PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 1
Anthony Ashnault (149) majored in his final home match and
Joseph Grello (174) earned a decision as No. 18 Rutgers wrestling (11-6, 4-4) dropped a 28-7 dual to No. 4 Michigan (12-1, 8-1) Sunday afternoon in front of 5,364 fans at the RAC.
Prior to the dual, Ashnault, No. 14
John Van Brill (157),
Nicholas Gravina (184) and
Ralph Normandia (HWT) were honored as part of senior day.
Ashnault, who moved to 22-0 on the season, landed four takedowns in the opening period en route to a 16-4 major decision over Malik Amine. The win was his 16
th by bonus, as the graduate student has produced eight pins, four tech falls and four major decisions in 2018-19.
"He's really been a big part of the program," said head coach
Scott Goodale. "He's really put this place on the map not just from a wrestling standpoint, but from an athletic department standpoint because he means a lot to this university. I love the way our crowd appreciated that. Anthony deserves all of it."
How it Happened
• Michigan won eight out of 10 bouts against the Scarlet Knights to move to 4-0 all-time against RU.
• In another high-profile matchup, No. 4
Nick Suriano faced undefeated and No. 1 Stevan Micic at 133 pounds. Suriano worked two single-leg attacks on Micic in the opening minutes, but the score remained deadlocked at zero at the end of the first period. Micic and Suriano would trade escapes for a 1-1 tie, but Micic's takedown with 1:15 to go proved to be the difference in the 3-2 final.
•
Peter Lipari (141) also wrestled hard in his match against No. 6 Kanen Storr, forcing his opponent into overtime. However, Storr used a four-point near fall in TB1 to secure the win.
• Ashnault followed in his bout with Amine and wasted no time, landing four takedowns and hitting a two-point near fall for a 10-3 advantage after one. Ashnault scored another takedown in period two and closed the bout with an escape, takedown and the riding-time point for the 16-4 major.
• Van Brill also wrestled in his final match at the RAC, as he faced No. 5 Alec Pantaleo. Van Brill rode out Pantaleo for the majority of the final period after his opponent scored six points in period two, but Pantaleo would walk away with the 7-2 decision.
• Rutgers trailed Michigan, 13-4, at intermission, and RU forfeited at 165 pounds out of the break.
• Grello faced Reece Hughes at 174 pounds, landing the single leg for an early 2-0 lead. Grello would add an escape and the riding-time point for the 4-1 final, his fourth Big Ten Conference victory of the season.
• Michigan would close out the dual with three consecutive wins at 184, 197 and heavyweight.
Notables
• Rutgers closed its home dual schedule with a 7-3 record, which includes wins over No. 10 Wisconsin (Jan. 11) and No. 20 Princeton (Feb. 3). Overall, RU's six losses this season have come to No. 3 Oklahoma State, No. 4 Michigan, No. 4 Iowa, No. 8 Minnesota, No. 9 Nebraska and RV Utah Valley.
• Ashnault now owns 113 career wins, tied with Rod Van Ness (1994-98) and Dominic Cerreto (1986-89) for second all-time in program history. A win next week against Maryland will give him sole possession of second, as he needs just five more wins to pass Mike McHugh (1986-89) for the most wins in program history.
No. 4 Michigan 28 No. 18 Rutgers 7
Match started at 125 Pounds
Officials: Jim Rivello, Nate Chapman
Attendance: 5,364
125: No. 13 Drew Mattin (MICH) over
Shane Metzler (RUTG) (MD 9-0)
133: No. 1 Stevan Micic (MICH) over No. 4
Nick Suriano (RUTG) (Dec 3-2)
141: No. 6 Kanen Storr (MICH) over Pete Lipari (RUTG) (TB-2 6-1)
149: No. 1
Anthony Ashnault (RUTG) over Malik Amine (MICH) (MD 16-4)
157: No. 5 Alec Pantaleo (MICH) over No. 14
John Van Brill (RUTG) (Dec 7-2)
165: No. 7 Logan Massa (MICH) over (RUTG) (For.)
174: Joseph Grello (RUTG) over Reece Hughes (MICH) (Dec 4-0)
184: No. 20 Jelani Embree (MICH) over
Anthony Olivieri (RUTG) (Dec 7-2)
197: Jackson Striggow (MICH) over
Matthew Correnti (RUTG) (Dec 6-4)
285: No. 7 Mason Parris (MICH) over
Christian Colucci (RUTG) (Dec 4-3)
UP NEXT
Rutgers closes out the dual season on Friday at Maryland. The match will start at 7 p.m.
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