EAST LANSING – The second the referee slapped the mat to signal a pin for redshirt junior Eric Grajales, the entire Michigan coaching staff jumped out of their chairs and delivered a flurry of fist pumps, seemingly releasing all of the frustration that comes with a trying Big Ten season. With the Grajales pin, No. 19 Michigan (3-5 Big Ten, 9-6 overall) came from behind to take a 16-12 lead on its way to a 24-15 victory over Michigan State (0-8, 4-12) in their final dual meet of the season.

“It’s great to be able to be that turning point in the match where we needed the points,” Grajales said.

The bonus points Grajales earned with the pin were crucial for the Wolverines after 125-pound redshirt junior Sean Boyle was pinned by Michigan State junior Brennan Lyon. The pin was particularly surprising given the fifteenth-ranked Boyle’s recent success, coming off his best victory of the season against Ohio State’s No. 12 Nikki Triggas on Friday night.

Grajales wasn’t the only Wolverine to help Michigan work back from its early deficit, as 133-pound freshman Rossi Bruno won an 11-1 major decision right after Boyle’s pin. Bruno accumulated 5:04 of riding time throughout his match as he secured a takedown and a near fall in the middle of the third period to get the major decision. Bruno ended his first conference dual meet season on a high note after suffering a great deal of lumps along the way.

“Rossi’s been up and down throughout the whole year and he goes out there and they get to their feet and he put the guy on his head and gets five points and secures the major,” said Michigan assistant coach Donny Pritzlaff.

141-pound redshirt junior Mike Hillock followed Bruno’s major decision with some excitement of his own, posting a takedown with 10 seconds remaining on the clock to secure a 4-3 decision to continue the momentum swing in the Wolverines’ favor.

Grajales brought Michigan’s newfound momentum to a fever pitch by the time he stepped onto the mat, completely dominating his opponent as he earned the pin in 1:28 after using a quick headlock to score five points.

“Eric did a much better job than he did on Friday night of being the aggressor,” Pritzlaff said. “The match didn’t last very long and that’s fine with me.”

With the pin, Grajales finished his conference dual meets with a perfect 8-0 record, putting him in position for a high seed in the Big Ten tournament.

Like Grajales, 165-pound freshman Taylor Massa finished conference dual meets with an undefeated record at 7-0. Against the Spartans, he used 11 near fall points to win a 15-0 technical fall.

Culminated by 174-pound redshirt junior Dan Yates’ 12-5 decision, the Wolverines won five of their last six matches against Michigan State after losing three of their first four.

Though the Big Ten dual meet season hasn’t been fist pump worthy for Michigan, the way the team responded to Boyle’s pin certainly was.

“Sean’s your teammate, he’s like pretty much your brother, it’s like now you guys are going to pay,” Bruno said. “It’s a lot of motivation.”