Michigan
Iowa State
Wolverines Eliminated from National Duals with 0-2 Mark
1/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team took an early exit from the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals on Saturday (Jan. 13) after suffering first-day losses against No. 6 Iowa State and No. 20 Nebraska. The Wolverines fell behind early in both contests and, despite late U-M rallies, could not recover from the deficit.
Michigan was eliminated from the competition after a 23-13 loss to Nebraska during the afternoon session. U-M claimed four individual bouts in the dual as senior/junior captains Josh Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) and Eric Tannenbaum (Naperville, Ill./North HS) and junior/sophomore Tyrel Todd (Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman HS) each claimed their second match of the day. Senior/junior Omar Maktabi (Iowa City, Iowa/West HS) took a close heavyweight bout on riding time.
Churella -- ranked third in the nation -- used a pair of single-leg takedowns in the first period to build up an early lead against Robert Sanders in the 149-pound match. Sanders had two escapes and a takedown of his own to even the score at 4-4 entering the final frame, but Churella scrambled for a reversal to retake the lead early in the period. Churella added a double leg late to seal an 8-6 decision.
At 165 pounds, fourth-ranked Tannenbaum cruised to an 11-3 major decision against the Huskers' Stephen Dwyer. Tannenbaum scored four takedowns -- including three in the first period -- to remain a perfect 13-0 on the season. The Wolverine fought for his final takedown -- a single leg late in the third -- to secure the bonus point.
Todd, ranked fourth at 184 pounds, scored three takedowns en route to his 8-4 win over Levi Wofford. Todd took advantage of a quick single-leg shot and converted on it three times including twice in the second period. The Wolverine added 1:37 in riding time advantage to gain an additional point at match's end. Riding time also played the difference in the heavyweight bout, and Maktabi used his 1:15 advantage to break the knotted score and take a 2-1 win over Cameron Browne.
The Wolverines were knocked into the consolation bracket early in the competition after suffering a 25-15 loss to No. 6 Iowa State in the preliminary round. The Cyclones swept the lightweight categories to build a decisive 14-point advantage claiming bonus points in each of the opening three bouts with two major decisions and a fall at 133 pounds. Churella claimed the first U-M victory and cut a sizable amount from Iowa State's lead with a third-period pin against 14th-ranked Clyer Sanderson at 149 pounds. The Cyclone wrestler had struck first with an early takedown in the first period, but Churella rallied back in the second with a single leg of his own to carry a 5-2 edge into the final frame. Sanderson converted on a quick single to pull within one point but, just moments after a U-M escape, the two wrestlers locked up in a scramble with both backs exposed to the mat. Churella -- who was on top -- bridged back to force Sanderson's shoulders to the mat at the 5:32 mark.
After an ISU win at 157 pounds, the Wolverines won three straight matches to cut the Cyclones' team lead to two points with two bouts remaining. Tannenbaum won the marquee match of the contest, eking past second-ranked Travis Paulson 3-2. The Wolverine wrestler exhibited the majority of offense through the opening two periods shooting in on several deep single legs and finishing one late in the first period to take the initial advantage. The wrestlers traded opportunities in the final frame, but neither was able to score as Tannenbaum held on to claim the upset win.
Michigan's victories at 174 and 184 pounds proved equally as close, and the wins would be last for the Wolverines in the dual. Junior/sophomore Steve Luke (Massillon, Ohio/Perry HS), who is ranked eighth, scored three first-period takedowns to rack up a big lead against Grant Turner, but the Cyclone wrestler came back on him with a pair of takedowns in the third period. Luke collected another one himself in the final frame to maintain his advantange and claim the 11-9 decision. Todd made a single leg in the first period hold up as he battled to a 3-2 decision over ninth-ranked Jake Varner.
The Maize and Blue will hit the road next weekend for a pair of Big Ten dual meets. U-M will kick off the conference schedule in Minneapolis, Minn., against Minnesota at 7 p.m. CST on Friday, Jan. 26. Following a return flight to Michigan, the Wolverines head to East Lansing to face intrastate rival Michigan State on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 1 p.m.
#6 Iowa State 25, #11 Michigan 15
(Individual rankings from NWCA/InterMat)
| 125 -- #20 Nick Fanthorpe (ISU) major dec. Michael Watts, 16-5 | ISU, 4-0 |
| 133 -- Nick Gallick (ISU) pinned Chris Diehl, 2:23 | ISU, 10-0 |
| 141 -- Mitch Mueller (ISU) major dec. Justin Chrzanowski, 11-3 | ISU, 14-0 |
| 149 -- #3 Josh Churella (U-M) pinned #14 Cyler Sanderson, 5:48 | ISU, 14-6 |
| 157 -- #2 Trent Paulson (ISU) dec. Jeff Marsh, 9-2 | ISU, 17-6 |
| 165 -- #4 Eric Tannenbaum (U-M) dec. #2 Travis Paulson, 3-2 | ISU, 17-9 |
| 174 -- #8 Steve Luke (U-M) dec. Grant Turner, 11-9 | ISU, 17-12 |
| 184 -- #4 Tyrel Todd (U-M) dec. #9 Jake Varner, 3-2 | ISU, 17-15 |
| 197 -- #8 Kurt Backes (ISU) tech. fall Casey White, 18-2 | ISU, 22-15 |
| 285 -- David Zabriske (ISU) dec. Omar Maktabi, 6-1 | ISU, 25-5 |
#20 Nebraska 23, #11 Michigan 13
| 125 -- #11 Paul Donahoe (Neb) major dec. Michael Watts, 16-5 | Neb, 4-0 |
| 133 -- Patrick Aleksanyan (Neb) dec Chris Diehl, 8-5 | Neb, 7-0 |
| 141 -- #6 Dominick Moyer (Neb) major dec. Justin Chrzanowski, 14-5 | Neb, 11-0 |
| 149 -- #3 Josh Churella (U-M) dec. Robert Sanders, 8-6 | Neb, 11-3 |
| 157 -- Chris Oliver (Neb) pinned Jeff Marsh, 2:44 | Neb, 17-3 |
| 165 -- #4 Eric Tannenbaum (U-M) dec. Stephen Dwyer, 11-3 | Neb, 17-7 |
| 174 -- Marc Harwood (Neb) dec. Jordan Sherrod, 4-1 TB | Neb, 20-7 |
| 184 -- #4 Tyrel Todd (U-M) dec. Levi Wofford, 8-4 | Neb, 20-10 |
| 197 -- Craig Brester (Neb) dec. Nick Roy, 5-2 | Neb, 23-10 |
| 285 -- Omar Maktabi (U-M) dec. Cameron Browne, 2-1 | Neb, 23-13 |
Players Mentioned
