Nov. 28, 2009

Site: Guilderland, N.Y. (Hudson Valley Community College)
Event: Journeymen/Asics Northeast Duals
Scores: Bloomsburg 18, Michigan 17; American 20, Michigan 19; Michigan 19, Penn 12
Records: U-M (1-3), Bloomsburg (4-2), American (2-1), Penn (2-1)
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sat., Dec. 5-6 -- at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Primm, Nev.), 9 a.m. PST

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. -- The University of Michigan wrestling team capped its performance at the Journeymen/Asics Northeast Duals with a 19-12 victory over Pennsylvania on Saturday (Nov. 28) at Hudson Valley Community College. U-M posted a 1-2 mark at the event, narrowly falling to Bloomsburg, 18-17, and American, 20-19, in the opening two rounds.

The Wolverines' captains -- sophomore Zac Stevens (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS) and senior/junior Anthony Biondo (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley HS) posted perfect 3-0 records at 133 and 197 pounds, respectively.

Stevens scored a pair of single legs in the first and second periods to rally from an early deficit to battle past Penn's Bryan Ortenzio, 6-4, in his final bout of the day. Senior/junior Mark Beaudry (Pueblo, Colo./South HS) and junior/sophomore Dave Johnson (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) added back-to-back wins at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively, to give Michigan its first lead at the duals midway point. Beaudry converted on a late takedown in the match's waning second to defeat Troy Hernandez, 3-2, while Johnson surged late against Jake Hunter, scoring a takedown, a reversal and a pair of back points to win 7-1.

After two Penn victories put the Quakers up by three points, the Wolverines claimed the match's final three contests to seal up their first dual win of the season. Junior/sophomore Erich Smith (Ishpeming, Mich./Westwood HS) picked up his first individual win of the season at 184 pounds, using a takedown in each frame and three back points to beat Harrison Cook, 11-2.

Bonus points played a pivotal role in the Wolverines' first two duals as they fell to Bloomsburg and American by just a point apiece.

Michigan won the final four bouts against Bloomsburg in the opening round but could not overcome the Huskies' 14-point advantage. Junior/sophomore Justin Zeerip (Fremont, Mich./Hesperia HS) initiated the late rally at 174 pounds, edging past Nate Graham, 5-2, in the second round of tiebreakers. The Wolverine collected a pair of ride outs in the tiebreaker sets -- requiring the first after a quick locked-hands call -- and iced the match in the fourth and final 30-second with an escape and takedown.

Sophomore/freshman Hunter Collins (Gilroy, Calif./Gilroy HS) picked up his first varsity win in his collegiate dual debut, using a big third period to knock off Brian Shaw, 6-1, at 184 pounds. The wrestlers traded escapes in the second and third frames before Collins scored on a sweep single and added a pair of late back points.

Biondo spent nearly the entirety of his 197-pound contest on top and looking for a fall, but he was forced to settle for an 11-1 major decision against the Huskies' Jake Dabishinsky. The U-M captain converted on takedowns in the first and third periods, adding three back points on a third-period tilt, and accumulated 5:31 in riding-time advantage.

Needing bonus points in the heavyweight contest, senior/junior Eddie Phillips (Woodland, Mich./Lakewood HS) forced the issue but only came away with a 1-0 decision over Zac Walsh, scoring on a second-period escape.

Michigan carried a two-point advantage into the heavyweight contest in its second dual meet after a pair of late technical falls at the upperweights, but the Eagles' Blake Herrin used a first-period takedown to secure a 3-2 decision in the final bout and cap his team's comeback. Zeerip was dominant at 174 pounds, scoring seven takedowns -- six in the second period -- five back points to roll past Barreiro, 20-5. Biondo earned his second straight bonus win, converting on five takedowns and a reversal while tilting for six back points en route to an 18-3 victory over Dan Mitchell.

Sophomore Mark Weber (Goodrich, Mich./Goodrich HS) and senior/junior Aaron Hynes (Mt. Morris, Mich./Flint Kearsley HS) also collected wins against American. Weber needed only a first-period ankle pick to get past Jordan Lipp at 141 pounds, while Hynes used a late first-period single leg and reversals in the second and third to defeat Tanner Schiffer at 165 pounds.

The Wolverines will head west to Primm, Nev., for the annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational next weekend (Dec. 4-5). Wrestling is slated to begin Friday at 9 a.m. PST at the Star of the Desert Arena.

Bloomsburg 18, Michigan 17
Individual rankings from InterMat

American 20, Michigan 19
Individual rankings from InterMat

Michigan 19, Pennsylvania 12
Individual rankings from InterMat

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423