Michigan
Penn State
Wolverines Unable to Complete Comeback at Penn State
2/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Site: State College, Pa. (Rec Hall)
Score: #10 Penn State 20, #6 Michigan 14
Records: Michigan (15-5, 2-2 Big Ten), Penn State (11-5, 3-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 10 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 4 p.m.
Complete Results
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Despite a strong performance at the middleweights and bonus wins at 165 and 184 pounds, the No. 6-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team fell one match short in a 20-14 loss against No. 10 Penn State on Friday evening (Feb. 8) in front of 4,077 fans at Rec Hall.
The Wolverines fell behind early, losing four of the opening five contests, including the first three in a row. Penn State claimed decisions in each to build up a 12-3 advantage at the meet's halftime intermission. Fifth-year senior Josh Churella(Northville, Mich./Novi HS) earned Michigan's only win before the break, setting the pace throughout the 149-pound bout en route to a 9-3 decision over fourth-ranked Bubba Jenkins. Churella, ranked eighth, had a pair of deep single legs in the opening period but could not convert on either opportunity and the match remained scoreless after three minutes. The Wolverine captain took control in the second, however, converting on double legs midway through the period and late to gain a sizable lead. He countered a Jenkins single leg in the third to score a third takedown and ode out the period to accumulate 2:03 in time advantage.
Michigan claimed three straight contests after the break, including major decisions at 165 and 184 pounds, to claim its first lead and establish at narrow two-point advantage with two bouts remaining. Fifth-year senior Eric Tannenbaum(Naperville, Ill./North HS) scored three takedowns, including two in the first period, and six back points en route to a dominant 13-1 victory against Michael Lorenzo at 165 pounds. The Wolverine captain, ranked third, came close to the pin on two occasions after throwing in a leg and using a turk to turn Lorenzo late in the first and second periods. Tannenbaum could not flatten out Lorenzo, who did everything to hang, and had to settled for a pair of three-point near falls and 5:35 in riding-time advantage.
Senior/junior Steve Luke(Massillon, Ohio/Perry HS) struck early and hung on to claim a 3-2 over 17th-ranked David Erwin at 174 pounds. The Wolverine, ranked fourth, converted on his first shot of the bout -- a fireman's carry -- within the first 30 seconds of the opening period and nearly scored again in the third but had his single leg on the edge of the mat called off 10 seconds later by the official. Luke owns a perfect 4-0 record in the Big Ten duals this season, defeating ranked opposition in three.
Senior/junior Tyrel Todd(Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman HS) gave up the first takedown to the Nittany Lions' 14th-ranked Phil Bomberger but rallied with five of his own to claim a 16-5 major decision. Most of his takedowns came on counters as Bomberger continued to take weak single- and double-leg shots throughout the match. The Wolverine, ranked second, added a three-point near fall midway through the middle period -- on a bow and arrow -- and accumulated 4:00 of riding-time advantage to boast his 21st straight win. He has now won 13 of his last 16 matches with bonus points.
Penn State won the final two bouts -- earning bonus points at 197 pounds -- to seal up its conference victory. U-M had an opportunity to even the team score with a decision in the heavyweight bout, but sophomore/freshman Chad Bleske(Washington, Mich./Romeo HS) fell just short, giving up a takedown with one second remaining in the sudden-victory period. Bleske had gained the initial advantage against 18th-ranked John Laboranti, countering a single-leg attempt midway through the first period to come around and score. Laboranti pulled even with a takedown of his own in the second and, with time ticking down in the extra frame, shot in on another deep single leg, finishing it -- according to the official and under heavy protest from the U-M bench -- with time still remaining.
The Nittany Lions gainedtheir initial advantage with a series of close decision victories early in the dual meet -- the bouts at 125, 141 and 157 pounds were all decided by two points or less. Junior Michael Watts(Riverton, Utah/Riverton HS) traded deep shots early in the first period against 10th-ranked Mark McKnight, but neither wrestler converted until late in the frame when the Nittany Lion finished on a single leg with just 20 seconds remaining. Watts rode McKnight for most of the second period and narrowed the gap with an escape in the third but could score again, falling 3-1.
Freshman Kellen Russell(High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy) established an early lead against Garrett Scott at 141 pounds, shooting deep on a high crotch before wrapping up the other ankle on the edge of the mat. Scott earned a quick escape and added one in the second to even the score. Starting down in the third, Russell, ranked fourth, several times scrambled into good position from underneath but could not complete the reversal and, rather unexpectedly, was gut wrenched for a two count. He earned his escape moments later but could not corral Scott, who was warned for stalling late in the match, in the time remaining.
Fifth-year senior Jeff Marsh(Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) took the opposite approach in the 157-pound match, falling behind early against second-ranked Dan Vallimont after giving up a pair of first-period takedowns and another early in the second. Marsh rallied back with a takedown of his own late in the second period to knot the score at 6-6, but the Nittany Lion wrestler earned his escape point in the final frame and addeda point late from a U-M illegal move to hold on for a 8-6 decision.
The Wolverines will wrap up the weekend road trip in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday (Feb. 10) with a Big Ten dual against rival Ohio State. The contest is slated for a 4 p.m. start at St. John Arena.
#10 Penn State 20, #6 Michigan 14
(Individual rankings from NWCA/InterMat)
| 125 -- #10 Mark McKnight (PSU)dec. Michael Watts, 3-1 | PSU, 3-0 |
| 133 -- Tim Haas (PSU) dec. Chris Diehl, 8-3 | PSU, 6-0 |
| 141 -- Garrett Scott (PSU) dec. #4 Kellen Russell, 4-3 | PSU, 9-0 |
| 149 -- #8 Josh Churella (U-M) dec. #4 Bubba Jenkins, 9-3 | PSU, 9-3 |
| 157 -- #2 Dan Vallimont (PSU) dec.Jeff Marsh, 8-6 | PSU, 12-3 |
| 165 -- #3 Eric Tannenbaum (U-M) major dec. Michael Lorenzo, 13-1 | PSU, 12-7 |
| 174 -- #4 Steve Luke (U-M) dec. #17 David Erwin, 3-2 | PSU, 12-10 |
| 184 -- #2 Tyrel Todd (U-M) major dec. #14 Phil Bomberger, 16-5 | U-M, 14-12 |
| 197 -- #3 Phil Davis (PSU) tech. fall #14Anthony Biondo, 15-0 | PSU, 17-14 |
| Hwt -- #18 John Laboranti (PSU) dec. Chad Bleske, 6-4 SV | PSU, 20-14 |
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
