Michigan
Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
Parris Captures Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Heavyweight Title
12/7/2019 9:07:00 PM | Wrestling
» Mason Parris used two first-period takedowns and 1:30 riding time to defeat Arizona State's sixth-ranked Tanner Hall, 6-3, in the heavyweight championship match; he posted a perfect 5-0 tournament record.
» Jelani Embree (184 pounds) placed eighth after winning his morning wrestleback and ultimately defaulting out due to injury; Jack Medley (125) and Cole Mattin (141) were one win shy of reaching the podium.
» Michigan took 16th place (37.5 points) in the team standings.
Site: Las Vegas, Nev. (Las Vegas Convention Center)
Event: Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Day 2 of 2)
U-M Team Standing: 16th Place of 32 Teams (37.5 points)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Jan. 5 -- vs. Oregon State (Cliff Keen Arena), 4 p.m.
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LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Sophomore Mason Parris captured the heavyweight crown to headline the No. 22-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team's performance at the 38th annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, which wrapped Saturday (Dec. 7) at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Wolverines took 16th (37.5 points) behind the efforts of two placewinners and five point scorers.
Parris, the tournament's top seed and ranked second nationally by InterMat, used a pair of first-period takedowns to claim a 6-3 decision against Arizona State's sixth-ranked Tanner Hall in the championship match. The Wolverine captain struck on a single leg less than 20 seconds into the bout, scrambled to another takedown off a crotch-lock off a dump attempt and rode for 1:03 time advantage. Hall's best chance came on a low single shot in the final 30 seconds of the third. Parris scrambled out and ended the match in deep on a leg attack of his own.
Parris also earned a 6-1 decision over Nebraska's 12th-ranked Christian Lance in the morning semifinal round, similarly behind two first-period takedowns and 4:16 riding-time advantage.
Parris captured his first Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational crown in his first appearance at the annual tournament. He is Michigan's fourth CKLV champion in three years, joining Myles Amine (174, 2018), Alec Pantaleo (157, 2017) and Adam Coon (Hwt, 2017). Parris improved 15-0 on the season and boasts eight wins over nationally-ranked opposition.
Junior/sophomore Jelani Embree, seeded ninth at 184 pounds, settled for an eighth-place finish after winning his first consolation bout of the day then suffering an early first-period injury in his second and defaulting out of the tournament. Embree converted on takedowns in the first and second periods, including a slick duck under and rideout in the late opening frame, to defeat Minnesota's 19th-ranked Owen Webster, 5-2, to lock up his spot on the podium. He finished with a 4-2 record over two days.
Junior/sophomore Jack Medley and freshman Cole Mattin dropped decision losses in the day's first round of wrestlebacks to just miss out on placing in their CKLV debuts. Medley fell to Ohio State's Malik Heinselman, 7-3, after the Buckeye iced the bout with a late takedown. Mattin sacrificed a third-period lead in a 4-3 loss to Northern Iowa's Michael Blockhus, who finished on a takedown midway through the final frame and ride out for the win.
The Wolverines are done for the semester and will take a break from competition for final exams and the holidays before resuming dual-meet action on Sunday, Jan. 5 against Oregon State. The dual is slated for a 4 p.m. start at Cliff Keen Arena and it will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. Tickets are still available through the U-M Ticket Office.
Top 20 Teams (Final)
1. Nebraska              118 2. Ohio State            109.5 3. Arizona State         103 4. Northern Iowa          94 5. Purdue                 92.5 6. Iowa State             82.5 7. Minnesota              79.5 8. NC State               77.5 9. Northwestern           77 10. Oklahoma               66.5 11. Cornell                58 12. Virginia Tech          54 13. Wyoming                49.5 14. Virginia              46.5 15. Northern Colorado     40 16. MICHIGAN              37.5 17. Clarion               27.5 18. Utah Valley           27 19. Cal Poly              26 20. Fresno State          24.5
Michigan Results (Day 2)
Numbers listed are tournament seedings
125 Pounds -- Jack Medley
Consolations - dec. by Malik Heinselman (Ohio State), 7-3
Eliminated with a 2-2 record
141 Pounds -- #8 Cole Mattin
Consolations - dec. by Michael Blockhus (Northern Iowa), 4-3
Eliminated with a 2-2 record
184 Pounds -- #9 Jelani Embree
Consolations - vs. #11 Owen Webster (Minnesota), 5-2
Consolations - injury def. by #7 Hunter Bolen (Virginia Tech), 0:30
Withdrew to eighth place with a 4-2 record
Heavyweight -- #1 Mason Parris
Semifinals - dec. #5 Christian Lance (Nebraska), 6-1
Final - dec. #3 Tanner Hall (Arizona State), 6-3
Finished as the heavyweight champion with a 5-0 record
Players Mentioned
