'M' wrestling splits conference weekend

The No. 10 Michigan wrestling team continued its successful 1999 campaign with a weekend split against Big Ten rivals Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The second ranked Gophers got a little more than they wanted from the upstart Wolverines, but won the meet with a score of 23-17.

Minnesota took an early 3-0 lead when 16th-ranked Leroy Vega upset Michigan's sixth-ranked Chris Viola by a decision in the 125-pound weight class.

But the Wolverines didn't stay down for long. Michigan proceeded to take charge of the meet - pulling ahead to its largest lead, seven, with just three matches to go.

The Michigan run was jump-started by sixth-ranked Joe Warren, who decisioned Minnesota's 12th-ranked Pat Connors in the 133-pound weight class, upping his record to 20-3 for the season.

David Rochkind/Daily The Michigan wrestling team lost to No. 2 Minnesota on Friday, but the Wolverines rebounded with an impressive win over Wisconsin yesterday.

Seventh-ranked Damion Logan then earned a major decision in the 141-pound weight class, pushing his record to 20-3 as well. Freshman Charles Martelli won a major decision in the 157-pound class, and seventh-ranked Otto Olson pinned Matt Kraft of Minnesota in the 174-pound class, giving him an impressive 21-3 record for the year.

Michigan then found out why the Gophers are the second-ranked team in the country as Minnesota turned things around in the final three matches. Minnesota's Brad Eggum, Tim Hartung, and Brock Lesnar, all ranked either first or second in their respective weight classes, won each of the past three matches convincingly.

"That first match was the difference in the meet," Michigan wrestling coach Dale Bahr said. "Chris wrestled a good match, but ended up getting taken down in the last 20 seconds."

Despite losing, the Wolverines proved they could hang with one of the best wrestling teams in the country on the road.

"I thought the kids wrestled really well in enemy territory. We weren't intimidated by them at all," Bahr said.

The meet featured a total of 13 ranked individuals - seven from Minnesota and six from Michigan.

If the Wolverines felt any effects from Friday's loss at Minnesota, they sure didn't show it yesterday at Wisconsin. Michigan dominated the Badgers en route to a 28-11 victory.

Viola rebounded from Friday's disappointing loss with a victory against Wisconsin, scoring a technical fall victory. The Wolverines also received solid performances from Warren, Logan, Martelli and senior Corey Grant.

"I was concerned that there might be a letdown against Wisconsin," Bahr said. "But the kids controlled the meet."

01-25-99