0 34 - The Michigan Daily - Orientation Edition 2006 QD r; Grapplers win Big Tens after toppling Gophers Welcome to campus Count on us throughout your college career for everything you need for school and campus life, including new and used textbooks, class and dorm supplies, insignia clothing, and much more. Order Your Textbooks Online Today www.whywaitforbooks.com Pierpont Commons Bookstore Pierpont Commons (North Campus) (743) 668-6022 Michigan Union Bookstore 530 S. State Street phone# 734.995.8877 www.umichigan.bkstore.com bksumichiganunion@bncollege.com By David VandeVusse Feb. 17, 2006 The atmosphere at sold-out Cliff Keen Arena was electric. And Michigan wrestling fans had every reason to be excited. On Friday, No. t Minnesota visited Ann Arbor to take on the third-ranked Wolverines. Michi- gan handed the Golden Gophers their first loss of the season in an emotional 19-15 triumph. Coming into the night, the mar- quee matchup positioned Michi- gan senior Greg Wagner against Minnesota junior Cole Konrad - both of whom were undefeated going into the dual meet. But Michigan sealed the win before the two heavyweights even took the mat. Heading into the 197-pound match, Michigan stood one match-victory short of knocking off the Gophers. Redshirt fresh- man Casey White emerged vic- torious over Minnesota's Mitch Kuhlman. White and Kuhlman traded reversals in the second period, but White mounted a key escape to take a 3-2 advantage heading into the final frame. In the third, White started on top. With 40 seconds remaining, he maneu- vered to bring one of Kuhlman's shoulders to the mat. With the crowd on its feet, White added three points to his score when he held Kuhlman in the near- fall position for the duration of the period. White received an extra point for riding time, giving him a 7-2 decision and lifting the Wolverines to a meet- clinching 19-12 lead. "I came out of the gates and I knew it was going to be a big match," White said. "I was a little nervous, but I think that's a good thing sometimes." Though White's win at 197 guaranteed Michigan the victory, the Wagner-Konrad battle still loomed. Something had to give between the two standouts. The match started slow and remained defensive throughout. In the second period Wagner failed to escape from the bottom position, giving Konrad a big riding time advantage. Konrad chose to start neutral in the third. Wagner fought for the takedown, knowing he needed the points because of the discrepancy of SioUX Continued from Page 30 Parise's performance was not su play the entire season. Friday's ga against-average at a paltry 2.05, an age was an impressive 933. "I thought tonight he did the done for us the entire year," Nor Dave Hakstol said. "He's been 40 Michigan dethroned No. 1 Minnesota en route to an undefeated Big Ten regular season, which gave them the conference title. time on top. But Konrad held The much-anticipated dual tough and won the match 1-0 meet featured 16 rankedwrestlers, because of his 2:00 advantage in including three top-ranked com- riding time. The loss was Wag- petitors. ner's first since his third-place "People gottheirmoney'sworth bout at the NCAA Champion- tonight," McFarland said. ships last March. Friday's win clinched at least Michigan kicked off the eve- a share of the regular season Big ning with a win by 125-pound Ten title for the Maize and Blue. freshman Michael Watts. Watts And the Wolverines had an oppor- had four takedowns and one tunity to take sole ownership of escape to earn a 9-6 victory over the crown with a win against Indi- Travis Lang. ana yesterday. "I thought (Michael Watts) The Wolverines won eight of 10 did a great job," Michigan coach matches en route to a 31-9 thrash- Joe McFarland said. "That was ing of the Hoosiers.Pins fromred- huge for us to get started on the shirt sophomores Josh Churella right foot." and Eric Tannenbaum highlighted Redshirt junior Nick Roy added the meet. a Michigan win in the 174-pound Wagner rebounded from Fri- class. With the score knotted at one day's defeat with a 3-2 decision apiece, Roy mounted a big single- over Dave Herman in his last leg takedown for two points. He home match as a Wolverine. Fel- allowed a late escape but hung on low senior Ryan Churella contin- for a crucial 3-2 victory. ued his dream season with a 5-1 Bonus points proved vital for decision to close out the regular the Wolverines down the stretch. season with 22-0 record. In the 141-pound match, redshirt Michigan defeated six sophomore Josh Churella claimed ranked opponents in the Big a four-point major decision with a Ten on their way to a perfect 13-5 win. Later, in the 165-pound conference season. bout, senior Ryan Churella wres- "The Big Ten Conference is the tIled aggressively, forcing Gopher toughest conference in the coun- Matt Nagel to commit five stall- try," McFarland said. "For our ing violations. Nagel's delays guys to be able to do this through- resulted in a disqualification and out the course of the season says a six Michigan points. In all, the lot about their character." Wolverines grabbed four bonus The Wolverines will travel to points on their way to a victory Bloomington for the Big Ten tour- by the same amount. nament on March 4-5. Irprising given his me put his goals- d his save percent- job ... that he's th Dakota coach rock solid back there. He's been very good over the course of his career here at North Dakota." Coming into Friday's matchup with the Fight- ing Sioux, the Wolverines knew they would have to combat a hostile road environment, a team with equal, if not more talent and a good starting goal- ie. All three delivered, but Parise's performance stuck out above the rest. "He played well," Kolarik said. "He stood on his head.... He definitely played an unbelievable game."