YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The University of Michigan wrestling team crowned four champions and boasted eight total placewinners in its 2016-17 debut at the Eastern Michigan Open on Saturday (Nov. 5) at the Eagles' Convocation Center.
Sophomore/freshman Austin Assad captured the 125-pound title, before sophomore/freshmen Logan Massa and Myles Amine and senior captain Domenic Abounader earned the top prize at three consecutive weights -- 165, 174 and 184 pounds. It is the first event in a Michigan singlet for the three freshmen.
Assad posted a perfect 5-0 record en route to the 125-pound title, opening the tournament with back-to-back major decisions and outscoring in opposition, 38-8. He defeated Central Michigan's Brent Fleetwood, 5-3, in the championship match after hitting a late reversal in the tiebreaker set. Assad placed in all four of his open-tournament appearances last season with three titles.
Massa, ranked eighth in the preseason InterMat poll, repeated as the 165-pound EMU Open champion, cruising to a 5-0 record and outscoring his opposition, 72-20, with three bonus wins. Massa defeated Michigan State's Drew Hughes, 8-4, in the championship match after finishing on four first-period takedowns. Massa claimed two open-tournament titles last season before taking second at the Southern Scuffle.
Amine also went 5-0 en route to the 174-pound title, earning two pins and a major decision to cruise in the preliminary rounds. He avenged his only two losses from a season ago with a 13-6 decision against Central Michigan's Christian Brucki in the championship bout. Amine scored five takedowns in the bout -- two apiece in the first and third periods -- and rode for 2:11. It was his second career open tournament crown.
Abounader, ranked eighth nationally at 184 pounds, similarly rolled in the preliminary rounds with three straight bonus wins, including a second-round pin, before battling through a close championship match to beat Central Michigan's Jordan Ellingwood, 1-0, on a second-period escape. It was Abounader's first ever appearance at the EMU Open.
Sophomore/freshmen Stevan Micic and Sal Profaci both bounced back from semifinal losses to place third at 133 and 141 pounds, respectively. Micic, ranked eighth nationally, defeated Ohio's Mario Guillen, 16-3, in his third-place match on six takedowns and two back points, while Profaci took advantage of a quick start -- two first-period takedowns -- to beat Michigan State's Jwan Britton in his placing bout.
Sophomore/freshman Jackson Striggow placed fourth at 197 pounds and junior/sophomore Zac Hall took seventh at 149 pounds to round out the Wolverine placewinners.
The Wolverines will kick off the dual-meet portion of their 2016-17 season on Friday (Nov. 11), hosting Virginia at 7 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena. Tickets are available through the Michigan Ticket Office.
Sophomore/freshman Austin Assad captured the 125-pound title, before sophomore/freshmen Logan Massa and Myles Amine and senior captain Domenic Abounader earned the top prize at three consecutive weights -- 165, 174 and 184 pounds. It is the first event in a Michigan singlet for the three freshmen.
Assad posted a perfect 5-0 record en route to the 125-pound title, opening the tournament with back-to-back major decisions and outscoring in opposition, 38-8. He defeated Central Michigan's Brent Fleetwood, 5-3, in the championship match after hitting a late reversal in the tiebreaker set. Assad placed in all four of his open-tournament appearances last season with three titles.
Massa, ranked eighth in the preseason InterMat poll, repeated as the 165-pound EMU Open champion, cruising to a 5-0 record and outscoring his opposition, 72-20, with three bonus wins. Massa defeated Michigan State's Drew Hughes, 8-4, in the championship match after finishing on four first-period takedowns. Massa claimed two open-tournament titles last season before taking second at the Southern Scuffle.
Amine also went 5-0 en route to the 174-pound title, earning two pins and a major decision to cruise in the preliminary rounds. He avenged his only two losses from a season ago with a 13-6 decision against Central Michigan's Christian Brucki in the championship bout. Amine scored five takedowns in the bout -- two apiece in the first and third periods -- and rode for 2:11. It was his second career open tournament crown.
Abounader, ranked eighth nationally at 184 pounds, similarly rolled in the preliminary rounds with three straight bonus wins, including a second-round pin, before battling through a close championship match to beat Central Michigan's Jordan Ellingwood, 1-0, on a second-period escape. It was Abounader's first ever appearance at the EMU Open.
Sophomore/freshmen Stevan Micic and Sal Profaci both bounced back from semifinal losses to place third at 133 and 141 pounds, respectively. Micic, ranked eighth nationally, defeated Ohio's Mario Guillen, 16-3, in his third-place match on six takedowns and two back points, while Profaci took advantage of a quick start -- two first-period takedowns -- to beat Michigan State's Jwan Britton in his placing bout.
Sophomore/freshman Jackson Striggow placed fourth at 197 pounds and junior/sophomore Zac Hall took seventh at 149 pounds to round out the Wolverine placewinners.
The Wolverines will kick off the dual-meet portion of their 2016-17 season on Friday (Nov. 11), hosting Virginia at 7 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena. Tickets are available through the Michigan Ticket Office.
