Sunday, January 8
Ann Arbor, Mich.
02:00 PM

Lehigh University

15
at
20

No. 5 Michigan

Mountain Hawks earn split in Michigan

1/8/2006 6:40:00 PM | Men's Wrestling

ANN ARBOR/YPSILANTI, Mich. – Lehigh trekked to Michigan on Sunday and the eleventh-ranked Mountain Hawks split a pair of duals against Michigan schools. The Brown and White opened the day by battling No. 5 Michigan to a 5-5 split but bonus points gave the Wolverines a 20-15 win at Cliff Keen Arena. Lehigh rebounded later in the day, winning seven of ten bouts in a 25-10 win over Eastern Michigan at Bowen Field House.

 

“I thought the team competed much better today, compared to the dual Friday against Penn State,” said head coach Greg Strobel. “Michigan is a very good team, but we had them scared for a while. Everyone to a man went out and fought hard. Then we came back and wrestled a fresh Eastern Michigan team coming off an emotional high and low. We did some good things though versus EMU and they’re not a bad team.”

 

The Mountain Hawks, still without starters Jeff Santo at 133 and Troy Letters at 165 battled valiantly against a tough Michigan squad. The Mountain Hawks reeled off wins in four of the first five bouts to lead 12-3 halfway. Matt Fisk got the Mountain Hawks off to a fast start with a 7-6 win at 125. After Mark Moos evened things for Michigan at 133 with a decision over John Stout.

 

Senior Cory Cooperman started a three match Lehigh run with a 5-3 win over Josh Churella in a battle of top-five grapplers. Matt Ciasulli delivered the day’s biggest upset as he took down No. 4 Eric Tannenbaum once in each of the first two periods and held on for a 7-6 win at 149. Then, at 157 thirteenth ranked Derek Zinck edged No. 5 Steve Luke to put Lehigh up by nine halfway.

 

Michigan came back strong however, as top-ranked Ryan Churella broke open a close match and pinned Dave Nakasone early in the third period. The Wolverines tied the match at 174 where Nick Roy edged Travis Frick in sudden victory.

 

Tyrel Todd gave Michigan the lead with a 12-4 major decision over David Helfrich. The Mountain Hawks climbed within a point after Matt Cassidy’s 9-3 win over Willie Breyer at 197. Lehigh had a chance to win the dual with a win at heavyweight, but third-ranked Greg Wagner proved too much for Lehigh sophomore Dan Murrer.

 

The Mountain Hawks then traveled down the road to Ypsilanti to face Eastern Michigan and spotted the Eagles a 7-0 lead after Sean Clair rode out the second overtime period and edged Fisk 2-1 then Phillip Plowman scored a major decision over Stout.

 

Lehigh took over from there, winning the next seven bouts. Cooperman got things going with a major decision at 141 and then Ciasulli and Zinck rolled to decisions to give Lehigh the lead. Nakasone finally got in the win column, scoring a first period takedown and three point near-fall off a cradle to take a 5-0 lead en route to an 11-7 win over Quinn Guernsey.

 

Travis Frick provided some much needed bonus points as he scored two first period takedowns, added two-two point near falls and a three-point near fall and went on to earn an 18-3 tech. fall over Josh Lewis.

 

David Helfrich and Matt Cassidy added wins by decision for Lehigh before Dan Murrer was beaten 5-2 at heavyweight.

 

The Mountain Hawks will return to the mat on Friday night when they welcome Pittsburgh to Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Tickets can be purchased by calling (610) 7LU-GAME or visiting the Lehigh ticket office, located in Grace Hall.

 

 

Michigan 20 Lehigh 15

Weight

Match-up

Result

 

Score

125

Matt Fisk (LU)

Dec.

Michael Watts (UM)

7-6

133

Mark Moos (UM)

Dec.

John Stout (LU)

9-4

141

Cory Cooperman (LU)

Dec.

Josh Churella (UM)

5-3

149

Matt Ciasulli (LU)

Dec.

Eric Tannenbaum (UM)

6-5

157

Derek Zinck (LU)

Dec.

Steve Luke (UM)

6-5

165

Ryan Churella (UM)

WBF

Dave Nakasone (LU)

5:13

174

Nick Roy (UM)

Dec.

Travis Frick (LU)

6-4 s.v.

184

Tyrel Todd (UM)

Maj. dec.

David Helfrich (LU)

12-4

197

Matt Cassidy (LU)

Dec.

Willie Breyer (UM)

9-3

285

Greg Wagner (UM)

Maj. dec.

Dan Murrer (LU)

11-1

 

Lehigh 25 Eastern Michigan 10

Weight

Match-up

Result

 

Score

125

Sean Clair (EMU)

Dec.

Matt Fisk (LU)

2-1 TB

133

Phillip Plowman (EMU)

Maj. dec.

John Stout (LU)

11-2

141

Cory Cooperman (LU)

Dec.

Ahmed Joumaa (EMU)

18-6

149

Matt Ciasulli (LU)

Dec.

Nick Conklin (EMU)

6-1

157

Derek Zinck (LU)

Maj. dec.

Chad Roush (EMU)

21-9

165

Dave Nakasone (LU)

Dec.

Quinn Guernsey (EMU)

11-7

174

Travis Frick (LU)

Tech. fall.

Josh Lewis (EMU)

18-3, 4:24

184

David Helfrich (LU)

Dec.

John McClure (EMU)

6-1

197

Matt Cassidy (LU)

Dec.

Tony Lyssiotis (EMU)

6-2

285

Jake Wood (EMU)

Dec.

Dan Murrer (LU)

5-2

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