ICYMI: Catrabone captured the 157lb FR/SO title to headline nine Wolverine placewinners at yesterday’s MSU Open.https://t.co/VFTNe4eBDD
— Michigan Wrestling (@umichwrestling) November 10, 2024
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- University of Michigan wrestling freshman Cameron Catrabone captured the 157-pound freshman/sophomore division title in his first collegiate tournament to highlight a contingent of nine Wolverine placewinners at the annual Michigan State Open on Sunday (Nov. 3) at Tippin Gymnasium.
Catrabone went 4-0 in his debut with four bonus wins — three falls and a major decision. He pinned Michigan State's Jack Conley in the championship final with a high-crotch takedown and an arm bar at the 58-second mark. It was his second first-period fall of the day; he cradled up Davenport's Cody Ueberroth for a 43-second pin in the opening round.
All three Wolverine freshmen making their debuts placed in the freshman/sophomore division. Teddy Flores took fourth place, and Zar Walker placed sixth at 133 and 149 pounds, respectively. Both were victorious in their debut matches, with Flores using a third-period takedown and rideout to beat Purdue's Cooper Rider, while Walker defeated Davenport's Brody Orcutt, 8-4, with two takedowns and 1:42 riding-time advantage.
Graduate student Chase Saldate, ranked 13th in the latest InterMat poll, went 4-1 en route to third place at 157 pounds in his Michigan debut. Saldate, a grad transfer from Michigan State, pinned Northern Illinois' Landen Johnson with an arm bar at 2:32 in his first bout in maize and blue. His lone loss came against Ohio's No. 3-ranked Kellar, 6-3, in the semifinals. Saldate scored first and was in on several scrambles in sudden-victory overtime but couldn't finish. He closed out the tournament with a 9-3 decision against Ohio State's Brock Herman, scoring two takedowns and earning 2:04 riding time.
Junior/sophomores Nolan Wertanen and Codei Khawaja placed fourth in the open division at 125 and 184 pounds, respectively, while senior/junior Christian Tanefeu, junior/sophomore Nathan Jerore and sophomore/freshman Hayden Walters all took fifth place — at 125, 141 and 197 pounds. It was Walters' second tournament placement in as many appearances this season.
The Wolverines will kick off the dual-meet portion of their 2024-25 schedule at home next Sunday (Nov. 17) when they host Columbia at 5 p.m. at Criser Center. Season and single-meet tickets are still available through the U-M Ticket Office.