Gophers drop Blue, 27-10

The No. 13 Michigan wrestling team jumped out to a 10-0 lead against No. 3 Minnesota, but dropped the final seven matches, and lost the dual meet in Minneapolis, 27-10.

"We put ourselves in a position to win the match," Michigan coach Dale Bahr said. "Usually in that situation, up 10-0 and with our All-Americans left to go, we're going to win the match, but Minnesota has a very good team."

Junior Chris Viola got the Wolverines on the board early with a commanding 16-2 major decision over Minnesota's Brett Lawrence at 118 pounds.

Sophomore Joe Warren and freshman Damion Logan followed with decisions at 126 and 134 pounds, respectively. But the Michigan win streak ended abruptly.

The Gophers swept the next seven weight classes, including big up-sets over team captains Jeff Catrabone and Airron Richardson.

LOUIS BROWN/Daily Michigan's Joe Warren was one of only three Wolverines to come out victorious over the Minnesota wrestling team.

"They have some very good wrestlers, and some of those losses were expected," Bahr said. "But to see Jeff and Airron lose, no one was expecting that."

Catrabone, who is ranked fourth at 167 pounds, lost 2-1 to ninth-ranked Zac Taylor. And at heavyweight, second-ranked Richardson fell to seventh-ranked Shelton Benjamin.

The loss to Benjamin was Richardson's first in dual-meet competition this season - he was 14-0 before Minnesota. Benjamin also runs for the Minnesota track team, and Bahr said Richardson typically has a tough time with opponents that are as quick as he is.

"Benjamin is a good athlete, and he is very, very quick," Bahr said. "Airron went right after him, and almost took him down a couple times. But with his speed, he just got out of it every time."

Possibly the most important loss for the Wolverines was at 150. Michigan senior Bill Lacure, who is ranked fourth in the nation, lost to third-ranked Chad Kraft, 3-1, after a last-second take-down by Kraft. Last season, Lacure scored a 9-0 major decision against Kraft.

"That was probably the difference in the match," Bahr said. "We should have been up 13-4 at that point, but instead we're up 10-7. That loss kind of took the wind out of our sails."

Bahr said this was the first time he can remember that all three seniors - Lacure, Catrabone and Richardson - lost in a dual meet.

"Those are the big guns that we count on," Bahr said. "They have all been All-Americans, and I don't think they have ever all lost in the same match before."

Fortunately for the Wolverines, other starters are stepping up. Warren and Logan are two guys the team is beginning to count on for wins, Bahr said.

"Damion has been doing a super job lately, and the same goes for Joe," Bahr said. "Both of them have been wrestling great, and we are starting to really feel confident with those two weight classes."

Logan is currently on a six-match win streak.

"Ever since we returned from the National Team Duals, Damion has been on a tear," Bahr said. "He is getting himself in a position where he could really have a good Big Ten tournament and possibly an NCAA run."

The Wolverines' troubles look to be coming at an inopportune time as only one dual meet remains before the Big Ten tournament. But Bahr said he sees the losses as a source of motivation for the guys.

"When you are always winning, you tend to wrestle on your laurels," Bahr said. "But with a slight taste of defeat, you can get it together and spur yourself to motivate for the Big Tens and NCAAs."

The Wolverines will conclude their dual-meet season on Friday at 7 p.m. against Indiana. The match against the Hoosiers will be the last at Cliff Keen Arena for Lacure, Catrabone and Richardson.

02-16-98