The Chippewas twice knotted the score in the dual's second half, but U-M captured the last two matches to pull away. With Michigan carrying a narrow three-point lead in the final bout, Apland, ranked 14th in the latest InterMat poll, built an early advantage against CMU's 13th-ranked Peter Sturgeon, countering a single shot to score and subsequently ride out the opening frame. He took Sturgeon down again with a late second-period single leg and caught him in a shallow overhook, running it over to end the bout at the buzzer (5:00).
Sophomore/freshman Max Huntley (Emerald Isle, N.C./Blair Academy) helped Michigan retake the lead in the preceding match, where he cruised to a 10-6 decision over Chad Friend at 197 pounds. Huntley, ranked 15th, scored four takedowns -- two apiece in the first and second periods -- and accumulated 2:37 in riding-time advantage.
The Wolverines had held an early and sizable advantage after claiming three of the opening five bouts, rebounding from a major decision defeat at the starting weight to reel off three consecutive wins from its ranked lowerweights. Senior Zac Stevens (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS), ranked 18th, put U-M on the board with a 4-2 decision over Zach Horan at 133 pounds, scoring the bout's only offensive points on a second-period front headlock and accumulating 1:17 in riding-time advantage.
Fifth-year senior Kellen Russell (High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy) survived a first-period scare to claim a 12-9 decision against Scott Mattingly at 141 pounds. Russell, ranked second, converted on a pair of early takedowns and rode for most of the frame before getting caught in a cradle out of a late scramble. Mattingly, who earned five points for the reversal and near fall, ran out of time at the buzzer and held a two-point advantage early in the third. Russell finished on three takedowns in the frame, sealing the win with a high crotch in the final 20 seconds. He improved to 20-2 on the season.
Junior/sophomore Eric Grajales (Brandon, Fla./Brandon HS) neutralized the Chippewas' early bonus point with one of his own, earning a 12-4 major decision against Joey Kielbasa at 149 pounds. Grajales, ranked 10th, scored four takedowns in the match, including three off of Kielbasa's leg attacks, and added a two-point tilt early in the second frame. Grajales' win pulled the Wolverines ahead, 10-4.
The Chippewas evened the score with decision victories in swing matches at 157 and 165 pounds. Junior/sophomore Brandon Zeerip (Fremont, Mich./Hesperia HS) put Donnie Corby on his back for five points in the first period of the former bout, but the CMU wrestler reversed the position, added a second-period double leg and earned the riding point to seal a 10-8 win.
Fifth-year senior Justin Zeerip (Fremont, Mich./Hesperia HS) rallied from an early deficit to halt the Chippewas' momentum with a 13-5 major decision over Craig Kelliher at 174 pounds. After giving up an early single leg and fighting off another, fifth-ranked Zeerip converted on five unanswered takedowns, including two in the third to seal the bonus point. Zeerip improved to 17-1 on the season.
The Wolverines (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) will return to Big Ten Conference competition next weekend with dual slates against Minnesota and Michigan State. U-M will travel to Minneapolis, Minn., on Friday (Jan. 27) for a 7:30 p.m. CST match against the Golden Gophers at the Sports Pavilion before returning home to face intrastate rival Michigan State on Sunday (Jan. 29) in a 2 p.m. contest at Cliff Keen Arena.
Results:
125 -- #16 Joe Roth (CMU) major dec. Grant Pizzo, 17-6 CMU, 4-0
133 -- #18 Zac Stevens (U-M) dec. Zach Horan, 4-2 CMU, 4-3
141 -- #2 Kellen Russell (U-M) dec. Scott Mattingly, 12-9 U-M, 6-4
149 -- #10 Eric Grajales (U-M) major dec. Joey Kielbasa, 12-4 U-M, 10-4
157 -- Donnie Corby (CMU) dec. Brandon Zeerip, 10-8 U-M, 10-7
165 -- Mike Ottinger (CMU) dec. #16 Dan Yates, 5-3 Tie, 10-10
174 -- #5 Justin Zeerip (U-M) major dec. Craig Kelliher, 13-5 U-M, 13-10
184 -- #5 Ben Bennett (CMU) major dec. Hunter Collins, 10-0 Tie, 14-14
197 -- #15 Max Huntley (U-M dec. Chad Friend, 10-6 U-M, 17-14
Hwt -- #14 Ben Apland (U-M) pinned #13 Peter Sturgeon, 5:00 U-M, 23-14
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