U-M rallied from an early 10-point deficit to defeat the Gophers, winning six of the final eight matches to lock up the victory after the 197-pound bout. Michigan earned bonus points in three matches, including a second-period fall in the 149-pound match.
Rebounding from a pair of first-day losses, freshman Kellen Russell (High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy) keyed the U-M comeback with his second of two strong performances on the day. Facing the Gophers' fourth-ranked Manuel Rivera in the 141-pound contest, Russell controlled the first and second periods to build an early advantage and hang on for a 10-7 decision. The Wolverine wrestler, ranked No. 1, struck quickly, scoring on driving single leg just 19 seconds into the match and rode out the majority of the frame, earning two back points off a tilt. But, with just seconds remaining, he gave up a double leg on the edge to narrow his lead to just one. Russell earned his escape point in the second and shot in immediately after squaring off to add another takedown before riding out the period. Rivera scored a pair of takedowns in the third, but Russell stayed ahead with two escapes and 2:17 in riding time to improve to 20-2 on the season.
The teams swapped the next two matches but gained considerable ground as fifth-year senior Josh Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) secured his third fall of the season at 149 pounds, pinning Luke Mellmer at the 3:45 mark. The Wolverine, ranked seventh, dominated the opening frame, scoring a quick takedown before using a leg turk to turn Mellmer three times for nine back points. Starting the second period on top, Churella threw the legs in, scooped the Gopher's head and used a half to lay him flat and pick up six team points. Minnesota responded, however, as sixth-ranked C.P. Schlatter scored on a low single late in the first period en route to a 3-2 decision against fifth-year senior Jeff Marsh (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS).
The Wolverines claimed back-to-back decisions at 165 and 174 pounds to take their first and last lead in the dual meet. Fifth-year senior Eric Tannenbaum (Naperville, Ill./North HS), ranked No. 1 at 165, rebounded from his first loss of the season in the morning semifinals with a 6-3 victory over the Gophers' Jeremy Larson, connecting on three takedowns, including two in the first period, to improve to 19-1 on the season. Senior/junior Steve Luke (Massillon, Ohio/Perry HS) similarly responded to his semifinal loss with a 5-3 decision over 10th-ranked Gabriel Dretcsh in the subsequent bout. Luke, ranked second, broke open the contest with a double leg late in the second and countered a Dretsch shot in the third to add another.
Senior/junior Tyrel Todd (Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman HS), who now owns the Wolverines' longest winning streak at 16 straight matches, picked up bonus points at 184 pounds with a 17-4 major decision over Brandon Sitch. After taking an early lead on an outside single, the Wolverine, ranked fourth, initiated a game of catch-and-release with four takedowns in the second and another in the third. He added two points on an imminent near-fall call late in the match to claim his ninth bonus victory in 10 matches.
Sophomore/freshman Anthony Biondo (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley HS) closed out the Wolverines' team scoring with his second major decision of the day, shutting out Mitch Kuhlman 10-0 at 197 pounds. Biondo earned a takedown in each period -- two off of double legs -- and locked up a cradle to add two back points in the third.
Michigan was unable to claim the close matches against the Hawkeyes in the morning semifinal round and gave up a pair of upsets as Iowa took seven individual matches, including five of the first six, to win 23-13. The Wolverines earned bonus points at 141 and 197 pounds but could not overcome the early deficit as their 11-match winning streak came to an end.
After losing a pair of major decisions in the opening two matches, Russell put the Wolverines back into contention with the second pin of his career against 11th-ranked Dan LeClere, rallying from an early deficit to stick the Hawkeye at the 4:45 mark. Russell trailed 4-1 entering the second period after giving up a pair of early takedowns, but, with just 24 seconds remaining in the middle frame, he converted on a single-leg shot, finishing with a double on the edge to even the score. On the restart, LeClere tried to scramble out from bottom with a switch, but Russell covered and used a chin whip to force him to his back and earn a quick call from the official.
Todd won a battle at 184 pounds but needed only a first-period takedown to hold on for a 3-2 decision over 11th-ranked Phil Keddy. The Wolverine connected on a double leg on the edge midway through the opening frame, and, after the wrestlers traded escape points, he fought off a couple Keddy shots in the third, including a deep double leg in the closing seconds.
Biondo controlled the 197-pound contest from start to finish en route to an 8-0 major decision over Chad Beatty and claim the Wolverines' third and final victory against the Hawkeyes After a scoreless first period, Biondo broke open the second, picking up a quick reversal before using a spadle for three back points midway through the period. The U-M wrestler added another takedown in the final frame and nearly put Beatty on his back but had to settle for the major after riding time.
It was the Hawkeyes four straight decisions at the middleweights, which they won by just a combined 10 points, that ices their team victory. Third-ranked Brent Metcalf claimed a 4-2 decision against Churella at 149 pounds, countering a third-period double-leg attempt to score the winning takedown late in the match. At 157, Marsh struck first against 19th-ranked Ryan Morningstar, converting on an outside single midway through the opening period, but the Hawkeye reversed him late in the frame and added a third-period escape to win 3-2.
Iowa earned back-to-back upsets at 165 and 174 pounds as Tannenbaum fell to second-ranked Mark Perry 4-1 and Luke lost 3-2 on a third-period takedown to 11th-ranked Jay Borschel. Perry struck midway through the opening period to take the only advantage he would need against Tannenbaum, fighting for a single leg on the edge of the mat. The Wolverine got off a couple deep shots of his own, but Perry was able to whizzer and neutralize each attack. Tannenbaum picked up his only point in the third after Perry was hit with his second stalling call. Luke had several deep single-leg shots of his own but was unable to finish on six different opportunities. Borschel, conversely, finished on his only shot of the match -- a single leg midway through the third -- to deal Luke his second loss of the season.
The Wolverines will travel to Mount Pleasant, Mich., on Sunday (Jan. 20) to face intrastate rival Central Michigan in its final non-conference dual of the season. The meet is slated for a 2 p.m. start at Rose Arena.
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