March 16, 2007

Quotes |  Notes  | Friday Highlights 

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Tiger wrestling team had two more wrestlers join senior Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.) as All-Americans during the fourth session of the 2007 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Auburn Hills, Mich. Friday night. The Tigers moved back into third place in the team battle with 69.5 points, guaranteeing the Tigers their highest team finish ever.

Askren was the only Tiger to compete in the championship bracket as he topped fifth-seeded Eric Luedke of Iowa in an 8-3 decision. The bout was Askren's only win in the tournament that did not score bonus points for the Tigers. Askren scored three takedowns in the match, as Luedke was penalized for stalling twice, giving Askren another point. Askren will take on second ranked Keith Gavin of Pittsburgh tomorrow in the Finals. Askren met with Gavin twice already this season, pinning him in 2:34 and 2:16.

Junior Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) was first up for the Tigers in his consolation match at 133-pounds. McCormick drew a Golden Gopher for his bid at All-America honors as he squared off against seventh seeded Mack Reiter. In a hard fought match, McCormick scored a late reversal with 14 seconds left to put the match away and win 4-3. This marks the second time McCormick has earned All-America status, as he finished seventh a year ago.

McCormick faced Jake Strayer of Penn St. in his second match of the evening. McCormick topped Strayer in a tight match with a 4-1 decision. The win guarantees McCormick at least a fifth place finish, the highest of his career. McCormick will wrestle tomorrow against top-seeded Nick Simmons of Michigan State.

Returning All-American Matt Pell (Luxemburg, Wis.) had to overcome an early deficit to continue his chances at All America honors. Pell grappled against 12-seeded Johnny Galloway of Northern Illinois. Pell entered the final period down 4-2, but scored a takedown which he used to pin Galloway at 6:08. Pell becomes only the third Tiger to earn All-America honors at two different weight classes, as Pell took All-America honors in the 2004-05 season at 184-pounds.

In his second match of the day Pell grappled against Mike Miller of Central Michigan. Pell jumped on top early with a takedown and three-point nearfall to go on top 5-0. Pell, then on the bottom in the third period, scored a reversal which he turned into a pin at 1:26 in the third period. Pell scored four bonus points for the Tigers in his two matches, to help move the Tigers back into third place. Tomorrow, Pell will look to advance to the third place match against sixth seeded Michael Patrovich from Hofstra.

Sophomore Raymond Jordan (New Bern, N.C.) suffered the only loss of the session for the Tigers, dropping a hard fought match against 10th seeded Louis Caputo of Harvard. Jordan suffered a late takedown with 1:00 left in the match to give Caputo the 6-3 decision.

The fourth session of the tournament will get under way at tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. (EST). Stay tuned to www.mutigers.com for results from tomorrows action.

Final Team Scores

1- Iowa State 83.5 (3/1)

2- Minnesota 80 (1/4)

3- Missouri 69.5 (1/2)

4- Oklahoma State 62.5 (2/2)

5- Northwestern 62 (2/2)

6- Michigan 55.5 (1/4)

7- Penn State 50 (1/2)

8- Iowa 48.5 (1/2)

9- Hofstra 48 (0/4)

10- Ohio State 46.5 (0/4)