eustice in the consolation semfinals, using a pair of single-leg takedowns in the first and second periods to control throughout the match. Earning his second win over Eustice this season, Tannenbaum allowed the Hawkeye wrestler just three escapes.
Senior/junior Ryan Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) kept it close against Lehigh's top-seeded Troy Letters in the third-place bout at 165 pounds, but Letters was able to cling to an early lead to eke out a 7-5 decision. Letters held a two-point advantage heading into the second frame after gaining control with a quick takedown before the wrestlers exchanged reversals. The Wolverine captain rallied with a takedown in the third period to pull the score even, but with Letters holding riding-time advantage, Bertin cut loose the Mountain Hawk wrestler and was unable to score again.
In the consolation semifinals, Churella scored big points for the Wolverines with a decisive 16-0 technical fall over Minnesota's 10th-seeded Matt Nagel. After taking control midway through the opening period with a single-leg takedown, the Wolverine captain dominated from the top position, using a leg to turn Nagel for nine back points in the first and second periods. Churella converted another single leg early in the final stanza to cut the bout short.
Senior/junior Greg Wagner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider HS) took Indiana's fourth-seeded Pat DeGain to overtime but succumbed to a takedown midway through the extra frame to lose 5-3 and claim fourth place at heavyweight. The Wolverine took the lead with a leg sweep early in the third period, but DeGain was able to collect a quick escape to send the bout into overtime. Earlier in the day, Wagner earned a upset decision against Arizona State's third-seeded Cain Velasquez in the consolation semifinals after gaining the only advantage he would need with a first-period takedown. Wagner collected his escape in the second period and rode the Sun Devil wrestler for the entire third frame to secure 1:43 in riding time and the 4-1 victory.
Sophomore/freshman Josh Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) claimed eighth at 141 pounds after falling to Illinois' Cassio Pero 6-5 in the second tiebreaker of the seventh-place bout. Churella fell behind early but rallied with a second-period reversal and third-period takedown to knot the score a 5-5 at the end of regulation. After a scoreless sudden-victory frame, Pero quicky earned his escape in the first tiebreaker and was able to ride out the Wolverine for the full 30 seconds of the second to take the decision.
Fifth-year senior 157-pounder Ryan Bertin (Broadview Heights, Ohio/St. Edward HS) will return to the mat for the final round of the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo. The competition will resume at 4 p.m. CST and will be aired live on ESPN.
Top 10 Teams (After Session V)
1. Oklahoma State 1332. MICHIGAN 79
3. Oklahoma 73.5
4. Cornell 72.5
5. Minnesota 72.5
6. Illinois 70.5
7. Iowa 66
8. Lehigh 60
9. Iowa State 57
10. Indiana 54.5
Michigan Results (Session V)
141 pounds -- #3 Josh Churella
Seventh Place - dec. by Cassio Pero (Illinois), 6-5 TB
Finished eighth with a 3-3 record
149 pounds -- #5 Eric Tannenbaum
Consolation - dec. #6 Ty Eustice (Iowa), 5-3
Third Place - dec. by #9 Jon Masa (Hofstra), 8-1
Finished fourth with a 4-2 record
165 pounds -- #2 Ryan Churella
Consolation - tech. fall #10 Matt Nagel (Minnesota), 16-0
Third Place - dec. by #1 Troy Letters (Lehigh), 7-5
Finished fourth with a 4-2 record
Heavyweight -- #5 Greg Wagner
Consolation - dec. #3 Cain Velasquex (Arizona State), 4-1
Third Place - dec. by #4 Pat DeGain (Indiana), 5-3 OT
Finished fourth with a 5-2 record
Previous Results: Session I | Session II | Session III | Session IV
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
