The University of Michigan wrestling team, ranked No. 13 nationally, secured a decisive 40-3 victory over Virginia at the Crisler Center on Sunday. The Wolverines won nine out of ten matches and recorded four pins, marking their highest number of falls in a dual since 2015.
Graduate student Lachlan McNeil and redshirt freshman Cameron Catrabone achieved consecutive pins at 149 and 157 pounds before the intermission. Redshirt sophomore Beau Mantanona and graduate student Taye Ghadiali added first-period falls in the second half of the meet. For McNeil, Catrabone, and Ghadiali, these were their first pins of the season; it was Mantanona’s second.
McNeil, ranked fifth at 149 pounds, secured his pin against Wynton Denkins at 4:39 after an extended scramble. Catrabone followed by pinning Colton Washleski—ranked 18th—at just 1:20 for his highest-ranked win to date. He earned seven early points with a standing cradle before finishing with a tilt for four more points and the fall.
Beau Mantanona, ranked 13th at 174 pounds, pinned Emmitt Sherlock at 2:12 after two early takedowns from cradles during scrambles. His brother Brock Mantanona added bonus points with a technical fall (21-6) over Griffin Gammell at 184 pounds by scoring six takedowns.
Ghadiali closed out the dual with another first-period pin against Brenan Morgan at heavyweight (2:04). After giving up an early takedown, he escaped quickly and worked for the pin to improve his season record to five wins—all by bonus points.
Michigan began the event with back-to-back decisions from Diego Sotelo (125 pounds) and Gauge Botero (133). Sotelo defeated Keyveon Roller (ranked No. 20), while Botero posted a win over Aiden Allen.
Dylan Gilcher (165) and Hayden Walters (197) also contributed victories for Michigan through decision wins in their respective bouts.
Following this win, Michigan’s record stands at 4-2 as they head into Thanksgiving break. The team will return to competition on December 5-6 at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational held at Westgate Hotel Paradise Event Center in Las Vegas.
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