Michigan
Central Michigan
Mantanonas Steal the Show in Senior Day Win Over Central Michigan
2/23/2025 8:48:00 PM | Wrestling
» No. 19 Michigan won seven of 10 bouts, including each of the last five and five with bonus points, to cruise past Central Michigan, 31-11, in its final dual of the season.
» Beau Mantanona (165 pounds) scored a first-period pin (:47) against Chandler Amaker to kickstart U-M's surge after the intermission break.
» Brock Mantanona (174) bumped up a weight class to defeat CMU's seventh-ranked Alex Cramer, 9-8, on a third-period takedown; it was his final date to preserve his redshirt.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team closed out its dual-meet schedule with a decisive 31-11 win over in-state foe Central Michigan on Sunday evening (Feb. 23) in front of a sold-out 1,900 fans at Cliff Keen Arena. The Wolverines claimed seven bouts, including each of the last five after the intermission break, and earned bonus points in five.
It was Senior Day, but it was a pair of freshmen who stole the show as sophomore/freshman Beau Mantanona and freshman Brock Mantanona kickstarted U-M's dominant second half with a first-period pin and upset win at 165 and 174 pounds, respectively.
Beau Mantanona, ranked 10th nationally at 165 pounds, kickstarted Michigan's second-half surge with a first-period pin against Chandler Amaker in just :47. Mantanona transitioned from a duck under to a leg attack, locking up a cradle in the ensuing scramble. It was his third pin of the season and sixth bonus-point win, improving to 11-3 since returning from injury.
Brock Mantanona, wrestling up a weight to preserve his redshirt, edged seventh-ranked Alex Cramer, 9-8, at 174 pounds. Mantanona struck early with a low single-leg takedown, while Cramer answered with a takedown of his own in the second period. Tied 6-6 in the third, Mantanona secured the winning takedown with :40 remaining and defended against late attacks to notch his third ranked win and finish 12-3 on the season.
Michigan claimed bonus points in each of the last three bouts. Senior/junior Jaden Bullock, ranked 26th at 184 pounds, rolled to a 17-2 technical fall over Mason Alessio, tallying four takedowns and a four-point cradle in 5:00. Graduate student Jacob Cardenas, ranked third at 197 pounds, earned a 12-3 major decision over Luke Cochran with two takedowns and a four-point tilt. Cardenas improved to 16-1 with 13 bonus wins this season.
Graduate student Josh Heindselman closed out the dual with a 22-6 technical fall against Bryan Caves at heavyweight. Heindselman, ranked eighth nationally, scored seven takedowns for the second straight bout, using a combination of single legs and go behinds to end the match at the 5:22 mark early in the third period. It was Heindselman's team-best 10th tech fall on the season -- he ranks among the nation's top 10 leaders in the category -- as he improved to 19-2.
Central Michigan claimed three of the opening five bouts and held a narrow 11-8 advantage at the intermission break before the Wolverines' surge.
Senior/junior Christian Tanefeu opened the dual with a 9-6 decision against Grant Stahl at 125 pounds. He scored three takedowns, including two in the first period, and was pushing for bonus late when he gave up a go-behind takedown late and lost his riding-time advantage to narrow the final score.
Sophomore Sergio Lemley, ranked 12th at 141 pounds, also earned a dominant bonus win with a 26-11 technical fall against Andrew Austin. It was the Chippewa who scored first on a quick low single, but Lemley answered with a fast reversal then added three takedowns in the first period. He added two more in the second and three in the third to end the bout at the 6:33 mark. It was Lemley's sixth tech fall this season and 10th bonus win.
The Wolverines (7-5) will have two weeks to prepare for the 2025 Big Ten Championships, slated for Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9, in Evanston, Ill. Action will begin at 10 a.m. CT on Saturday and noon CT on Sunday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
No. 19 Michigan 31, Central Michigan 11
Individual rankings by InterMat
125 -- Christian Tanefeu (U-M) dec. Grant Stahl, 9-6 -- U-M, 3-0
133 -- #29 Sean Spidle (CMU) tech. fall Nolan Wertanen, 15-0 (5:24) -- CMU, 5-3
141 -- #12 Sergio Lemley (U-M) tech. fall Andrew Austin, 26-11 (6:33) -- U-M, 8-5
149 -- Mason Shrader (CMU) dec. Dylan Gilcher, 4-2 -- Tied, 8-8
157 -- #17 Johnny Lovett (CMU) dec. Zack Mattin, 9-3 -- CMU, 11-8
165 -- #10 Beau Mantanona (U-M) pinned Chandler Amaker, :47 -- U-M, 14-11
174 -- Brock Mantanona (U-M) dec. #7 Alex Cramer, 9-8 -- U-M, 17-11
184 -- #26 Jaden Bullock (U-M) tech. fall Mason Alessio, 17-2 (5:00) -- U-M, 22-11
197 -- #3 Jacob Cardenas (U-M) major dec. Luke Cochran, 12-3 -- U-M, 26-11
Hwt -- #8 Josh Heindselman (U-M) tech. fall Bryan Caves, 22-6 (5:22) -- U-M, 31-11
Players Mentioned
