In a rematch of last season's 149-pound NCAA semifinal, which Esposito won 7-2 en route to his first NCAA individual championship, Tannenbaum, ranked third preseason in all major polls, rallied from a two-point deficit to post six points in the third frame and claim the biggest win of his collegiate career to date.
Esposito struck first after a scoreless first period, scoring on a reversal early in the middle frame to take a 2-0 advantage. Tannenbaum freed himself to cut the lead to one point and warded off further OSU attacks late in the period.
Starting in the down position to begin the third period, Tannenbaum took control of the match, scoring a quick reversal and adding a pair of back points to steal away the lead for good. After Esposito pulled away to earn the one-point escape, Tannenbaum scored again on a takedown late in the period and rode out the Cowboy wrestler to secure the win in his first action of the 2005-06 campaign.
Tannenbaum is the 29th Wolverine wrestler to compete at the annual all-star meet and the third in as many years. His win marked the first U-M all-star win since Otto Olson and Andy Hrovat each collected big victories at the 2002 event. At that meet, Hrovat earned a 7-5 decision against Indiana's top-ranked Viktor Sveda.
The Wolverines will kick off the season on Saturday (Nov. 26) against Big Ten Conference rival Penn State in State College, Pa. The match is slated for a 1 p.m. start at the Nittany Lions' Rec Hall.
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