Churella claimed his second straight Cliff Keen Invitational crown -- adding to his 141-pound trophy from last season's event -- with a 5-3 decision over Harvard's J.P. O'Conner. After several failed single-leg shots through the first half of the match, Churella shifted his strategy and used an explosive double to put himself in control late in the middle period. The Wolverine capain added another double-leg takedown after a restart midway through the third frame and, despite being reversed in the closing seconds of the match, held on to remain perfect for the weekend. In the semifinals, Churella avenged his only loss of the season, decisively beating Cornell's second-seeded Jordan Leen 6-2. After a scoreless opening period, the Wolverine captain took control with a single-leg takedown early in the second and a double in the third while accumulating 2:27 in riding time.
Improving his season record to a perfect 9-0, Tannenbaum controlled the action throughout his 165-pound championship bout against Missouri's top-seeded Matt Pell, using a pair of low single-leg takedowns to claim a 5-3 decision. The Wolverine struck first about a minute into the opening period and again early in the second frame and allowed Pell just three escapes in the contest. Tannenbaum had difficulty getting to his feet in the third as the Missouri wrestler whittled away his previous riding-time advantage, but Tannenbaum picked up the escape in the closing seconds to seal his first career Cliff Keen Invitational title. Tannenbaum cruised through his semifinal bout against Arizona State's third-seeded Patrick Pitsch, scoring a takedown in each period en route to a 8-3 decision.
Junior/sophomore Tyrel Todd (Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman HS) joined the U-M captains in the championship round but suffered a 12-6 defeat to Ohio State's second-seeded Michael Pucillo. The Buckeye wrestler built an early and significant advantage with takedowns in the first and second periods and a pair of back points. Todd rallied in the final frame, scoring on two quick single legs, but could not overcome the early deficit. Pucillo converted on another takedown at the final buzzer and added just over a minute of riding-time advantage. In the morning semifinal round, Todd dominated Hofstra's fourth-seeded Joe Rovelli with three takedowns and a pair of first-period back points.
Fifth-year senior Mark Moos (Lorain, Ohio/St. Edward HS) registered a 3-1 mark in today's wrestleback competition to take fifth place at 125 pounds. Squaring off against Northern Illinois' fourth-seeded Pat Castillo in the fifth-place match, Moos scored a pair of first-period takedowns to build up a strong advantage before using a duck early in the second to take Castillo straight to his back and earn the fall at 3:33. The Wolverine senior, seeded 10th, kicked off the day in equally dominant fashion with a 16-0 technical fall against Wisconsin's eighth-seeded Collin Cudd. Using his knack for scrambling, coupled with a bar and half, to score 12 back points, Moos ended the contest late in the second frame.
Fifth-year senior Nick Roy (Wall, N.J./Wall HS), seeded seventh at 197 pounds, built up a 6-1 advantage in the first period of his semifinal bout against Missouri's third-seeded Max Askren, but in the subsequent frame, the Wolverine suffered a knee injury that required him to injury default. Roy put the Tiger wrestler on the mat about a minute into the match and immediately locked up a cradle to force two back points. After Askren kicked free, Roy wasted little time before shooting in on another single leg and collecting the takedown out of the ensuing scramble. Roy needed to use his injury time early in the second after trying to fight off a Missouri takedown and needed it again just minutes later at the end of an Askren pinning situation. He could not continue the match and defaulted out to place sixth.
Junior/sophomore Steve Luke (Massillon, Ohio/Perry HS) used a second-period takedown to pick up a 3-1 decision over Cal Poly's Nick Hernandez in his first 174-pound wrestleback match after last night's disappointing quarterfinal loss. However, struggling with a nagging injury from the previous day, he defaulted out to take eighth place.
The Wolverines will kick off the home portion of their 2006-07 schedule on Friday (Dec. 8) with a non-conference contest against intrastate rival Central Michigan. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. start at Cliff Keen Arena.
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