Metcalf, Michalak advance to NCAA Finals
Central Michigan, Michigan sit 5th and 6th in team standings
2008 NCAA Championships
March 20-22 - St Louis, MO
3/21 - Two Michigan natives won tonight in the NCAA Championship
semifinals to advance to the finals for a shot at a national title. Davison
native Brent Metcalf and Caro grad Wynn Michalak entered the semis in
different positions, but both came away victorious.
Metcalf, competing for the University of Iowa, is the #1 seed at 149lbs and
held up his top spot with a dominant 8-4 win over Jordan Burroughs of
Nebraska. Michalak, meanwhile, is the 4th seed at 197lbs and used a last
second takedown to knock off top seed Josh Glenn of American and
advance to the finals. Metcalf will meet Big Ten foe J Jaggers of Ohio
State in the 149lb final while Michalak is set to due battle with Penn State's
Phil Davis in the 197lb final bout.
The University of Michigan was a perfect two-for-two in the semis as both
Eric Tannenbaum and Steve Luke won to advance to the finals.
Tannenbaum shutout Mack Lewnes of Cornell at 165lbs while Luke scored an overtime takedown to get past Brandon Browne of Nebraska at 174lbs. Tannenbaum is now set for a rematch of the Big Ten finals with returning NCAA champ Mark Perry of Iowa. Tannenbaum beat Perry in the Big Ten finals. Luke, meanwhile, will take on top seeded Keith Gavin of Pitt.
Michigan State's Franklin Gomez lost his rubber match with Joe Slaton of Iowa in the 133lb finals. Gomez, who suffered his only regular season loss to Slaton and then avenged that loss with a Big Ten tournament win over Slaton, gave up an overtime takedown to bow out of the championship bracket.
Central Michigan's Brandon Sinnott also fell in the semis as he lost 4-2 to top seed Jake Varner of Iowa State. Sinnott is still assured an all-american honor, along with brother Brandon Sinnott and Bubba Gritter who won their consolation matches to advance to the medal rounds.
Davison native Paul Donahoe's bid to repeat as champion at 125lbs came to an end as he gave up a last second match winning takedown to Jayson Ness of Minnesota in the 125lb semifinal. Fellow former Davison standout Jonathan Reader assured himself his first All-American honor at 165lbs as the Iowa State Cyclone defeated Trevor Stewart of CMU in an all-Michigan blood round matchup.
CMU and Michigan both sit in good shape to finish top ten overall as CMU is 5th and UM 6th in the team standings following the second day of action. Iowa leads the overall team race with 30+ point margin over 2nd place Ohio State.
Here are all of the Michigan results from tonight's session:
Championship Semifinals
125lbs - #2 Jayson Ness (Minnesota) dec #3 Paul Donahoe (Nebraska) 4-3
133lbs - #4 Joey Slaton (Iowa) dec #1 Franklin Gomez (Michigan State) 4-2 SV
149lbs - #1 Brent Metcalf (Iowa) dec #4 Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska) 8-4
165lbs - #1 Eric Tannenbaum (Michigan) dec #4 Mack Lewnes (Cornell) 4-0
174lbs - #2 Steve Luke (Michigan) dec #3 Brandon Browne (Nebraska) 3-1 SV
184lbs - #1 Jake Varner (Iowa State) dec Christian Sinnott (Central Michigan) 4-2
197lbs - #4 Wynn Michalak (Central Michigan) dec #1 Joshua Glenn (American) 7-5
Consolation round #6
149lbs - #5 Josh Churella (Michigan) dec #9 Lance Palmer (Ohio State) 6-2
165lbs - Mike Cannon (American) dec #6 Jon Reader (Iowa State) 7-6
174lbs - #5 Brandon Sinnott (Central Michigan) dec #6 Alton Lucas (Hofstra) 3-1
184lbs - #3 Tyrel Todd (Michigan) dec Kirk Smith (Boise State) 3-2
285lbs - Matt Fields (Iowa) dec Bubba Gritter (Central Michigan) 3-1
Consolation Rd of 12 (blood round)
141lbs - Cody Cleveland dec #3 Kellen Russell (Michigan) 7-6
149lbs - #5 Josh Churella (Michigan) dec Will Rowe (Oklahoma) 7-6
149lbs - #9 Lance Palmer (Ohio State) majdec Brandon Carter (Central Michigan) 11-3
165lbs - #6 Jon Reader (Iowa State) dec #9 Trevor Stewart (Central Michigan) 5-1
174lbs - #5 Brandon Sinnott (Central Michigan) dec Alex Dolly (Northern Iowa) 7-3
184lbs - Kirk Smith (Boise State) dec #8 Roger Kish (Minnesota) 8-2
184lbs - #3 Tyrel Todd (Michigan) dec Doug Umbehaur (Rider) 4-1
285lbs - #8 Bubba Gritter (Central Michigan) majdec John Wise (Illinois) 11-2
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