Jan. 6, 2012
Site: Evanston, Ill. (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Score: No. 7 Michigan 28, No. 15 Northwestern 9
Match Results: TrackWrestling.com
Records: No. 15 Northwestern (4-1-0, 0-1-0 Big Ten), No. 7 Michigan (3-1-0, 2-0-0 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Sunday, Jan. 8 at Wisconsin 2 p.m. Madison, Wis. Big Ten Network
EVANSTON, Ill. - No. 15 Northwestern (4-1-0, 0-1-0 Big Ten) opened up Big Ten conference action Friday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena against No. 7 Michigan (3-1-0, 2-0-0 Big Ten) and battled hard in a few tightly-contested matches, but lost its first dual of the season, 28-9. The Wildcats were close in a number of matches down the stretch, but Michigan narrowly won the 165, 174, 197 and heavyweight bouts to secure the dual victory.
Northwestern has a chance to get back on the winning track Sunday as the Wildcats continue their Big Ten season on the road against Wisconsin. Sunday's bout is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will air on tape-delay at 8 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
Seventh-ranked Levi Mele got the dual out to a fast start for Northwestern as he pinned Grant Pizzo in 3:36, putting the Wildcats up 6-0. Mele jumped out to a 5-0 lead before pinning Pizzo in the second period for the Wildcat's 18th win of the season. Michigan then took the 12-6 lead, winning the next three bouts by major decision.
No. 3 Jason Welch then put the Wildcats within three points with his 2-0 win over Brandon Zeerip at 157 lbs. After a scoreless first period, Welch started the second period on bottom and escaped to take the 1-0 lead. Welch then rode Zeerip for the entire third period and accumulated 1:23 of riding time in the victory. With the win, Welch is a perfect 11-0 on the season.
Northwestern wrestled in four tightly contested matches after the break, beginning at 165 lbs. Pierce Harger met No. 18 Dan Yates from Michigan and fell in a close 5-2 decision.
At 174 lbs., two top-10 wrestlers faced off as No. 8 Lee Munster met No. 6 Justin Zeerip. Zeerip struck first with a takedown but Munster escaped shortly after, putting the score at 2-1 heading into the second. Munster then evened things up with an escape in the second but Zeerip scored the bout-winning point on an escape in the third. With riding time not a factor, Zeerip hung on for the 3-2 win.
Michigan extended its lead to 22-9 at 184 lbs., but Northwestern kept fighting in the final two matches of the evening. At 197 lbs., Michigan's No. 18 Max Huntley scored the first takedown but a reversal by No. 20 John Schoen tied things up at 2-2 early in the first. Huntley managed another point with an escape, taking the 3-2 lead into the second. After a scoreless second period, Huntley added one more escape in the third and had 1:47 of riding time for the 5-2 victory.
The final match of the evening at heavyweight was one of the most exciting bouts that featured two more ranked wrestlers with No. 19 Mike McMullan and No. 15 Ben Apland. Neither wrestler scored in the first period and Apland took a 3-0 lead off an escape and takedown in the second. McMullan cut the lead to one with a reversal but Apland managed another escape for the 4-2 lead heading into the third. In the final period, McMullan escaped early and Apland responded again with a takedown for the 6-3 lead. McMullan added one more escape and appeared to have the match-tying takedown in the closing seconds but he was unable to score as Apland won 6-4.
Northwestern wraps up its first weekend of Big Ten dual action against the Badgers at 2 p.m. Sunday at the UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
No. 7 Michigan 28, No. 15 Northwestern 9
125: No. 7 Levi Mele (NU) fall Grant Pizzo (Mich), 3:36 (6-0, NU)
133: No. 17 Zac Stevens (Mich) Maj. Dec. Jameson Oster (NU), 13-2 (6-4, NU)
141: No. 2 Kellen Russell (Mich) Maj. Dec. Colin Shober (NU), 14-2 (8-6, Mich)
149: No. 4 Eric Grajales (Mich) Maj. Dec. Pat Greco (NU), 13-5 (12-6, Mich)
157: No. 3 Jason Welch (NU) dec. Brandon Zeerip (Mich), 2-0 (12-9, Mich)
165: No. 18 Dan Yates (Mich) dec. Pierce Harger (NU), 5-2 (15-9, Mich)
174: No. 6 Justin Zeerip (Mich) dec. No. 8 Lee Munster (NU), 3-2 (18-9, Mich)
184: Hunter Collins (Mich) Maj. Dec. Robert Kellogg (NU), 13-2 (22-9, Mich)
197: No. 18 Max Huntley (Mich) dec. No. 20 John Schoen (NU), 5-2 (25-9, Mich)
Hwt: No. 15 Ben Apland (Mich) dec. No. 19 Mike McMullan (NU), 6-4 (28-9, Mich)
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