Michigan
Minnesota
Wolverines Fall Short in Comeback Bid Against Minnesota
1/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score: #4 Minnesota 24, #6 Michigan 15
Records: Michigan (14-4, 1-1 Big Ten), Minnesota (12-3, 2-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Feb. 1 -- vs. Illinois (Cliff Keen Arena), 6 p.m.
Complete Results | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan wresting team could not recover from an early and significant deficit, falling to No. 4 Minnesota 24-15 Saturday evening (Jan. 26) in front of 1,181 fans at Cliff Keen Arena. The Wolverines' four All-Americans earned individual victories, but it was not enough to overcome Minnesota's 15-point advantage after the opening three bouts.
Michigan (14-4, 1-1 Big Ten) won four of five matches in the middle part of the lineup to pull itself within just three points with two matches remaining in the contest. At 149 pounds fifth-year senior Josh Churella(Northville, Mich./Novi HS) pinned the Gophers' Luke Mellmer for the second time in as many meetings to give his team six points and start U-M's attempt to rally. The Wolverine wrestler, ranked eighth in the most recent NWCA/InterMat poll, converted on a double leg off the opening whistle and went to work on top, nearly pinning Mellmer in the first period before settling with six back points. Beginning the second frame on top, Churella threw in the legs and using a far wing to lay Mellmer flat and end the match at 4:19.
After Minnesota picked up another win at 157 pounds, where seventh-ranked C.P. Schlatter scored a pair of takedowns each in the first and third periods to defeat fifth-year senior Jeff Marsh(Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS), the Wolverines won three consecutive matches to gain considerable ground in the team scoring. Fifth-year senior Eric Tannenbaum(Northville, Ill./North HS), ranked third at 165 pounds, took a quick lead against Tyler Safratowich with a single leg midway through the first period. He added another single leg in the third period and accumulated 1:27 in riding time advantage to claim a 6-2 decision.
Senior/junior Steve Luke(Massillon, Ohio/Perry HS) used a balanced and controlling attack en route to a 9-3 decision over 11th-ranked Gabriel Dretsch at 174 pounds. Luke, ranked fourth, scored two takedowns apiece in the first and third periods -- all off single-leg attempts -- to claim his second straight win against the Gopher wrestler this season.
Senior/junior Tyrel Todd(Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman HS) fell just a point short of the major decision -- which would have been his second of the weekend -- in a 12-5 victory over Mitch Kuhlman at 184 pounds. Todd, ranked second, scored five takedowns, including three in the final period, with a mix of single legs, double legs and counters. Able to take Kuhlman down at will, Todd released the Gopher wrestler with about 40 seconds remaining in the match but was unable to score again and settled for the decision after riding time. The win pushed Todd's streak to 19 consecutive victories, dating back to the Cliff Keen Invitational (Nov. 30-Dec. 1).
The Gophers gained their advantage after back-to-back first-period pins at 125 and 133 pounds. Freshman Kellen Russell(High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy) could not duplicate his result from two weeks ago, falling 4-2 to fourth-ranked Manuel Rivera at 141 pounds. Both wrestlers successfully defended deep shots in the opening period, but Rivera took control of the match in the waning moments of the second frame, finishing on a go-by to take down Russell with just five seconds left. The Wolverine wrestler, ranked third, rode Rivera for much of the third period -- he ended with 1:06 riding-time advantage -- but got too high late, allowing Rivera to reverse him for the winning points.
The Wolverines will wrap up their three-meet homestand next Friday (Feb. 1) against Illinois. The dual, which will be broadcast live by the Big Ten Network, is slated for a 6 p.m. start at Cliff Keen Arena.
#4 Minnesota 24, #6 Michigan 15
(Individual rankings from NWCA/InterMat)
| 125 -- #1 Jayson Ness (Minn) pinned Jason Lara, 1:13 | Minn, 6-0 |
| 133 -- #2 Mack Reiter (Minn) pinned Chris Diehl, 1:26 | Minn, 12-0 |
| 141 -- #4 Manuel Rivera (Minn) dec. #3 Kellen Russell, 4-2 | Minn, 15-0 |
| 149 -- #8 Josh Churella (Mich) pinned Luke Mellmer, 4:19 | Minn, 15-6 |
| 157 -- #7 C.P. Schlatter (Minn) dec. Jeff Marsh, 10-4 | Minn, 18-6 |
| 165 -- #3 Eric Tannenbaum (Mich) dec. Tyler Safratowich, 6-2 | Minn, 18-9 |
| 174 -- #4 Steve Luke (Mich) dec. #11 Gabriel Dretsch, 9-3 | Minn, 18-12 |
| 184 -- #2 Tyrel Todd (Mich) dec. Mitch Kuhlman, 12-5 | Minn, 18-15 |
| 197 -- Justin Bronson (Minn) dec. Ryan Selley, 4-0 | Minn, 21-15 |
| Hwt -- Ben Berhow (Minn) dec. Matt Guhn, 7-3 | Minn, 24-15 |
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
