Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Michigan
Chippewa Wrestlers Fall at 8th-Ranked Michigan
1/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michigan is known for being strong at the upper weights.
The eighth-ranked Wolverines showcased that strength Friday night in winning the final three weight classes - two on technical falls - in downing No. 19 Central Michigan, 22-12, in a non-conference wrestling dual at before a sold-out Cliff Keen Arena.
"It's good for our guys to be in that environment," said CMU coach Tom Borrelli, whose team, which is 5-3, will wrestle next weekend at Northern Iowa and Iowa State. "The gym was sold out. We'll be in that environment again next weekend."
The Wolverines, 8-1, seized a 6-0 lead with wins at 125 pounds and 133, the latter in overtime.
Zach Horan won by 3-1 decision at 141 to slice CMU's deficit to 6-3. Horan scored a takedown in the final 10 seconds to break a 1-1 tie.
After Michigan won at 149 to up its lead to 9-3, the Chippewas reeled off three consecutive victories: Luke Smith at 157, Jordan Atienza at 165, and Mike Ottinger at 174 to seize a 12-9 lead.
All three Chippewas trailed in the third period in their respective matches.
Smith, who is ranked 14th, was down 4-3 then got a third-period takedown for a 5-4 victory over 10th-ranked Brian Murphy, who was an All-American last season.
Down 1-0 entering the third period, Atienza escaped to tie the match and went on to a 7-3 victory.
Ottinger, who is ranked ninth, trailed 3-1 in the third to 13th-ranked Davonte Mahomes. Ottinger opened the third with an escape to pull to 3-2, then notched a takedown followed by a four-point near-fall to earn an 8-4 win.
"I think our conditioning is getting better," Borrelli said. "In some of those matches we kind of out-conditioned those guys. The things we're working on in the room are paying off a little bit."
Michigan went back on top, 14-12, on second-ranked Domenic Aboundader's 15-0 technical fall at 184; the Wolverines' Max Huntley, who is ranked seventh, took a 12-6 decision at 197; and U-M heavyweight Adam Coon, who is ranked second, closed the meet with a 21-6 technical fall.
Borrelli pointed to lower-weight losses --125, 133 and 149 - as being critical.
"I think we're competing hard," he said. "We just have to break through. At 25, 33 and 49, we've got to figure out how to win those types of matches. That was the dual meet for us. If we win those matches, we're right there.
"We're close. We've got to keep working hard and doing what we're doing."
Michigan 22, Central Michigan 12
125 pounds: Conor Youtsey (M) decisioned Brent Fleetwood, 4-2.
133: Rosario Bruno (M) dec. Corey Keener, 4-2, SV-1.
141: Zach Horan (CMU) dec. George Fisher, 3-1.
149: Alec Pantaleo (M) dec. Colin Heffernan, 10-4.
157: Luke Smith (CMU) dec. Brian Murphy, 5-4.
165: Jordan Atienza (CMU) dec. Garrett Sutton, 7-3.
174: Mike Ottinger (CMU) dec. Davonte Mahomes 8-4.
184: Domenic Abounader (M) tech. fall Jordan Ellingwood, 15-0, 6:11.
197: Max Huntley (M) dec. Jackson Lewis, 12-6.
HWT: Adam Coon (M) tech. fall Newton Smerchek, 21-6, 7:00.
Players Mentioned
