Massa, Russell Qualify for Olympic Team Trials
12/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 19, 2015
LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- University of Michigan freshman Logan Massa and volunteer coach Kellen Russell earned top-five freestyle finishes at 74kg/163 pounds and 65kg/143 pounds, respectively, at the 2015 U.S. Senior Wrestling Nationals on Saturday (Dec. 19) at the Las Vegas Convention Center. With their performances, both qualified for the Olympic Team Trials, scheduled for April 9-10, in Iowa City, Iowa.
Massa posted an impressive 5-2 record en route to fourth place in his first ever senior-level tournament. He sacrificed an early advantage in his third-place contest against veteran Nick Marable, falling 4-2 when Marable scored on two stepouts and a counter takedown late in the first period.
Massa reeled off five straight wins in the wrestlebacks after dropping a close 6-5 decision in the first round against another veteran, Adam Hall -- all on exposure points from the neutral position -- with two technical falls. He earned an 11-0 win over Vladyslav Dombrovskiy late in the day, scoring four takedowns, including a four-point throw off a deep Dombrovskiy deep single, and won by disqualification against Kevin LeValley in the consolation semifinals when LeValley yanked his shoulder against joint. Massa led 2-0 at the time of the DQ.
Russell claimed fifth place at 65kg with a 4-2 record, similarly rallying from an early loss with back-to-back technical falls in the wrestlebacks. He knocked off Chase Pami, 10-0, on a quick takedown and three gut wrenches in the first period before adding a match-ending single leg early in the second. He also rallied to beat fellow CKWC member B.J. Futrell, 15-4, in the wrestlebacks.
Sophomore/freshman Stevan Micic, who will officially join the Wolverine program next semester after transferring from Northwestern, just missed qualifying at 57kg/125.5 pounds after suffering his second loss of the tournament in the wrestlebacks. Among Micic's wins, he avenged an earlier loss to veteran Frank Perrelli, rallying from a four-point deficit early in the second to score on a takedown and four leglaces and earn an 11-6 decision. He was eliminated by Ohio State's defending NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello, who earned a 4-2 decision on a counter takedown and two stepouts.
All three represented the Wolverines' Cliff Keen Wrestling Club in the freestyle competition. Among other CKWC members, Jimmy Kennedy captured the 65kg title, B.J. Futrell took eighth place at 65kg and J.T. Felix claimed sixth at 97kg/213 pounds.
U-M RESULTS
Stevan Micic, 57kg/125.5 pounds
First Round - tech. fall Luis Nunez (Kings of Arizona), 10-0
Second Round - tech. fall by Coleman Scott (Sunkist Kids), 10-0
Consolations - dec. Frank Perrelli (Titan Mercury WC), 11-6
Consolations - tech. fall Cruse Aarhus (Panther Wrestling RTC), 13-2
Consolations - dec. by Nathan Tomasello (Titan Mercury WC), 4-2
Eliminated with a 3-2 record
Kellen Russell, 65kg/143 pounds
First Round - Bye
Second Round - tech. fall Michael Dunkum (Pursuit WC), 10-0
Quarterfinals - dec. by Aaron Pico (Titan Mercury WC), 10-3
Consolations - tech. fall Chase Pami (Sunkist Kids), 10-0
Consolations - tech. fall B.J. Futrell (Titan Mercury WC), 15-4
Consolations - tech. fall by Reece Humphrey (NYAC), 10-0
Fifth Place - won by medical forfeit over Frank Molinaro (Nittany Lion WC)
Finished in fifth place with a 4-2 record
Logan Massa, 74kg/165 pounds
First Round - dec. by Adam Hall (Titan Mercury WC), 6-5
Consolations - won by medical forfeit over Camden Carter-Grimes (Pursuit Wrestling Club)
Consolations - tech. fall Nestor Taffur (Lehigh Valley Athletic Club), 12-2
Consolations - injury def. Michael Moreno (Titan Mercury WC), 0:09
Consolations - tech. fall Vladyslav Dombrovskiy (Army), 11-0
Consolations - won by disqualification Kevin LeValley (Buffalo Valley RTC), 0:41
Third Place - dec. by Nick Marable (Sunkist Kids), 4-2
Finished in fourth place with a 5-2 record
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Communications Contact: Leah Howard
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