Michigan claimed three of the final four matches to complete its second straight comeback win. With U-M down 13-6, Fifth-year senior Steve Luke (Massillon, Ohio/Perry HS), the nation's top-ranked 174-pounder, kicked off the Wolverine surge and improved his season record to 19-0 with a 12-4 major decision against the Gophers' Kaleb Young. The Wolverine captain scored five takedowns, including three in the first period to set the early tone. With the extra point within reach midway through the final frame, Luke struck deep on a single leg and used his 2:01 in riding-time advantage to secure his 12th bonus win of the season.
In the subsequent bout at 184 pounds, junior/sophomore Anthony Biondo (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley HS) similarly gained the only advantage he needed in the opening period, converting on an immediate single-leg shot against Sonny Yohn before riding out the remainder of the frame. Biondo, ranked 13th in the latest NWCA/InterMat poll, stayed on top for most of the second period as well and countered a Yohn shot in the closing seconds to add an additional takedown. The Gopher wrestler rode out the entirety of the third period, but Biondo finished the bout with 2:12 time advantage to wrap up a 5-2 decision and even the dual score.
Fifth-year senior captain Tyrel Todd (Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman HS), ranked fifth nationally, gave the Wolverines their first advantage of the meet, putting on a takedown clinic en route to a 16-5 major decision against Chris McPhail at 197 pounds. Todd converted on seven takedowns, including four in the middle frame, using a combination of single legs, double legs, throw bys and counters to highlight a game of catch and release. The Wolverine captain added 2:31 in riding-time advantage to pick up his ninth bonus win of the season and improve to 13-1.
Minnesota still had to pull out the dual with a big win in the final match, but junior/sophomore heavyweight Eddie Phillips (Woodland, Mich./Lakewood HS) kept the score close, losing a 5-2 decision against Ben Berhow to maintain his team's advantage. Berhow struck on takedowns in the first and second periods and, with Phillips pressing late, locked down to hang on.
The Gophers' gauntlet of nationally-ranked lowerweights proved less effective than Michigan's gauntlet at the upperweights but provided Minnesota a seven-point lead after back-to-back wins in the opening two bouts. The Wolverines responded with back-to-back wins of their own to keep pace.
Sophomore Kellen Russell (High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy) used a strong start -- a pair of first-period takedowns -- to battle to a 6-4 decision against eighth-ranked Mike Thorn at 141 pounds. Russell, ranked fifth nationally, converted on a single leg late in the frame and, after picking up about 30 seconds of riding time, came out on top of scramble in the final 10 seconds to add another late takedown. Thorn cut the gap with a single leg of his own in the second, but Russell, despite being unable to score on several opportunities, controlled the pace in the third to hold on for his 13th straight win. The Wolverine sophomore has not lost a match in exactly two months.
Junior/sophomore Mark Beaudry (Pueblo, Colo./South HS) followed suit with a decision victory in a pivotal swing match at 149 pounds, using a first-period takedown and dominant riding to roll past Joe Grygelko, 4-0. Beaudry finished on a quick low single leg on the mat and, with a cross-body ride, rode out the remainder of the period. He added a quick escape in the second and again used a cross-body ride to control the entirety of the third, earning 4:21 in time advantage in his second dual victory of the season.
Minnesota continued the theme of trading back-to-back wins, claiming decisions at 157 and 165 pounds to reestablished its seven-point advantage and set up the Wolverines' comeback. Junior/sophomore Aaron Hynes (Mt. Morris, Mich./Flint Kearsley HS) nearly pulled off an upset in the former bout but lost 7-6 on riding time to the Gophers' Tyler Safratowich. After falling behind early, Hynes controlled the tempo in the final half of the bout, converting on a late takedown in the second and adding a reversal in the third but could not overcome the deficit.
Michigan will close out the weekend roadswing on Sunday (Feb. 8) with match against intrastate rival Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. The dual is slated for a 1 p.m. at Jenison Field House and will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.
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