Dec. 4, 2009

Site: Primm, Nev. (Star of the Desert Arena)
Event: Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
U-M Standing: 14th Place of 43 Teams (43.5 Points) After Day 1
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Dec. 5 -- at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational - Day Two (Primm, Nev.), 9 a.m. PST

PRIMM, Nev. -- With one semifinalist and another alive in the consolation bracket, the University of Michigan wrestling team sits in 14th place (43.5 points) after the first day of competition at the annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Friday (Dec. 5) at the Star of the Desert Arena. All 10 Wolverine competitors picked up at least one first-day win to contribute to the U-M team score.

Senior/junior captain Anthony Biondo (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley HS) headlined Michigan's effort, advancing to the 197-pound semifinal round with an 8-6 victory over Cornell's fifth-ranked Cam Simaz in the quarterfinals. The Wolverine wrestler, ranked 14th in the latest InterMat poll, took the match's first advantage, converting on a pair of first-period takedowns, but Simaz evened the score with takedowns of his own in the second and third frames. After a brief injury timeout midway through the third, Biondo went on the offensive, striking on a high crotch in the waning seconds to seal his 11th consecutive win.

Biondo earned one of Michigan's three pins in his first bout of the day, using a far-side cradle to pick up a quick first-period fall against Southern Illinois Edwardsville's A.J. Smith at the 1:26 mark and rolled past Rider's Tyler Smith in the second round, scoring on a takedown and a reversal while accumulating 3:46 of riding-time advantage.

After a disappointing loss in the quarterfinal round, junior/sophomore Justin Zeerip (Fremont, Mich./Hesperia HS) rebounded with a dominant 10-1 major decision over Buffalo's Matt Bogardus in the wrestlebacks, capping a 4-1 day-one performance in the 174-pound bracket. The Wolverine built up a big first-period advantage on a takedown and a pair of two-point near falls before icing the bout with a takedown late in the third period.

Sophomore captain Zac Stevens (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS) and junior/sophomore Dave Johnson (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) posted 3-2 records at 133 and 157 pounds, respectively, both finishing one win shy of the placewinners' podium.

Stevens' most lopsided victory came in the opening round, where he used three takedowns and six back points to cruise past Cal State Fullerton's Armando Gonzalez, 14-1. After sacrificing a 7-6 decision to Bucknell's 20th-ranked David Marable on a late takedown and stalling call, the Wolverine captain rebounded with two wins in the wrestlebacks, including an 8-4 decision over Navy's Pat McCaffrey. Stevens scored three takedowns -- two in the first period -- and accumulated 1:29 in time advantage to beat the Midshipman, avenging his loss from the EMU Open on Nov. 7.

Johnson earned bonus points in all three victories, claiming back-to-back major decisions before accepting a forfeit from top-ranked Jordan Burroughs of Nebraska in the second round. The Wolverine sophomore scored three takedowns and four back points to defeat CSU Pueblo's Louie Desantis, 12-0, in the pigtails, before using eight first-period back points to roll to a 13-2 win over Southern Illinois Edwardsville's Steve Ross in the first round.

The Wolverines return to the mats Saturday (Dec. 5) for the second and final day of competition at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. The morning session, featuring the semifinals and continued wrestlebacks, is slated for a 9:30 a.m. PST start at the Start of the Desert Arena.

Team Standings (After Day One)

 1. Ohio State      89
 2. Cornell         79
 3. Oklahoma        76
 4. Boise State     68.5
 5. Nebraska        67
 6. Indiana         65.5
 7. Oregon State    61.5
 8. Cal Poly        59.5
 9. Navy            57
10. Wyoming         56.5
------
14. MICHIGAN        43.5

Michigan Results

125 -- Sean Boyle
First Round - dec. by #7 Jarod Patterson (Oklahoma), 7-2
Consolations - major dec. Mark Acosta (UC Davis), 11-3
Consolations - dec. #10 Dave Kingsheim (Nebraska), 4-2
Consolations - dec. by Andre Gonzalez (Cal State Fullerton), 10-5
Eliminated with a 2-2 record

133 -- #11 Zac Stevens
First Round - major dec. Armando Gonzalez (Cal State Fullerton), 14-1
Second Round - dec. by #6 David Marable (Bucknell), 7-6
Consolations - dec. Akif Eren (Purdue), 7-6
Consolations - dec. Pat McCaffrey (Navy), 8-4
Consolations - dec. by #4 Steve Mytych (Drexel), 7-2
Eliminated with a 3-2 record

141 -- Mark Weber
First Round - major dec. by #8 Kenny Hashimoto (Northern Colorado), 10-2
Consolations - dec. Aaron Nestor (Rider), 3-2 TB
Consolations - dec. by Adin Duenas (Cal State Fullerton), 7-2
Eliminated with a 1-2 record

149 -- Mark Beaudry
First Round - dec. by Glen Shober (Navy), 8-3
Consolations - dec. Rick Bailey (Brown), 9-4
Consolations - dec. by #7 Desi Green (Buffalo), 11-8
Eliminated with a 1-2 record

157 -- Dave Johnson
Pigtails - major dec. Louie Desantis (CSU Pueblo), 12-0
First Round - major dec. Steve Ross (Southern Illinois Edwardsville), 13-2
Second Round - win by forfeit #1 Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska)
Quarterfinals - major dec. by #8 Bryce Saddoris (Navy), 11-2
Consolations - dec. by #5 Colton Salazar (Purdue), 9-4
Eliminated with a 3-2 record

165 -- #10 Aaron Hynes
First Round - dec. by P.J. Gillespie (Hofstra), 4-0
Consolations - major dec. Preston Brown (Cal Baptist), 14-3
Consolations - major dec. Cody Hutcheson (Cornell), 11-3
Consolations - dec. by T Edwards (Arizona State), 11-10
Eliminated with a 2-2 record

174 -- Justin Zeerip
Pigtails - dec. Anthony Trongone (Virginia Tech), 6-0
First Round - dec. Zach Frazier (Western State), 8-1
Second Round - dec. Tyler French (Air Force), 2-0
Quarterfinals - dec. by #6 Luke Manuel (Purdue), 6-2
Consolations - major dec. Matt Bogardus (Buffalo), 10-1
Consolations - vs. #10 Dave Rella (Ohio State)

184 -- Erich Smith
Pigtails - dec. by Josh Ihnen (Nebraska), 7-1
Consolations - dec. Cary Aldrich (Columbia), 7-0
Consolations - dec. by Casen Eldredge (Utah Valley), 4-3
Eliminated with a 1-2 record

197 -- #7 Anthony Biondo
First Round - pinned A.J. Smith (Southern Illinois Edwardsville), 1:26
Second Round - dec. Tyler Smith (Rider), 7-2
Quarterfinals - dec. #2 Cam Simaz (Cornell), 8-6
Semifinals - vs. #4 Eric Lapotsky (Oklahoma)

Hwt -- Ben Apland
First Round - pinned Adam Walls (Purdue), 2:24
Second Round - pinned by #5 Clayton Jack (Oregon State), 3:42
Consolations - pinned Steve Franklin (San Francisco State), 4:15
Consolations - dec. by Kyle Frey (Drexel), 9-3
Eliminated with a 2-2 record

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423