With his team down by three points entering the final match, junior/sophomore heavyweight Eddie Phillips (Woodland, Mich./Lakewood HS) used the first round of tiebreakers to upend Ben Kuhar 3-2 and even the team score. After a scoreless first period, Phillips put himself in control with a switch and immediate reversal in the middle frame. Kuhar earned an escape and picked up another early in the third, holding Phillips' riding-time advantage below a minute to force overtime. After a scoreless sudden-victory frame and a U-M escape midway through the first 30-second tiebreaker, Phillips rode out the entirety of the second tiebreaker to seal up the decision and his third straight win.
Sophomore/freshman Justin Zeerip (Fremont, Mich./Hesperia HS) and fifth-year senior Tyrel Todd (Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman HS) earned major decisions at 165 and 197 pounds, respectively, to neutralize the Wildcats' bonus wins. Zeerip dictated the pace against Kyle Bertin -- younger brother of former Wolverine standout Ryan Bertin -- in the former bout and locked up a cradle off a NU shot midway through the second period to gain the only advantage he needed. The Wolverine rookie blew the match open, however, midway through the third, driving Bertin to his back during a flurry on the mat and picking up an additional five points late to claim a 9-1 major decision after riding time.
Todd, ranked sixth in the latest NWCA/InterMat poll, appeared poised to stall out his second opponent in as many matches but had to settle for a 16-5 major decision over John Schoen at 197 pounds. The Wolverine captain scored five takedowns, converting on a spin around and an ankle pick before finishing three single legs in the final period. Schoen, meanwhile, was hit with four stalling calls in the match's first six minutes but avoided the fifth as Todd took him down twice in the final minute of regulation. With the win, Todd improved his record to 11-1 on the season with eight bonus victories.
Michigan's other fifth-year senior captain -- top-ranked Steve Luke (Massillon, Ohio/Perry HS) -- perfected his record to 17-0 on the season with an 11-5 decision over Robert Kellogg at 174 pounds. Luke secured three double-leg takedowns in the opening period and added a single leg along the edge in the second to control the bout from start to finish.
Sophomore Kellen Russell (High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy) claimed the Wolverines' lone victory at the lower weights, taking a 4-2 decision against 16th-ranked Keith Sulzer in the marquee match at 141 pounds. Russell, ranked fifth, scored the bout's only offensive points, initiating a flurry midway through the opening period before countering on a Sulzer half shot to come around for the points. The Wolverine wrestler rode out the remainder of the period and picked up a second-period escape -- sacrificing his time advantage -- to pad his lead to three points. Sulzer earned a reversal out of an early scramble in the third period, but Russell escaped quickly and held on to claim his 11th straight win.
The Wolverines will wrap up their weekend homestand tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 1) with a 2 p.m. meeting against No. 19 Indiana at Cliff Keen Arena. Volunteer coach Andy Hrovat will host a free pre-meet clinic, slated to begin at 11:30 a.m.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now