Jan. 28, 2006
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Northwestern's 16th-ranked wrestling team dropped a nailbiter to No. 4 Michigan 22-15 Saturday at Cliff Keen Arena. The Wildcats rallied to take three of the last four matches, but the Wolverines proved to be too much in the end. John Velez (Kings Mills, Ohio/Kings), Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), Mike Tamillow (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) and Matt Delguyd (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) each tallied wins for the Wildcats.
Northwestern started the dual on the right note as Velez took his 125-pound match easily, earning a 15-7 tech fall over the Wolverines' Michael Watts to give NU a 4-0 lead.
The Wildcats hit a bit of a drought after that, as Michigan rattled off five-consecutive wins to take a 19-4 lead.
At 133 lbs., Daniel Quintela (St. Paul, Minn./Highland Park) suffered a fall from Michigan's 12th-ranked Mark Moos.
The Wolverines' fifth-ranked Josh Churella then took a tight 8-4 decision over NU's sixth-ranked Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward) at 141 lbs.
At 149 lbs., Jimmy Kim (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria Community) suffered a 15-4 tech fall to Michigan's sixth-ranked Eric Tennenbaum.
Greg Hagel (Linwood, N.J./Blair Academy) nearly got the 'Cats back into the match versus Michigan's Jeff Marsh at 157 lbs. Down 5-2 with one minute remaining, Hagel notched a reversal with 22 seconds remaining, then tallied a point with riding time to send the match into overtime. There, however, Marsh earned a takedown with 12 seconds remaining to win the match.
At 165 lbs., Will Durkee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) fell in a 6-1 decision to the Wolverines' top-ranked Josh Churella.
Herbert then took the mat for the Wildcats at 174 lbs., and changed the match's complexion like only he can. The second-ranked Herbert earned an 18-1 tech fall over Michigan's sixth-ranked Nick Roy to cut the Wildcats' deficit to 19-9. Herbert now stands at 23-0 this season and is riding a 29-match winning streak.
Tamillow then came through for the 'Cats with a big win at 184 lbs. Tamillow earned a 7-2 decision over Omar Maktabi, making the score 19-12.
Knowing he would need to earn a win to give Northwestern a chance to win, the 11th-ranked Delguyd came out and topped Michigan's Willie Breyer in overtime, 4-2. Delguyd notched a takedown with 28 seconds remaining in the sudden victory session to take the win, making the score 19-15 heading into the night's final match.
Dustin Fox (Galion, Ohio/Galion) wrestled admirably versus Michigan's third-ranked Greg Wagner, but couldn't come up with the win. Wagner tallied a first-period takedown and a second-period escape to take a 4-0 win with riding time, clinching the match for the Wolverines.
With the loss, Northwestern falls to 6-4 overall, 1-2 in the Big Ten.
The Wildcats return to action at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3 as they host Ohio State at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
No. 16 Northwestern 15, No. 4 Michigan 22 125 -- #8 John Velez (NU) major dec. Michael Watts, 15-7 NU, 4-0 133 -- #12 Mark Moos (U-M) pinned Daniel Quintela, 0:32 U-M, 6-4 141 -- #5 Josh Churella (U-M) dec. #6 Ryan Lang, 8-4 U-M, 9-4 149 -- #6 Eric Tannenbaum (U-M) major dec. Jimmy Kim, 15-4 U-M, 13-4 157 -- Jeff Marsh (U-M) dec. Greg Hagel, 7-5 SV U-M, 16-4 165 -- #1 Ryan Churella (U-M) dec. #19 Will Durkee, 6-1 U-M, 19-4 174 -- #2 Jake Herbert (NU) tech. fall #6 Nick Roy, 18-1 U-M, 19-9 184 -- #12 Mike Tamillow (NU) dec. Omar Maktabi, 7-2 U-M, 19-12 197 -- #11 Matt Delguyd (NU) dec. Willie Breyer, 4-2 SV U-M, 19-15 Hwt -- #3 Greg Wagner (U-M) dec. #9 Dustin Fox, 4-0 U-M, 22-15