Michigan
Michigan State Open
Watkins Headlines U-M's Three Placewinners at MSU Open
11/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 13, 2010
Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Jenison Field House)
Event: Michigan State Open
U-M Finish: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Nov. 14 -- vs. Pittsburgh (Cliff Keen Arena), 2 p.m.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- In its final preseason tune-up, the No. 18-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team sent a contingent of unattached wrestlers to the annual Michigan State Open on Saturday (Nov. 13) at Jenison Field House.
Freshman Donnie Watkins (Canton, Mich./Canton HS) captured the 141-pound title to headline the Wolverines' three placewinners freshman/sophomore division. Sophomore/freshman Mike Hillock (Massillon, Ohio/Perry HS) claimed third place in his season debut at 149 pounds, while sophomore/freshman Grant Pizzo (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) defaulted to sixth place at 125 pounds.
Watkins dominated his opposition on the day, posting a perfect 5-0 record with a pair of pins and two shutout victories, including a 14-0 major decision in the second round. The Wolverine rookie, who took runner-up honors in his collegiate debut at last weekend's EMU Open, cruised past Central Michigan's Dakota Cooley, 11-5, in the championship round, using three takedowns and three third-period back points to control the match from start to finish. Watkins already boasts an impressive 10-1 record on the season.
Hillock rebounded from a narrow one-point defeat in the opening round, earning seven straight wins in the wrestlebacks, including a quick 32-second pin against Northern Illinois' Matt Smith in the third-place contest. Removing pin and a win by injury default in the previous match, Hillock outscored his opposition 38-10 on the day. Building on his third-place finish at the EMU Open, Pizzo won his first three matches in the 125-pound division, but after suffering an injury in the quarterfinal round, the Wolverine freshman withdrew from the tournament to take sixth place.
Michigan will kick off dual-meet portion of its 2010-11 schedule tomorrow (Sunday, Nov. 14) with a 2 p.m. slate against Pittsburgh at Cliff Keen Arena. Prior to the contest, former Wolverine NCAA champion Steve Luke (2006-09) will headline a free clinic from 10 a.m.-noon, at the Bahna Wrestling Center. All clinic participants will receive free admission to the dual.
Michigan Results
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE DIVISION
125 - Grant Pizzo
First Round - dec. Brock Sempsrott (Indianapolis), 7-0
Second Round - major decision Robert Hauser (Bucknell), 11-2
Quarterfinals - dec. Tim Arthur (Heidelberg), 8-3
Finished in sixth place with a 3-0 record
133 - Zebulon Hilyard
First Round - dec. Shawn Olsabeck (unattached), 14-7
Second Round - dec. by Tyler Keselring (Central Michigan), 4-1
Consolations - dec. Dave Cheatham (Central Michigan), 3-2
Consolations - dec. Cameron Barnes (unattached), 6-2
Consolations - tech. fall by Robbie Bidlingmaier (Olivet), 17-0
Eliminated with a 3-2 record
141 - John Evashevski
First Round - Bye
Second Round - dec. by Kyle Begg (Tiffin), 4-3
Consolations - dec. by Jake Mellinger (Kent State), 7-3
Eliminated with a 0-2 record
141 - Tommy Brosnahan
First Round - pinned Ryan Holsten (Trine), 0:40
Second Round - dec. by Shawn Fayette (Northern Illinois), 9-4
Consolations - pinned Forrest Romer (Trine), 1:59
Consolation - dec. by Matt Hasbrouck (Edinboro), 4-3
Eliminated with a 2-2 record
141 - Donnie Watkins
First Round - pinned Adam Bastow (Grand Valley State), 6:57
Second Round - major dec. Justin Crager-Beck (Trine), 14-0
Quarterfinals - dec. Tyler Green (Cleveland State), 6-0
Semifinals - pinned Pat Greco (Northwestern), 1:17
Final - dec. Dakota Cooley (Central Michigan), 11-5
Finished as the 141-pound champion with a 5-0 record
149 - Mike Hillock
First Round - dec. by Alex Gordon (Ohio State), 3-2
Consolations - dec. David Bolger (Tiffin), 7-1
Consolations - dec. Andy Candiello (Kent State), 4-2
Consolations - dec. Steven Sandefer (Indianapolis), 4-1
Consolations - major dec. Weston Davis (Indianapolis), 11-0
Consolations - dec. Collin Zeerip (Michigan), 10-3
Consolations - won by forfeit Ryan Watts (Michigan State)
Third Place - injury def. Matt Smith (Northern Illinois), 0:32
Finished in third place with a 7-1 record
149 - Tanner Zych
First Round - dec. by Alex Maynard (Harper), 8-3
Consolations - major dec. Kourtney Johnson (Lansing C.C.), 12-3
Consolations - dec. Travis LaSchiava (Harper), 7-4
Consolations - dec. Dylan Marriott (Northwestern), 4-3
Consolations - major dec. by Malcom Martin (Central Michigan), 10-2
Eliminated with a 3-2 record
149 - Collin Zeerip
First Round - dec. by Cameryn Brady (Manchester), 5-2
Consolations - pinned Tim Hammond (Mott C.C.), 3:53
Consolations - pinned Jeff Carr (Findlay), 2:52
Consolations - dec. Louden Gordon (Notre Dame), 3-2
Consolations - dec. Brandon Sommers (Cleveland State), 9-7
Consolations - dec. by Mike Hillock (Michigan), 10-3
Eliminated with a 4-2 record
149 - Ameer Al-Gharib
First Round - dec. by Andy Candiello (Kent State), 8-2
Consolations - major dec. by Conrad Rosch (Ohio), 12-0
Eliminated with a 0-2 record
184 - Matt Hart
First Round - Bye
Second Round - major dec. Eric Heath (Notre Dame), 11-1
Quarterfinals - major dec. by George Lopez (Indianapolis), 10-1
Consolations - major dec. by Ashton Brown (Findlay), 17-6
Eliminated with a 1-2 record
Hwt - Jordan Smith
First Round - dec. by Parker Settecase (Northern Illinois), 4-2
Consolations - pinned by Dylan Forbes (Trine), 4:13
Eliminated with a 0-2 record
OPEN DIVISION
133 - Bret Marsh
First Round - Bye
Second Round - major dec. by Andrew Novak (Eastern Michigan), 13-4
Withdrew with a 0-1 record
149 - Jake Salazar
First Round - major dec. Mike Mencini (Cleveland State), 14-3
Quarterfinals - dec. by Kurt Kinser (Indiana), 6-0
Consolations - dec. by Tommy Churchard (Purdue), 3-2
Eliminated with a 1-2 record
157 - Brandon Zeerip
First Round - Bye
Second Round - dec. by John Johnson (Eastern Michigan), 11-10
Consolations - dec. Tyler Wilps (Pittsburgh), 10-6
Consolations - dec. by Brantley Hooks (Bucknell), 7-4
Eliminated with a 1-2 record
157 - Mark Boyer
First Round - Bye
Second Round - dec. by Pierce Harger (Northwestern), 4-0
Consolations - dec. by Jake Beechy (Illinois), 6-2
Eliminated with a 0-2 record
Hwt - Chad Bleske
First Round - Bye
Second Round - dec. Steve Andrus (Michigan State), 3-1
Quarterfinals - dec. by Andy Hartshorn (Ohio), 4-3 TB2
Consolations - injury def. by Matt Clum (Findlay)
Eliminated with a 1-2 record
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
