Wrestling falls to No. 18 Michigan, 28-7

Gomez, Cheza pick up wins for the Spartans

EAST LANSING, Mich., 2/08/09 - The Michigan State wrestling team fell to No. 18 Michigan, 28-7, at Jenison Field House on Sunday (Feb. 8). The Spartans (6-6, 1-4 Big Ten) and the Wolverines (8-6-1, 3-0-1) traded victories in the first four bouts, but Michigan then won the remaining six to clinch the win.

Sixth-ranked MSU junior Franklin Gomez (Brandon, Fla.) earned an 18-6 major decision against Michigan's Zac Stevens in the 133-pound class and MSU redshirt freshman David Cheza (Grand Blanc, Mich.) picked up a 9-3 decision against Mark Beaudry at 149 pounds.

"There were some matches that could have gone one way or the other," MSU head coach Tom Minkel said. "Anthony Jones Jr. (at 157 pounds) was the match that really was the swing match for us. He wrestled really well, had the match well in hand, then he got put in a funky situation. It kind of took the air out of the first half."

MSU redshirt freshman Eric Olanowski (Virginia Beach, Va.) dropped a tough bout at 125 to No. 17 Michael Watts, who earned a three-point near-fall in the third period to seal the 7-2 win and the early 3-0 Michigan lead. Gomez then notched a major decision at 133 to give MSU a 4-3 lead.

The win gives Gomez 14 on the season, countering only two losses. The major decision is his sixth of the year.

At 141 pounds, MSU redshirt freshman Collin Dozier (Virginia Beach, Va.) gave fifth-ranked Wolverine Kellen Russell all he could handle, but a takedown and a reversal early on would prove to be all Russell needed to snag the 5-2 win. Cheza followed with his 9-3 decision to put the Spartans back on top, 7-6.

Sophomore Anthony Jones Jr. (Highland Park, Mich.) jumped out to an early 4-1 lead on Michigan's Aaron Hynes, but Hynes came storming back, recording a three-point near-fall with 27 seconds remaining to give him the 9-7 win and give Michigan the 9-7 lead.

Spartan senior Rex Kendle (Edwardsburg, Mich.) dropped a 3-0 decision to Justin Zeerip at 165 to give Michigan the 12-7 lead coming out of the intermission. At 174, redshirt freshman Ian Hinton (Nappanee, Ind.) fell by 15-4 major decision to top-ranked Steve Luke, extending Michigan's lead to 16-7.

No. 13 Anthony Biondo defeated MSU junior Nick Palmieri (Highland Heights, Ohio), 10-5, and sixth-ranked Wolverine Tyrel Todd followed with a pin of redshirt freshman Tyler Dickenson (Pewamo, Mich.) in 1:41 to give Michigan the 25-7 advantage.

The heavyweight bout took sudden victory to decide, with Michigan's Eddie Phillips beating MSU junior Alan O'Donnell (Clarksville, Mich.), 3-1. The win sealed Michigan's 28-7 victory.

FINAL RESULTS
Michigan def. Michigan State, 28-7 (Attendance: 1,284)
125: #17 Michael Watts (UM) dec. Eric Olanowski (MSU), 7-2; UM leads, 3-0
133: #6 Franklin Gomez (MSU) maj. dec. Zac Stevens (UM), 18-6; MSU leads, 4-3
141: #5 Kellen Russell (UM) dec. Collin Dozier (MSU), 5-2; UM leads, 6-4
149: David Cheza (MSU) dec. Mark Beaudry (UM), 9-3; MSU leads, 7-6
157: Aaron Hynes (UM) dec. Anthony Jones Jr. (MSU), 9-7; UM leads, 9-7
165: Justin Zeerip (UM) dec. Rex Kendle (MSU), 3-0; UM leads, 12-7
174: #1 Steve Luke (UM) maj. dec. Ian Hinton (MSU), 15-4; UM leads, 16-7
184: #13 Anthony Biondo (UM) dec. Nick Palmieri (MSU), 10-5; UM leads, 19-7
197: #6 Tyrel Todd (UM) pins Tyler Dickenson (MSU), 1:41; UM leads, 25-7
285: Eddie Phillips (UM) dec. Alan O'Donnell (MSU), 3-1 (SV); UM wins, 28-7