Sophomore/freshman Brandon Zeerip (Fremont, Mich./Hesperia HS) stole the show in his dual-meet debut, pinning No. 19-ranked Colton Salazar at the 5:27 mark in the 157-pound bout to seal Michigan's team victory with two matches remaining. Salazar struck first on a pair of early takedowns, but Zeerip stole away the advantage on a five-point move midway through the frame, catching a standing half off a single leg to put the Boilermaker wrestler on his back. Salazar scored on two more takedowns to pull within two points entering the final frame, but Zeerip wore him out, countering a lackadaisical single attempt for another takedown early in the third before catching Salazar midway through a granby roll to stack him up.
Junior/sophomore Ben Apland (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS) and senior/junior Kellen Russell (High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy) claimed technical falls at heavyweight and 141 pounds, respectively, to pull Michigan back into the driver's seat. Apland notched the Wolverines' first victory after they dropped the opening two weights, including a first-period pin at 184 pounds, dominating Purdue's Roger Vukobratovich en route to a 21-4 win -- his second career tech fall and first in two seasons. Apland, ranked 10th in the latest InterMat poll, spent the bulk of the match on top, turning the Boiler wrester four times -- for 12 total points -- on a first-period cradle, a first-period guillotine, another cradle early in the second period and out of a third-period scramble to end the bout at 6:29.
Russell posted a similarly decisive score in the 141-pound contest, using three takedowns and 13 back points to roll over Jake Fleckenstein, 20-4. The Wolverine captain, ranked No. 1 nationally, nearly had the tech fall in the first period after a quick snap down for two and three straight three-point tilts, but he gave up a late reversal off the last turn before ending the frame with a duck under and another two-point tilt. Russell countered a single leg to take Fleckenstein down early in the second and registering one more, match-ending two-point tilt to end the bout at 4:49. Russell is 21-0 on the season.
Between Michigan's two tech falls, sophomore Sean Boyle (Lowell, Mass./Blair Academy) and junior Zac Stevens (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS) took advantage of explosive starts to claim decision victories at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively, providing the Wolverines' their first lead of the dual at the midway point. Boyle controlled the first two periods against Camden Eppert, scoring on a first-period single leg before notching a reversal and subsequent single-leg takedown in the middle frame. Eppert narrowed the gap on a Boyle technical violation and a single leg of his own, but the Wolverine earned an escape and added a point after for riding time to secure the 8-6 decision.
Stevens also claimed narrow win, battling past Akif Eren, 7-4, behind two takedowns, two escapes and riding time. The Wolverine struck on a double leg and a counter takedown in the first period, but Erin worked back into the match on a double leg of his own late in the second. Erin escaped to open the third, and neither wrestler scored again to preserve Steven's advantage.
Sophomore/freshman Eric Grajales (Brandon, Fla./Brandon HS) claimed a solid 6-1 win in the 149-pound match, earning his second win over Purdue's Sam Patacsil of the season. Grajales converted on a double leg and subsequent ankle leg in the first period, both times carrying Patacsil back to the center to finish with a leg turk. He scored again out of a second-period flurry and rode out the frame to build riding-time advantage. He was ridden out to lose that advantage in the third but didn't come close to being turned to hang onto the decision victory.
Sophomore/freshman Dan Yates (Hesperia, Mich./Hesperia HS) earned Michigan's last win with a 6-0 shutout against Kyle Mosier at 165 pounds. The Wolverine rookie scored on a snap-down spin around early in the first and, after getting ridden out in the second, scored on a quick reversal and two-point half in the third.
The Wolverines will wrap up the weekend slate on Sunday (Jan. 16), heading to Mount Pleasant, Mich., for a 2 p.m. dual against intrastate rival Central Michigan at McGuirk Arena.
Results:
184 -- A.J. Kissel (PU) pinned Hunter Collins, 2:04 PU, 6-0
197 -- #9 Logan Brown (PU) dec. #13 Anthony Biondo, 7-4 PU, 9-0
Hwt -- #10 Ben Apland (U-M) tech. fall Roger Vukobratovich, 21-4 (6:29) PU, 9-5
125 -- Sean Boyle (U-M) dec. Camden Eppert, 8-6 PU, 9-8
133 -- Zac Stevens (U-M) dec. Akif Eren, 7-4 U-M, 11-9
141 -- #1 Kellen Russell (U-M) tech. fall Jake Fleckenstein, 20-4 (4:49) U-M, 16-9
149 -- Eric Grajales (U-M) dec. Sam Patacsil, 6-1 U-M, 19-9
157 -- Brandon Zeerip (U-M) pinned #19 Colton Salazar, 5:27 U-M, 25-9
165 -- Dan Yates (U-M) dec. Kyle Mozier, 6-0 U-M, 28-9
174 -- #11 Luke Manuel (PU) tech. fall Mark Boyer, 27-12 (6:51) U-M, 28-13
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