Michigan
Purdue
Wolverines Cruise Past Purdue in Dual-Meet Finale
2/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Site: West Lafayette, Ind. (Holloway Gymnasium)
Score: #17 Michigan 23, Purdue 9
Records: U-M (10-8-1, 5-2-1 Big Ten), PU (12-7-1, 1-6-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sat-Sun., March 7-8 -- at Big Ten Championships (State College, Pa.)
WEST LAFAYETTE ,Ind. -- The No. 17-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team wrapped up the dual portion of its season in decisive fashion, cruising to a 23-9 victory over Purdue on Saturday evening (Feb. 21) at Holloway Gymnasium. The Wolverines claimed seven individual bouts, earning a pair of major decisions, to lead the contest from beginning to end.
Michigan (10-8-1, 5-2-1 Big Ten) opened the dual with three straight decisions at the lowerweights. Senior Michael Watts(Riverton, Utah/Riverton HS), ranked 17th in the latest NWCA/InterMat poll, claimed his second win of the weekend with a 3-0 decision against Akif Efren at 125 pounds. Watts earned a second-period escape to gain the only lead he needed, and, after Efren selected neutral to start the third, the U-M wrestler countered a shot late in the match, passing Efren by and coming around to score to ice the decision win.
Freshman Zac Stevens(Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS) cruised to a 7-4 decision against Carson Beebe in the subsequent match at 133 pounds, scoring a takedown in each period to maintain control throughout the bout. Stevens converted on a first-period duck under before finishing on a shuck and a counter. Beebe picked up a late reversal, but it made little difference as Stevens earned his third Big Ten Conference win.
Sophomore Kellen Russell(High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy), ranked fifth nationally, won a close 2-1 decision against Juan Archuleta at 141 pounds on a late penalty. The Wolverine wrestler controlled the pace of the match, but the score remained tied midway through the third after the wrestlers traded escape points. After a series of eye pokes, an Archuleta head butt proved the final straw for the referee, who awarded Russell the go-ahead point en route to his 18th consecutive win, matching his career-best win streak.
Junior/sophomore Aaron Hynes(Mt. Morris, Mich./Flint Kearsley HS) claimed his third major decision in four matches at 157 pounds, using a varied offense to pick up a commanding 13-3 win over Colten Salazar -- the older brother of future Wolverine Jake Salazar. Hynes converted on four takedowns, including a few off counter offense, a second-period scramble and, in the waning moments of the match, caught Salazar trying to roll to put the Boilermaker to his back for two points.
Fifth-year senior Steve Luke(Massillon, Ohio/Perry HS), the nations No. 1-ranked 174-pounder, used a double leg to gain the early advantage against Nick Corpe and held on to pick up a 5-3 decision and improve to 24-0 on the season. Corpe narrowed the score with a late takedown -- just the third allowed by Luke this season -- but the Wolverine captain kept pace with an immediate escape and 2:02 in riding-time advantage.
Fifth-year senior Tyrel Todd(Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman HS) saw his four-match pin streak come to an end, but the Wolverine captain was equally as dominant, using six takedowns, including three in the third, to roll past 16th-ranked Logan Brown, 17-5. Todd converted on just about every takedown in the book, finishing on an underhook, double leg, duck under, low single and counter to extend his winning streak to 12 straight matches. Todd has earned 10 bonus wins over the stretch.
Junior/sophomore Eddie Phillips(Woodland, Mich./Lakewood HS) used a late takedown to seal up a 4-3 comeback victory over Purdue heavyweight Chris Kasten in the final bout. After a scoreless first period, the wrestlers traded escapes and little else until late in the third period when Kasten countered a U-M shot to score. Phillips earned quick escape and immediately shot in on a double leg and, catching the Purdue wrestling reaching, turned back in to finish with less than 10 seconds remaining to pick up his second win over the Boilermaker grappler this season.
The Wolverines will take the next two weeks to prepare for the Big Ten Championships, scheduled for March 7-8 in State College, Pa. Hosted by Penn State University, the tournament will be held at the Bryce Jordan Center.
#17 Michigan 23, #25 Purdue 9
Individual rankings from NWCA/InterMat
| 125 -- #17 Michael Watts (U-M) dec. Akif Efren, 3-0 | U-M, 3-0 |
| 133 -- Zac Stevens (U-M) dec. Carson Beebe, 7-4 | U-M, 6-0 |
| 141 -- #5 Kellen Russell (U-M) dec. Juan Archuleta, 2-1 | U-M, 9-0 |
| 149 -- #8 Jake Patacsil (PU) dec. Mark Beaudry, 10-4 | U-M, 9-3 |
| 157 -- Aaron Hynes (U-M) major dec. Colton Salazar, 13-3 | U-M, 13-3 |
| 165 -- #16 Luke Manuel (PU) dec. Justin Zeerip, 3-2 | U-M, 13-6 |
| 174 -- #1 Steve Luke (U-M) dec. Nick Corpe, 5-3 | U-M, 16-6 |
| 184 -- #14 A.J. Kissell (PU) dec. #13 Anthony Biondo, 3-2 | U-M, 16-9 |
| 197 -- #6 Tyrel Todd (U-M) major dec. #17 Logan Brown, 17-5 | U-M, 20-9 |
| Hwt -- Eddie Phillips (U-M) dec. Chris Kasten, 4-3 | U-M, 23-9 |
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
