The Buckeyes elected to draw the opening weight and initially the strategy paid off as Ohio State claimed back-to-back decisions at 174 and 184 pounds to build an early 6-0 advantage. The advantage was short-lived.
Fifth-year senior captain Anthony Biondo (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley HS) kick started Michigan's comeback with one of his own at 197 pounds, shaking off an early two-point deficit to defeat Peter Capone, 10-5, and claim his 100th collegiate victory in impressive fashion. The Wolverine captain initiated the early scramble that provided Capone his lead, and Biondo made sure to finish his subsequent opportunities, converting on four takedowns, including two third-period double legs, to dominate the remainder of the match.
Junior/sophomore heavyweight Ben Apland (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS) put the Wolverines ahead for good with a late pin against Zach Stolarsky. The Wolverine dominated the match from his feet, scoring on six takedowns, but gave up a pair of reversals while looking for the head scoop out in front of the head. Apland made good on his third pin attempt, taking Stolarsky straight to his back off a late low single, sticking the Buckeye wrestler at the 6:26 mark for his third fall of the season.
Sophomore Sean Boyle (Lowell, Mass./Blair Academy) took advantage of a quick start against Bo Touris at 125 pounds, scoring on takedowns in the first and second periods and accumulating 2:09 in riding-time advantage to secure a 7-6 decision. Boyle converted on a single leg off an early restart in the first, rode out the period and carried his momentum into the second, coming out on top of a scramble midway through. The Buckeye wrestler cut the gap in the third, striking on two high crotches, including one in the final 15 seconds, but Boyle's time advantage provided the difference.
Carrying a six-point lead into intermission, the Wolverines blew the dual wide open after the break, claiming four straight wins -- two with bonus -- at the lowerweight and middleweight categories.
Junior Zac Stevens (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS) won a big swing match at 133 pounds, using a balanced attack to roll past Ian Paddock, 10-3. The match was bookended by a pair of wild scrambles; the first -- early in the opening frame -- produced no points, while the second sealed the win for Stevens midway through the third as the Wolverine wrestler put Paddock on his back for four points. Stevens also scored on takedowns in the first and third periods and accumulated 1:03 in riding time to take the series lead against Paddock. The two wrestlers split a pair of matches last season.
Senior/junior captain Kellen Russell (High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy) added another win to his perfect season record, improving to 24-0 with dominant 12-2 major decision against Randy Languis at 141 pounds. Russell, ranked No. 1 nationally, converted on four takedowns, returning Languis to mat with a leg turk to add two back points on the last one, and built up 2:57 in riding time.
Sophomore/freshman Eric Grajales (Brandon, Fla./Brandon HS) secured his fourth straight dual win -- and his second technical in two matches -- with a commanding 19-2 win over Mike Fee at 149 pounds. The Wolverine rookie hit a pair of headlocks, scoring four points on his first attempt early in the first and adding another at the final buzzer in the third to garner the necessary tech-fall margin. He tilted Fee twice for four points in the opening frame and locked up a cradle for three points in the second. In all, Grajales earned 12 total back points in the match.
Sophomore/freshman Brandon Zeerip (Fremont, Mich./Hesperia HS) claimed the Wolverines' final win with an impressive last-second comeback effort against Jared Kusar at 157 pounds, putting the Buckeye on his back to win 10-6. Zeerip shook off a pair of early takedowns to convert on a single of his own late in the opening period. The Wolverine newcomer cut Kusar loose early in the third to give away a one-point advantage and won a flurry late; after nearly giving up a takedown, he locked up a cradle to roll up Kusar for five points in the final 15 second.
The Wolverines (8-2, 3-0 Big Ten) will close out the road weekend on Sunday (Jan. 30), heading to Bloomington, Ind., for conference slate against Indiana. The match is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at University Gymnasium.
Results:
174 -- Nick Heflin (OSU) dec. Justin Zeerip, 2-1 OSU, 3-0
184 -- Cody Magrum (OSU) dec. Hunter Collins, 4-1 OSU, 6-0
197 -- #11 Anthony Biondo (U-M) dec. Peter Capone, 10-5 OSU, 6-3
Hwt -- #8 Ben Apland (U-M) pinned Zach Stolarsky, 6:26 U-M, 9-6
125 -- Sean Boyle (U-M) dec. Bo Touris, 7-6 U-M, 12-6
133 -- Zac Stevens (U-M) dec. #17 Ian Paddock, 10-3 U-M, 15-6
141 -- #1 Kellen Russell (U-M) major dec. Randy Languis, 12-2 U-M, 19-6
149 -- Eric Grajales (U-M) tech. fall Mike Fee, 19-2 (7:00) U-M, 24-6
157 -- #19 Brandon Zeerip (U-M) dec. Jared Kusar, 10-6 U-M, 27-6
165 --#7 Colt Sponseller (OSU) dec. Aaron Hynes, 5-1 U-M, 27-9
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