Michigan will be represented in the quarterfinals at the lowerweights and upperweights as junior Zac Stevens (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS), senior/junior captain Kellen Russell (High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy), sophomore/freshman Brandon Zeerip (Fremont, Mich./Hesperia HS), sophomore/freshman Dan Yates (Hesperia, Mich./Hesperia HS), fifth-year senior captain Anthony Biondo (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley HS) and junior/sophomore Ben Apland (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS) all posted perfect records through the preliminary rounds.
Stevens dominated his opening-day opposition at 133 pounds, single-handedly earning eight team points with two pins -- his second and third of the season -- and a major decision. Stevens, ranked No. 19 in the latest InterMat poll, cruised into the quarterfinals with a quick first-period pin against North Carolina's Pat Owens in his final match of the day, catching Owens in a cradle off a roll attempt at the 1:52 mark. The Wolverine junior earned a quicker fall in his first contest, using a head scoop with a half finish to pin Campbell's Dominique Whitfield at the 48-second mark.
Russell, the nation's No. 1-ranked wrestler at 141 pounds, similarly made little work of his day-one competition, securing a first-period fall before outscoring his latter two opponents by a combined 20-0 margin. Russell rolled past Ohio's Darrin Boing, 14-0, to advance into the quarterfinals, converting on three takedowns and earning six back points off an arm bar and subsequent power half. He collected his second pin of the season in the pigtail round, using a half to stick Gardner-Webb's Richie Spicel at 1:51.
Making his U-M varsity debut, Zeerip claimed a series of decision victories to earn his spot in the 157-pound quarterfinals, including an 8-3 decision against Hofstra's Tyler Banks in his final match of the day. Zeerip benefited from a big move in the match's first 30 seconds, shooting in deep on a high crotch and locking up a cradle out of the ensuing scramble to take a quick five-point advantage. The Wolverine rookie added a counter takedown in the second and riding time to ice the match.
Yates rallied from an early deficit to knock off The Citadel's fourth-seeded Turtogtokh Luvsandorj, 4-2, to advance into the 165-pound quarterfinals. After a second-period escape knotted the score at two apiece, the Wolverine rookie struck deep on a late single leg and, when Luvsandorj tried to kick out, wrapped up the other ankle for the winning takedown. Yates earned his second fall of the season in the opening round, using a Cobra to pin George Mason's James Kaden at 4:15.
Advancing to the Southern Scuffle's 197-pound quarterfinals for the second consecutive year -- he placed third in 2009 -- Biondo earned two falls and a major decision to contribute eight team points. His pins came in similar fashion, combining quick single legs and a pair of match-ending crossface cradles to defeat Army's Daniel Milly (0:52) and Hofstra's Matt Loew (1:18). The Wolverine captain, ranked 15th nationally, scored four takedowns and a first-period cradle for three back points to roll past Lock Haven's Derek Caldwell, 13-2, in his second bout.
Apland, ranked seventh nationally, also earned bonus points in both of his day-one matches, reversing Navy's Mike Landis straight to his back to earn a 3:23 fall before rolling to an 8-0 major decision -- behind three counter takedowns -- over Viriginia's Derek Papagianopolous to advance into the heavyweight quarterfinals.
Sophomore Sean Boyle (Lowell, Mass./Blair Academy), fifth-year senior Aaron Hynes (Mt. Morris, Mich./Flint Kearsley HS), senior/junior Justin Zeerip (Fremont, Mich./Hesperia HS) and fifth-year senior Chad Bleske (Washington, Mich./Romeo HS) remain active in the wrestlebacks at 125, 157 and 174 pounds and heavyweight, respectively, and will need to win two more matches to guarantee a top-eight finish.
The Wolverines return to the mats Thursday (Dec. 30) for the second and final day of competition at the Southern Scuffle. The morning session, featuring the quarterfinals and continued wrestlebacks, is slated for a 9 a.m. start at the Greensboro Coliseum.
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