Pitt claimed the dual's final three matches to surge past the Wolverines, who had the chance to at least even the team score with a decision win at heavyweight, although Pitt held the criteria advantage. The Panthers' Zac Thomusseit won a late scramble in the sudden-victory frame, however, scoring on the edge to defeat senior/junior Ben Apland (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS), 3-1.
U-M had rallied to claim its first lead of the dual, 13-10, after three consecutive wins from its Hesperia (Mich.) High School trio at the middleweights.
Junior/sophomore Brandon Zeerip (Fremont, Mich./Hesperia HS) and junior/sophomore Dan Yates (Hesperia, Mich./Hesperia HS) used strong third periods to claim decision victories at 157 and 165 pounds, respectively. Zeerip countered a deep single-leg shot to edge Donnie Tasser, 3-2, while Yates used a second-period escape and a third-period rideout to knock off Tyler Wilps, 2-0.
Fifth-year senior Justin Zeerip (Fremont, Mich./Hesperia HS) earned a pair of reversals to beat Ethan Headlee, 4-2, at 174 pounds. After a scoreless first period, Zeerip wrapped up Headlee's leg, nearly getting into a Peterson position before coming around for the reversal. Headlee reversed the Wolverine early in the third, but Zeerip quickly regained control with another reversal and a subsequent rideout.
Senior Zac Stevens (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS) cruised past the Panthers' Shelton Mack, 10-2, to claim his second major decision of the weekend at 133 pounds. Stevens converted on three takedowns, including two in the second period, drew a couple of stall points, and used his 1:33 in riding-time advantage to earn the bonus win.
Despite gaining early leads in both matches, the Wolverines lost a pair of close decisions to top-10 opposition at 149 and 197 pounds. Third-ranked Tyler Nauman scrambled for a takedown in the closing seconds of the first period and earned a second-period rideout to defeat junior/sophomore Eric Grajales (Brandon, Fla./Brandon HS), 4-2, at 149. Sophomore/freshman Max Huntley (Emerald Isle, N.C./Blair Academy) carried a one-point lead into the third period against seventh-ranked Matt Wilps, but the Panther 197-pounder rode out the frame, earning a three-point near fall to seal a 6-2 decision.
Michigan was missing several projected starters, including fifth-year senior Kellen Russell (High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy), for the second straight dual. All are expected to return to competition soon.
The Wolverines will take a two-week break before returning to competition on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3, at the annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev. The first session is slated for a 9 a.m. PST start at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Results:
125 -- #19 Anthony Zanetta (Pitt) major dec. Grant Pizzo, 16-5 Pitt, 4-0
133 -- #13 Zac Stevens (U-M) major dec. Shelton Mack, 10-2 Tie, 4-4
141 -- Travis Shaffer (Pitt) dec. Donnie Watkins, 3-1 Pitt, 7-4
149 -- #3 Tyler Nauman (Pitt) dec. Eric Grajales, 4-2 Pitt, 10-4
157 -- Brandon Zeerip (U-M) dec. Donnie Tasser, 3-2 Pitt, 10-7
165 -- Dan Yates (U-M) dec. Tyler Wilps, 2-0 Tie, 10-10
174 -- #11 Justin Zeerip (U-M) dec. Ethan Headlee, 4-2 U-M, 13-10
184 -- Max Thomusseit (Pitt) dec. Chris Heald, 6-2 Tie, 13-13
197 -- #7 Matt Wilps (Pitt) dec. Max Huntley, 6-2 Pitt, 16-13
Hwt -- Zac Thomusseit (Pitt) dec. #13 Ben Apland, 3-1 SV Pitt, 19-13
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