Wisconsin Dual

Notes:

• Michigan entered the dual ranked 8^th. 4 of their 5 top 20 ranked wrestlers competed
• Wisconsin entered unranked.  They had 2 top 20 ranked wrestlers
• Grant Pizzo (125) wrestled for the still out Sean Boyle. Boyle has fallen out of most ranking due to the fact he has yet to compete. 
• Mike Hillock (149) wrestled for Eric Grajales.  Grajales is ranked 4^th.
• 3 bouts included rematches of guys that met each other at the Cliff Keen invitational. 
• Michigan was 1-1 in duals. This was their first B1G contest
• Wisconsin was 5-1 in duals. This was their first B1G contest

Wisconsin @ #8 Michigan

This set up to be an assumed win with some good matchups for the Wolverines.  One of the anticipated bouts didn’t work out.  Michigan took the lead and then released it, being down by as much as 4 midway through the dual at 8-12.  They rattled off 4 straight wins to go 1-0 in the B1G with a 21-12 win.  This was a disappointing dual for a couple Wolverines that fell to upsets.  On the bright side, the weaker links stepped up.

Bout By Bout

• 125 – Grant Pizzo(UM) major dec. Austin Hieptas(UW) 9-1.  Pizzo picked up his first B1G dual win, stepping in for Boyle.  He dominated a weak opponent in Hieptas.  Not surprised to pick up the win, even with a backup in.  But, Pizzo getting the major was a nice touch.   Michigan leads 4-0
• 133 – Tom Kelliher(UW) dec. #12 Zac Sanders(UM) 8-4. Kelliher was beat out of a tough tournament Sanders finished 4^th at.  This was disappointing.  Sanders has fallen to 15^th in the latest ranking as a result.  Kelliher was fairly competitive last year at 125, but, this should have been a comfortable win for Michigan.   Michigan leads 4-3
• 141 - #4 Kellen Russell(UM) major dec. Thomas Glenn(UW) 10-2. Glenn doesn’t offer much competition to Russell and Kellen has been wrestling strong since suffering his first defeat in two years.   Michigan leads 8-3
• 149 - #9 Cole Schmitt(UW) dec. Mike Hillock(UM) 5-3.  I was hoping to see a Grajales Schmitt match, but, Hillock got the call and did pretty well.  I think Schmitt may be over-ranked, but, Hillock showed he could stay with a top 20 wrestler at least.   Michigan leads 8-6
• 157 - Shawn Perry(UW) dec. Brandon Zeerip(UM) 5-2. First of the 3 rematches from Cliff Keen and this was a reversal for Wisconsin.  Zeerip won 3-2 last time.  These are two borderline top 20 guys, so the flopping of wins isn’t a surprise.  I still believe Zeerip has enough to distance himself from Perry and up the rankings by year end.   Wisconsin leads 9-8
• 165 - #17 Ben Jordan(UW) dec. Dan Yates(UM) 8-3.  Same score from last time these two met at Cliff Keen. Yates has fallen from being in the top 20 to begin the year.  Two decisive losses to to a 17^th ranked wrestler don’t bode well.   Wisconsin leads 12-8
• 174 - #11 Justin Zeerip(UM) major dec. Frank Cousins(UW) 10-2. The senior campaign for Justin continues.  He rolled over Cousins at Cliff Keen 11-1 and did so again 10-2 in this dual.  Cousins is a RS Fr.   Tied 12-12
• 184 – Hunter Collins(UM) dec. Timmy McCall(UW) 4-3. McCall has had a solid season for Wisconsin, so a good win for Collins.  I’ve expressed he is the weak link of this lineup, so, him stepping up to get a win in a close matchup is big.   Michigan leads 15-12
• 197 – Max Huntley(UM) dec. Jackson Hein(UW) 4-2 SV. Overtime needed for Huntley.  I expected a win here.  Huntley is a fringe ranked wrestler.  Fist B1G dual win for him.  Michigan leads 18-12
• Hwt - #18 Ben Apland(UM) dec. Cole Tobin(UW) 8-4. Apland needed a little comeback to avoid another upset on the night.  He did and then coasted to a win to seal the win.  Michigan wins 21-12

Solid win and moving on.  Michigan is on a bit of a break till the 29^th for a Mat Town Invitational.  Then they hit the duals hard with the first 3 being B1G matches.