By Tracy Sandler
Daily Sports Writer
It was definitely an honor to be there, but it would have been even better to win.
Michigan wrestlers Bill Lacure, at 150 pounds, and Jeff Catrabone, at 167 pounds, participated in the 31st Annual USAir/National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic at Clarion University (Pa.), last night.
Both wrestlers lost, but both matches were close.
Lacure lost to Iowa State's Chris Bono, the defending national champion and the top-ranked wrestler in the country at 150 pounds, by a score of 8-6, while Catrabone fell, 4-2, to Oklahoma State's Mark Branch, last year's national runner-up.
Despite the loss, Michigan coach Dale Bahr said he was pleased with his wrestlers' performances.
"They are each ranked behind the kids that they wrestled, and they both gave a good battle," Bahr said. "Bill and Jeff are two of the best wrestlers in the country. It's nice to be selected to one of these things. They can think of themselves with the top kids. It legitimizes them in this class of individuals and wrestlers."
Bono has always been a tough match for Lacure, who has lost to Bono three times. Bono got the match's first takedown with 1:56 left in the first period. Lacure was able to record a takedown of his own in the second period, but Bono bounced back in the third.
"All Bill needs is one match to break through (against Bono)," Bahr said. "Next time the pressure might be on Bono to beat Bill one more time."
Catrabone's match was equally nip-and-tuck. After a Branch takedown and a Catrabone reversal in the first period, the match was tied, 2-2. A Branch escape in the second gave him a 3-2 advantage, leading him to victory.
After Sunday's 31-6 demolition of Ohio State, Catrabone and Lacure may have been feeling the effects of fatigue.
"We left Ohio State at about 9:30 p.m. ... and didn't get in (to Clarion) until about 1:30 a.m.," Bahr said. "We practice so fatigue won't be a problem, (but) when you're traveling, you get tired."
Serving as an honorary coach in the Classic, Bahr was basking in the glory of his 200th win in 19 years of coaching at Michigan. That victory came against Ohio State.
"I enjoyed it," Bahr said. "One hundred ninety-nine came against our archrival, Michigan State, and 200 came against another archrival, Ohio State."
As far as Catrabone's and Lacure's losses, Bahr knows that the wrestlers the pair faced last night are of the caliber they will have to beat if they want to be crowned national champions March 22.
Bahr said he hopes the experience at Clarion will help motivate Lacure and Catrabone toward national titles.
"I hoped they liked being there and feeling the atmosphere. I hope they liked it so much that they want to be there on Saturday night, March 22."