No. 18 MICHIGAN RALLIES LATE, DEFEATS No. 14 PITT WRESTLING, 17-15
ANN ARBOR, MICH.The Pitt wrestling team dropped its second consecutive match to a ranked opponent, falling to No. 18 Michigan, 17-15, Sunday in Ann Arbor.
In a back and forth match, the Panthers fell behind early, 10-3, before rallying to take a 15-10 lead with two bouts remaining. The Panthers were unable to put the match away, as the Wolverines picked up seven points in the final two matchups, securing a 17-15 win.
As the host, Michigan chose to begin the dual meet at the 141-pound division. The Wolverines jumped to a 4-0 lead when Kellen Russell recorded a major decision over Mike Tully, 11-2. Pitts Tyler Nauman, ranked No. 3 in the country, was forced to sit out due to injury for the second consecutive match.
The Panthers rebounded when sophomore Dane Johnson picked up a 10-8 sudden victory win over nationally ranked Eric Grajales, who entered the season ranked No. 6 in the country at 133, but moved up two weight classes to 149. Johnson recorded a takedown in overtime, after the two were tied 8-8 after three periods.
Michigan would pick up six points in the next two bouts, both by decision, and take a 10-3 lead.
Pitt, however, would rally by going on a steak of its own.
At 174, redshirt junior Ethan Headlee started the rally for the Panthers, defeating No. 16 Justin Zeerip, 3-1 in SV3. Trailing 1-0 entering the third period, Headlee picked up an escape to force sudden victory. With both grapplers failing to score in the tiebreak, the match went to overtime, where Headlee scored a takedown to win the bout and close the gap to 10-6.
Max Thomusseit pulled the Panthers within one point, defeating Hunter Collins, 5-3 at 184. The freshman picked up a takedown, reversal and an escape en route to victory.
In a battle of top ranked grapplers at 197, junior Zac Thomusseit -- who entered the week ranked No. 12 -- put the Panthers ahead for the first time with a 3-0 decision over No. 5 Anthony Biondo. Thomusseit scored all three points in the final period with a takedown plus riding time. With the win, the Panthers led the match 12-10.
Ryan Tomei added to the Panthers lead, scoring an 8-7 decision over Ben Apland. The No. 11 ranked redshirt senior used two takedowns and a reversal along with two escapes to earn the victory, and put the Panthers in command, 15-10.
The Wolverines pulled the match within two points following an 8-5 decision by Sean Boyle over No. 14 Anthony Zanetta.
With the score 15-13, in favor of Pitt, Zac Stevens of Michigan scored a 16-5 major decision over Shelton Mack, to win the match. Russell was able score five takedowns and a three-point near-fall to seal the victory for the Wolverines.
Pitt will travel to Columbus, Ohio to compete in the Buckeye Duals on Sat. Nov. 21. The Panthers will take on Nebraska at 10 a.m. followed by Ohio State at 11:30 a.m.
Michigan 17 Pitt 15:
141 Kellen Russell (M) maj. dec. Mike Tully (P), 11-2.
149 Dane Johnson (P) dec. Eric Grajales, (M), 10-8 SV.
157 Aaron Hynes (M) dec. Donnie Tasser (P), 5-3.
165 Dan Yates (M) dec. Adam Counterman (P), 7-0.
174 Ethan Headlee (P) dec. No. 16 Justin Zeerip (M), 3-1 SV3.
184 Max Thomusseit (P) dec. Hunter Collins (M), 5-3.
197 No. 12 Zac Thomusseit (P) dec. No. 5 Anthony Biondo (M), 3-0.
HWT No. 11 Ryan Tomei (P) dec. Ben Apland (M), 8-7.
125 Sean Boyle (M) dec. No. 14 Anthony Zanetta (P), 8-5.
133 Zac Stevens (M) maj. dec. Shelton Mack (P), 16-5.