at Sports Pavilion, Mpls., MN
1/26/01
By Jeff Beshey
Top ranked Minnesota defeated sixth ranked Michigan 29-6 in front of 1,558 fans at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion Friday evening.
Michigan took the early lead with a 5-2 decision by #2 Otto Olson over Minnesota's Jacob Volkman at 174 pounds.
Minnesota bounced back winning the next four matches including a 6-3 decision of #4 Michigan heavyweight Matt Brink by #8 Garrett Lowney in his home debut.
At 125 pounds Michigan's #6 A. J. Grant came out and scored a first period takedown against Minnesota's #3 LeRoy Vega and lead 2-1 after the first period. In the second period Vega chose down and tied the score at 2-2 with an escape. Grant regained the lead with another takedown but Vega countered with a reversal. Grant escaped to lead 5-4 after two periods. Grant scored another escape to start the third period and it looked like Vega might lose the battle, but he took Grant down and picked up two near-fall points with a minute left in the match and ended up winning 8-7.
Michigan scored an upset when Michigan's Foley Dowd scored two takedowns and held Minnesota's #3 Brett Lawrence to only one takedown enroute to a 7-4 decision.
Minnesota got victories in the remaining four matches including a fall for Jared Lawrence at 1:49 pounds, and major decisions by Luke Becker and Brad Pike.
At 141 pounds Minnesota's Ryan Lewis won in the second overtime period by riding Michigan's Clark Forward for 30 seconds. Lewis wrestled in place of Chad Erikson who is resting a shoulder.
"We're a hard team to beat," said Minnesota Co-Head Coach Marty Morgan after the meet, "You might upset somebody, but its hard to upset five of us"
"It was a good, solid performance," said Morgan, "it was just basic hard wrestling."