Late rally not enough as No. 6 Lehigh drops dual opener at No. 5 Michigan

Sunday, November 18

Ann Arbor, Mich.

5:00 PM

Lehigh University

Michigan

Match Notes

Photo by: Rich Warnke

11/18/2018 7:51:00 PM | Men's Wrestling

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Last Thursday's winter storm forced Lehigh to push back its dual meet opener two days. The sixth-ranked Mountain Hawks were unable to overcome No. 5 Michigan as the Wolverines won seven of 10 bouts to defeat Lehigh 21-13 Sunday at Crisler Center.

Wrestling without several projected starters, including two of its four returning conference champions, Lehigh had a late chance at the upset, with two bonus point wins leaving the Mountain Hawks able to potentially win the dual with a final bout fall, but Michigan's Drew Mattin beat sophomore Nick Farro at 125 to help Michigan exact revenge for a 27-8 Lehigh win last November in Grace Hall.

Lehigh loses its dual opener for just the third time in 11 years under Pat Santoro, while Michigan moves to 2-0 on the season.

Michigan claimed decisions at the first two weights to take an early 6-0 lead. The dual began at 133 where sophomore Brandon Paetzell met second-ranked Stevan Micic. Lehigh opened the dual with three consecutive wrestlers making their dual meet debuts and Paetzell held the returning NCAA finalist to a 7-3 decision. Kanen Storr's second period takedown was the difference in a 3-2 win over junior Ryan Pomrinca at 141.

Lehigh's first win of the dual came at 149 as freshman Jimmy Hoffman won by injury default over Malik Amine. The match was tied 2-2 following an Amine takedown and Hoffman reversal. Amine was injured on a mat return on the edge of the mat and was unable to continue. Hoffman's win tied the dual at 6-6.

Junior Kent Lane scored the first two takedowns of the dual for Lehigh at 157 but Ben Lamantia took the lead with a third period score and put the Wolverines back in front 9-6. A 5-3 decision by fifth-ranked Logan Massa over 13th-ranked Cole Walter at 165 put the Wolverines in front 12-6 at intermission.

The second half of the dual began with the featured bout of the night as seventh-ranked junior Jordan Kutler face No. 3 Myles Amine in a battle of All-Americans at 174. Amine converted takedowns in the first and third periods, while Kutler was unable to finish his best opportunities as Amine claimed a 6-4 decision.

An 8-3 win for Michigan's Jelani Embree over junior Andrew Price put the Wolverines up 18-3 before sophomores Jake Jakobsen and Jordan Wood posted back-to-back wins to get Lehigh within striking distance.

Jakobsen rode out the second period versus Jackson Striggow at 197, then escaped and added a third period takedown to claim a 4-1 decision. Wood impressed on his feet in a 16-5 major decision over Luke Ready at 285.

Lehigh needed a six team-point win by Farro at 125 but after scoring the opening takedown, gave up escapes in the first and second periods to Mattin. Tied 2-2 but with riding time advantage in his favor, Farro chose bottom in the third and was ridden out and penalized twice for stalling, giving Mattin the decisive point.

The Mountain Hawks will be off next weekend and will return to action on Friday, November 30 when they host Princeton in the home opener at 7 p.m. inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Tickets are available and can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.

The 2018-19 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.

No. 5 Michigan 21, No. 6 Lehigh 13
133 – Stevan Micic (Michigan) dec. Brandon Paetzell (Lehigh) 7-3
141 – Kanen Storr (Michigan) dec. Ryan Pomrinca (Lehigh) 3-2
149 – Jimmy Hoffman (Lehigh) injury default Malik Amine (Michigan) 2:58
157 – Ben Lamantia (Michigan) dec. Kent Lane (Lehigh) 9-7
165 – Logan Massa (Michigan) dec. Cole Walter (Lehigh) 5-3
174 – Myles Amine (Michigan) dec. Jordan Kutler (Lehigh) 6-4
184 – Jelani Embree (Michigan) dec. Andrew Price (Lehigh) 8-3
197 – Jake Jakobsen (Lehigh) dec. Jackson Striggow (Michigan) 4-1
285 – Jordan Wood (Lehigh) major dec. Luke Ready (Michigan) 16-5
125 – Drew Mattin (Michigan) dec. Nick Farro (Lehigh) 3-2

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