Three Badger Wrestlers Medal At MSU Open
November 18, 2001 | Wrestling
UW junior Justin Staebler and freshmen Ed Gutnick and Tom Clum finished among the top three in their respective weight classes at the Michigan State Open this weekend.
Staebler, Wisconsin's returning starter at the heavyweight position, advanced to the finals with a 2-1 victory over Jack Leffler of Central Michigan, but settled for runner-up honors with a 7-3 loss to Matt Brink of Michigan.
Gutnik, a freshman from Iselin, N.J., claimed second place while wrestling unattached at 133 pounds. Gutnik defeated Daniel Roberts of SUNY-Brockport to advance to the championship match before being defeated 9-4 by Michigan's Foley Dowd.
Clum, who also competed unattached, placed third in the 133-pound division. The Arvada, Colo., native lost his first match of the tournament, and then went on to sweep the consolation bracket, culminating in a 3-1 victory over Northwestern 's Paul Angle in the wrestle-back finals.
Freshmen Tony Turner (Spring Valley, Wis.) and Kelly Flaherty (Big Lake, Minn.) both went 3-2 while competing unattached in the 165-pound weight class. Sophomore Ralph DeNisco, seeded third at 184 pounds, was upset by Northern Illinois ' James Olivia, 8-7, in the opening round. DeNisco earned a pair of victories in the consolation bracket before falling to top-seeded Andy Hrovat of Michigan, 6-5.
The Badgers return to action on Friday, November 23 at the Northern Open in River Falls, Wis.
