HEMPSTEAD, New York *Pride senior All-American Jon Masa made his return to
the line-up a successful one but #5 Michigan captured six of 10 matches to
post a 25-13 victory over #21 Hofstra Monday night at the Hofstra Arena. The
Wolverines improved to 3-1 on the season while the Pride fell to 2-2-1.
Masa, a two-time All-American who finished third at the 2005 NCAA
Championships, made his Pride 2005-06 debut with a 13-4 major decision over
fourth-ranked Eric Tannenbaum. Unfortunately for the Pride, it was their
first match victory of the night as Michigan had jumped out to a 12-0 lead
after three matches. Masa improved to 15-4 on the season.
It was UM freshman Michael Watts (8-5) who started the Wolverines off with a
6-3 upset victory over #20 Dave Tomasette (10-4) at 125 pounds. Michigan's
13th-ranked senior Mark Moos (4-1) pinned Pride freshman Jon Fennell (0-3)
in 1:55 at 133 pounds to boost the lead to 9-0. Fifth-ranked Wolverine Josh
Churella improved to 9-0 on the season with a 4-2 decision over sophomore
Charles Griffin (12-3) at 141 for a 12-0 lead.
Masa started Hofstra off on the comeback trail and #19 Pride junior James
Strouse (15-5) followed Masa with a 7-1 decision over Jeff Marsh at 157 to
cut the deficit to 12-7. But top-ranked senior Ryan Churella (9-0) stayed
perfect this year with a 12-3 major decision over junior Chris Vondruska at
165 pounds to boost the lead to 16-7.
In the only top 10 match of the night, Hofstra's fourth-ranked senior Mike
Patrovich (14-1) posted an 11-6 decision over #7 Nick Roy (4-5) at 174
pounds with six points in the third period. Michigan sophomore Tyrel Todd
(10-3) gave the Wolverines some breathing room with a 4-0 upset victory over
#16 Joe Rovelli at 184. Trailing 19-10, Hofstra needed two wins in the final
two matches and got one from junior Chris Weidman (7-1) at 197 pounds with a
5-3 decision over Casey White (8-9). The Pride, trailing 19-13, needed a win
by fall but it was the Wolverines who got the fall as third-ranked senior
Greg Wagner (9-0) pinned Pride junior Jon Andriac (11-8) in 3:27 for the
25-13 victory.
Michigan 25, Hofstra 13
125 - Mike Watts (UM) dec. #20 Dave Tomasette (HU) 6-3 **
133 - #13 Mark Moos (UM) WBF Jon Fennell (HU) 1:55
141 - #5 Josh Churella (UM) dec. Charles Griffin (HU) 4-2
149 - Jon Masa (HU) maj. dec. #4 Eric Tannenbaum (UM) 13-4
157 - #19 James Strouse (HU) dec. Jeff Marsh (UM) 7-1
165 - #1 Ryan Churella (UM) maj. dec Chris Vondruska (HU) 12-3
174 - #4 Mike Patrovich (HU) dec. #7 Nick Roy (UM) 11-6
184 - Tyrel Todd (UM) dec. #16 Joe Rovelli (HU) 4-0
197 - Chris Weidman (HU) dec. Casey White (UM) 5-3
Hwt - #3 Greg Wagner (UM) WBF Jon Andriac (HU) 3:27
