Michigan Wolverines Place Third at NCAAs Behind Four All-Americans
SOURCE: mgoblue.com
March 23, 2024

 


By: Leah Howard

Site: Kansas City, Mo. (T-Mobile Center)
Event: NCAA Championships (Day 3 of 3)
U-M Standing: 3rd Place of 68 Teams (71 points)
Next U-M Event: Season Completed

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- University of Michigan graduate students Austin Gomez and Lucas Davison fell short in their bids for individual national titles at 149 pounds and heavyweight, respectively, on Saturday night (March 23) in front of a crowd of 15,950 at the T-Mobile Center. With four NCAA All-Americans, the Wolverines claimed third place (71 points) in the finals team standings -- their second trophy finish in three seasons.

Gomez, seeded sixth at 149 pounds, could not overcome a sizable early deficit against Virginia Tech's fourth-seeded Seth Gross. He scored the bout's first takedown on a reattack single early in the first, but Henson responded with points in bunches, scoring five on a feet-to-back takedown, adding four on a suck back on the subsequent restart and another takedown when Gomez went for a cement mixer late in the frame. Gomez scored on another single-leg takedown in the second period and was in another deep shot late in the frame but could not finish on the edge and could not get to his attacks in the third.

Gomez is a two-time NCAA All-American, previously placing fourth in 2022, and twice came out of retirement -- the first time after missing two full seasons due to injuries -- before joining the Wolverines in December. He posted an 80-20 career record, including a 13-3 mark this season. Also a member of Michigan's Cliff Keen Wrestling Club, he is qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics at 65kg freestyle.


Davison, seeded 10th at heavyweight, fell to Penn State's top-seeded Greg Kerkvliet 13-4 in his championship final. Kerkvliet scored four total takedowns in the bout, including a pair of single legs in the first period before scoring off Davison attacks in the second and third.

Davison defeated the seventh, second and third seeds en route to the championship final and his best-ever NCAA finish. He completes his collegiate career as a three-time All-American, placing sixth, fifth and second since moving up to heavyweight from 197 pounds. He compiled a 113-37 career record, including a 22-5 mark this season at Michigan.

Graduate student Shane Griffith, seeded fourth at 174 pounds, defeated the second and first seeds in the morning consolation semifinals and medal match to close out his stellar collegiate career in third place. He defeated South Dakota State's second-seeded Cade DeVos 6-2 in the consolation semifinals -- his second win over the Jackrabbit this season -- with a low single-leg takedown in the first and a second-period rideout to eventually finish with 1:33 in advantage time.

In a third-place matchup of previous NCAA champions in the third-place bout, Griffith used a third-period takedown to edge Virginia Tech's top-seeded Mekhi Lewis 4-0. Lewis earned 1:11 time advantage before Griffith's escape in the second, then with a neutral start in the third, the Wolverine fought off a single leg before finishing on one of his own with just 36 seconds remaining. He rode out the bout to eliminate Lewis' riding time and earned the shutout win.

Griffith, a 2021 NCAA champion while at Stanford, completed his wrestling career as a five-time All-American and four-time placewinner, including three top-three NCAA finishes. He posted a 131-17 career record, including a 19-4 mark this season at Michigan.

Senior/junior Dylan Ragusin, seeded fifth at 133 pounds, split his consolation bouts in the morning medal round to take fifth place after securing his first ever All-America honor with his quarterfinal win yesterday. Ragusin cruised to a 17-6 major decision against Iowa State's eighth-seeded Evan Frost in the fifth-place match. Ragusin scored five total takedowns in the bout, including three in the first period -- two early on snap downs and another late on a single. He added a reattack double leg in the third and earned a point for 2:24 in riding-time advantage to ice the bonus point.

With the four All-Americans this season, Michigan now has 212 over its 102-year history. The Wolverines have boasted at least one All-American in 27 of the last 29 NCAA tournaments, including three or more in each of the last nine.


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