Michigan
Ohio State
Wolverines Surrender Lead in Loss to No. 6 Buckeyes
2/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Score: #6 Ohio State 26, #17 Michigan 17
Records: U-M (8-7-1, 3-1-1 Big Ten), OSU (13-2, 4-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 14 -- vs. Penn State (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
Complete Results | Photo Gallery | Video Report
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 17-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team sacrificed its early advantage against No. 6 Ohio State, losing four of the final five bouts to fall, 26-17, on Friday evening (Feb. 13) in front of 1,554 fans at Cliff Keen Arena. The loss was Michigan's first this season in Big Ten Conference action.
The Wolverines (8-7-1, 3-1-1 Big Ten) were in great position -- up by six -- at the halfway point after claiming three of the opening five bouts with a pair of big bonus victories. After the teams drew 157 pounds to start the dual, Ohio State threw in back-up Owen Schaefer, and junior/sophomore Aaron Hynes(Mt. Morris, Mich./Flint Kearsley HS) took advantage, wasting little time en route to a 16-1 technical fall and five team points. Hynes scored a pair of first-period takedowns -- both off front headlocks before throwing in the legs and using a power half to turn Schaefer for three points at the buzzer. Hynes picked up a quick reversal, which he took into a figure four for another three points, in the second, and added his third turn of the match on a high-leg turk late in the frame. With the Wolverine up by 13 and Schaefer choosing neutral to start the third, Hynes converted on another front headlock to end the bout at the 5:12 mark.
Ohio State picked up a major decision at 165 pounds to narrow the U-M lead, but fifth-year senior captain Steve Luke(Massillon, Ohio/Perry HS), the nation's top-ranked 174 pounder, extended his team's advantage with a 3-2 decision against Dave Rella. Despite multiple scoring opportunities for both wrestlers, Luke claimed the bout's only offensive points on a counter and spin behind late in the opening period. The two wrestlers traded escape points in the latter two frames, and Luke used his defensive skills to hold off a couple late OSU attacks and improve to 21-0 on the season.
The Buckeyes earned another major decision at 184 pounds, but fifth-year senior captain Tyrel Todd (Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman HS) responded with a first-period pin -- his second in a row -- against Jason Cook to provide Michigan its six-point halftime lead. Todd, ranked sixth in the latest NWCA/InterMat poll, immediately scored on a body-lock throw and nearly had Cook on his back in the opening seconds. The Wolverine captain settled in on top, applying his signature near wrist-head scoop combination to eventually get the fall at 1:41. The pin -- his seventh of the season -- extended Todd's winning streak to nine straight matches.
If everything went right for the Wolverines in the match's first half, everything went wrong in the second. The Buckeyes claimed key swing bouts at heavyweight and 125 pounds, earning a quick first-period fall in the latter, to claim the lead for the remainder of the evening. Ohio State added another pin at 133 pounds to essentially seal the dual victory.
Sophomore Kellen Russell(High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy), ranked fifth nationally, earned Michigan's lone victory in the second half, earning a 4-2 decision in the marquee match against defending NCAA champion J Jaggers at 141 pounds. The two wrestlers traded shots throughout the contest and forced a variety of scrambles, but the score remained knotted at one apiece until the closing seconds of the third period when Russell shot deep on a single leg and drove the opportunity across the mat, converting on the takedown with just five seconds remaining on the score clock. The win, which evened the series between the two wresters at 2-2, netted Russell his 15th straight victory.
The Wolverines will close out the home portion of their 2008-09 slate tomorrow night (Saturday, Feb. 14) against No. 24 Penn State. The match will begin at 7 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena.
#6 Ohio State 26, #17 Michigan 17
Individual rankings from NWCA/InterMat
| 157 -- Aaron Hynes (U-M) tech. fall Owen Schaefer, 16-1 | U-M, 5-0 |
| 165 -- #2 Colt Sponseller (OSU) major dec. Justin Zeerip, 16-4 | U-M, 5-4 |
| 174 -- #1 Steve Luke (U-M) dec. Dave Rella, 3-2 | U-M, 8-4 |
| 184 -- #2 Mike Pucillo (OSU) major dec. #13 Anthony Biondo, 10-2 | Tie, 8-8 |
| 197 -- #6 Tyrel Todd (U-M) pinned Jason Cook, 1:41 | U-M, 14-8 |
| Hwt -- Corey Morrison (OSU) dec. Eddie Phillips, 3-2 | U-M, 14-11 |
| 125 -- Nikko Triggas (OSU) pinned #17 Michael Watts, 2:02 | OSU, 17-14 |
| 133 -- #2 Reece Humphrey (OSU) pinned Zac Stevens, 3:37 | OSU, 23-14 |
| 141 -- #5 Kellen Russell (U-M) dec. #14 J Jaggers, 3-1 | OSU, 23-17 |
| 149 -- #4 Lance Palmer (OSU) dec. Mark Beaudry, 6-0 | OSU, 23-17 |
Players Mentioned
