Senior/junior Stevan Micic, the nation's top-ranked 133-pounder, used a third-period takedown to defeat fourth-ranked Nick Suriano, 3-2, in the dual's marquee match. After both wrestlers failed to score on attacks in the first, including a deep Suriano single leg in the first minute, Micic scored the match's only takedown on a re-shot high crotch midway through the third. With the win, Micic improved to 13-0 on the season. He has defeated ranked opponents in five of his last eight matches.
Fifth-year senior Alec Pantaleo, ranked fifth at 157 pounds, earned a 7-2 decision over 14th-ranked John Van Brill in the dual's other ranked matchup. Pantaleo scored the bulk of his points in the second period, breaking it open on a feet-to-back single leg for four points early in the frame and added another takedown on a go behind in the waning seconds.
Michigan claimed four of the first five bouts before the intermission break to build a significant early lead. Sophomore Drew Mattin, ranked 13th at 125 pounds, opened the dual with a 9-0 major decision against Shane Metzler. Mattin jumped out to a big lead after the first period with a single-leg takedown and six back points -- four off a tilt and two at the buzzer on a Rutgers granby attempt.
Junior/sophomore Kanen Storr, ranked sixth at 141 pounds, claimed a 6-1 decision over Peter Lipari behind a four-point turn in the round of tiebreakers. Storr escaped quickly in his 30-second go, then caught Lipari rolling in the second, putting him on the back before riding out the frame.
Senior/junior Logan Massa, ranked seventh nationally, accepted a forfeit win at 165 pounds and Rutgers claimed a narrow decision at 174 before the Wolverines closed out the dual with three straight decisions.
Sophomore/freshman Jelani Embree, ranked 20th at 184 pounds, scored three takedowns, including two in the first period, to earn a 7-2 decision over Anthony Olivieri. He iced the match late with a high crotch in the third period.
Senior/junior Jackson Striggow scored in the last 20 seconds of the third to edge Matt Correnti, 6-4. Striggow held the initial lead on a high crotch early in the first period but gave up a go behind late, and the score was even at the end of the first period -- and again late in the third after traded escapes. After just missing on a single leg on the edge of the mat, Striggow struck on another high crotch off the subsequent restart and rode out the match to seal it.
Freshman heavyweight Mason Parris, ranked seventh nationally, used riding time to make the difference in his 4-3 decision against Christian Colucci in the final bout. Parris scored on a fireman's carry early in the first period and nearly had the Scarlet Knight wrestler on his back. The two traded escapes in the second and third before Parris sacrificed a late hands-in-the-face penalty to even the match score. His 1:03 in riding-time advantage, accumulated largely in the first period, broke the tie.
Michigan (12-1, 8-1 Big Ten) will close out its dual-meet slate at home next Sunday (Feb. 24), hosting Clarion for a 2 p.m. dual at Cliff Keen Arena. Tickets are still available through the U-M Ticket Office.
Results:
125 -- #13 Drew Mattin (U-M) major dec. Shane Metzler, 9-0 [U-M, 4-0]
133 -- #1 Stevan Micic (U-M) dec. #4 Nick Suriano, 3-2 [U-M, 7-0]
141 -- #6 Kanen Storr (U-M) dec. Peter Lipari, 6-1 TB [U-M, 10-0]
149 -- #1 Anthony Ashnault (RU) major dec. Malik Amine, 16-4 [U-M, 10-4]
157 -- #5 Alec Pantaleo (U-M) dec. #14 John Van Brill, 7-2 [U-M, 13-4]
165 -- #7 Logan Massa (U-M) won by forfeit [U-M, 19-4]
174 -- Joe Grello (RU) dec. Reece Hughes, 4-1 [U-M, 19-7]
184 -- #20 Jelani Embree (U-M) dec. Anthony Olivieri, 7-2 [U-M, 22-7]
197 -- Jackson Striggow (U-M) dec. Matt Correnti, 6-4 [U-M, 25-7]
Hwt -- #7 Mason Parris (U-M) dec. Christian Colucci, 4-3 [U-M, 28-7]
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