Wrestlers toss Wildcats, 24-15 By Dan Williams Daily Sports Writer It may not have been the most exciting win of the year, but the Michigan wrestling team did enough to capture a 24-15 victory over an outmatched Northwestern team Friday. Michigan held just an 18-15 advantage going into the final match, but sophomore Andy Hrovat received a six point victory via default. Northwestern's 17th-ranked, 184- pounder, Tom Ciezki, suffered a neck injury earlier in the season and could not wrestle. "Forfeit or not, I feel real confident putting Andy Hrovat out there for the last match of the night," Michigan coach Joe McFarland said. "I'll put him out there anytime." The Wolverine's key victory came when Michigan freshman Mike Kulczycki pinned sophomore J.R. Scott. The two Ohio natives were familiar opponents, having faced each other in the high school state semi-finals. "I've wrestled this kid in the past in high school, so I knew what he was going to do a little bit," Kulczycki said. Northwestern kept the battle close when seventh-ranked senior Mark Bybee pinned Michigan sophomore Charles Martelli in the 174-pound weight class. Though Michigan procured a victory, McFarland noticed an absence of the extra effort the team has demonstrated in the past few weeks. "We had a few guys that were in position to get majors, and we just didn't do it tonight," McFarland said. "That's something we need to address, because those are big." McFarland said that Michigan needed extra effort for continued success. "Those kind of things are the things that help you down the road-pushing yourself when you're out there-those things help you and prepare you for the Big Tens and the national tournament," McFarland said. Warren still injured: Michigan hoped that senior Joe Warren would be able to return from his knee injury in last weekend's dual matches. But Warren was still experiencing some soreness, and McFarland didn't want to risk further damage. When Warren returns, he carries with him a No. 4 ranking at the 133-pound weight class. He had a 15-2 record for the season, before getting injured in the Midland Tournament on December 30. Freshman A.J. Grant, junior Mat Warner and junior Matt Michalski have not won a dual match yet filling in for Warren. He expects to return to action next weekend against Illinois and Purdue. Originally on page 6B in the 1-24-2000 issue of the Daily.