BIG TEN SCHOOLS
Coach: Joe McFarland (10th season)
Preseason rank: 10th
Individuals ranked: 3
Last year: 16-8 (3-5 Big Ten), 7th in NCAA Div 1, 3rd in Big Ten
Top Returners: Kellen Russell (Big Ten Freshman of Year, 141);
Steve Luke (All-American/Big 10 Champ); Tyrel Todd (All-American/Big 10 Champ)
Impact Newcomers: Zac Stevens (133, True Freshman), Coby Boyd (149, True Freshman), Justin Zeerip (165, RS Freshman), Ben Apland (285, True Freshman)
Outlook: Joe McFarland's Wolverine squad will be a mix of old and new as they feature returning all-americans and NCAA title contenders Steve Luke and Tyrel Todd, along with Big Ten Freshman of the Year Kellen Russell. Those three should all contend for Big Ten and NCAA crowns. While they have these big guns coming back, they will also feature a few new faces in their lineup, including 4x undefeated state champ Justin Zeerip of Hesperia who will be stepping in at 165 after a redshirt year. True freshman Zac Stevens, Coby Boyd, Mark Weber, and Ben Apland could all see time right away this year in the rugged Big 10 schedule. Watts and Biondo have proven they can compete at the next level and McFarland will need guys like them to step up and score some points in the postseason if Michigan wants to finish near the top of the NCAA tournament.
Weight by weight breakdown:
125
Senior and 3-year letter winner Michael Watts returns for the Wolverines at the top of their lineup. Watts has been there and wrestled with the best lightweights in the country. Last year he beat ranked guys like Nikko Triggas of Ohio State and Brad Gentzle of Pitt, so he is capable of wrestling with the best. Michigan will be looking for him to step up in his senior season. The only other 125lber currently listed on their roster is true freshman Bret Marsh of Dexter.
133
It is looking like true freshman Zac Stevens of Monroe might see time right away for Michigan. Stevens came on strong last year in his senior year of high school, winning a state title and placing 4th at senior nationals, however, the transition from high school to the Big Ten is a tough one. The only wrestler listed on their roster at 133 is redshirt sophomore Mike Sears, who went 7-11 in open competetion last year.
141
Big Ten champ and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Kellen Russell is back at 141 for the Wolverines after a breakout freshman season a year ago. In his first year of college Russell knocked off numerous big name wrestlers and enters this year ranked 5th in the nation. With a year of college wreslting under his belt Russell should considered a legitimate national title conteder, and Michigan will need him to step into a leadership role this year.
149
After the departure of 3x All-American Josh Churella, someone will have big shoes to fill at 149 for the Maize and Blue. The most expierenced contender for this spot appears to be redshirt junior Justin Chrzanowski, who has seen a good amount of time in the lineup at 141/149 over the past couple seasons. Two highly touted incoming freshman may see time as well as 4x MI champ Mark Weber and Ohio state champ Coby Boyd are both capable of competing right away.
157
With the graduation of senior Jeff Marsh this weight is open as well. Redshirt sophomore and former Flint Kearsley standout Aaron Hynes enjoyed a good deal of open tournament success last year and looks to be the front-runner, however, redshirt freshman David Johnson of Jenison is here as well, and Boyd coming up to 157 may be an option as well.
165
4x Michigan state champ and Senior National All-American Justin Zeerip is sliding into this spot after the graduation of 4x all-american Eric Tannenbaum. Folks in Wolverine country are hoping for this to be a passing of the torch from one UM great to the next. Zeerip did well last year in open competetion, compiling a 23-6 record and should be capable of stepping in an contending in the Big Ten.
174
Senior Steve Luke enters the season as the #1 ranked wrestler in the country at this weight and will be looking to end his star-studded Michigan career with an exlamation point. Last year Luke won his 2nd Big Ten Title and finished runner-up at the NCAA Finals for his 2nd All-American honor. All that is left for him to do individually is win an NCAA Title.
184
Sophomore Anthony Biondo will be dropping down to 184 after gaining a considerable amount of weight last year to get up to 197, where he was a pleasant surprise for the Wolverines, going 23-13 in his first season in the lineup. After expierencing a year in the Big Ten schedule and being down to a more natural weight, Biondo should be ready to come into his own for the Wolverines.
197
Senior captain Tyrel Todd is swapping weight classes with Biondo as he will be making the jump to 197 after enjoying a tremendous amount of sucess at 184 over the past three seasons. Todd, a 2x All-American, enters this season as the 3rd ranked 197lber in the country and will have his eyes on a national title. He and Luke are the leaders that will be looking to carry this Michigan team to a high finish at the Big Ten's and NCAA's.
285
This weight appears to be a crap-shoot for Michigan with three guys who could all see time. Chad Bleske is back after wrestling in 7 of the team's Big Ten duals a year ago. While Bleske saw alot of regular season action, it was Eddie Phillips who represented UM at the Big Ten tournament at this weight, and he is back as well. Another big man to consider here is true freshman Ben Apland, who was an Illinois state champ last year.
Coach: Tom Minkel (17th season)
Preseason rank: NR
Individuals ranked: 1
Last year:
Top Returners: Franklin Gomez (Big Ten Champ/All-American), Jeff Wimberley (8th in Big Ten),
Rex Kendle (MSU Open Champ)
Impact Newcomers: Eric Olanowski (RS Freshman), Collin Dozier (RS Freshman), Ian Hinton (RS
Freshman), Kyle Bounds (Transfer)
Outlook: The Spartans return most of their team from year ago, including Big Ten Champ Franklin Gomez, who nearly missed the NCAA Finals last year and should be right in the hunt to win a National Title this year. They have three freshman coming off a redshirt year that they are excited about. Former Sr National champ Olanowski and 3x VA state champ Dozier were blue chip recruits a couple years ago and, along with Ian Hinton, should all contribute this year as freshman. Expierenced veterans like Jeff Wimberley, Tim Hammer, Rex Kendle, Nick Palmeiri, and Alan Odonnell are all back and will be looking to break through this year.
Weight by weight breakdown:
125
Last year Joel Trombley and Clint Frutiger split time here, but with Trombley up at 141 and Frutiger graduated redshirt freshman Eric Olanowski appears to be the man at 125 for MSU. True freshman Colby Borchetta of Florida has done well in Open tournaments as well, including a win over Olanowski, so he may throw his hat into this mix as well.
133
Franlin Gomez is back after making a run to the NCAA Semifinals last year. Gomez, a Big Ten champ, is currently ranked 3rd at 133lbs and he should be in the hunt again this year to win Big Ten and National titles. He is one of the most techinically talented wrestlers in the country and MSU's headlining star this year.
141
Wide open weight here with a few wrestlers vying for the starting spot. Jeff Wimberley is back after finishing 8th in the Big Ten last year. Wimberley missed much of last year due to injury and has been up and down throughout his career. He has been great at times, with numerous big wins, however, he will have some competetion to start here with fellow senior Tim Hammer and highly touted freshman Collin Dozier.
149
MSU has had numerous wrestlers trading time at 149 over the past few years and this year may be similiar. Eddie Skowneski is back after starting most of last year, but is injured going into the season. Skowneski's injury may open the door for redshirt freshman David Cheza of Grand Blanc, who was a senior national all-american a couple years ago. Hammer or Wimberley have competed at this weight in the past and may come up as well depending on who wins the 141lb spot.
157
Yet another weight that appears up for grabs in this lineup. Sophomore Anthony Jones appears to be the front runner after winning the MSU Open in the freshman/sophomore division. Oregon transfer and former NCAA qualifier Kyle Bounds may see time as well, along with returning starter John Fulger.
165
Rex Kendle is the man here for the green and white, and after winning the MSU Open it is looking like he is wrestling at higher level this year. Last year Kendle started the whole year for MSU at 165 and did well, however, for this team to have sucess they will need him to step up and be a major contributor.
174
John Murphy will be starting for the 3rd season at 174lbs. Murphy is one of the most expierenced wrestlers in this lineup and has won some big matches over the past couple seasons. If he gets rolling, Murphy is capable of doing well in the Big Ten and scoring some points at the NCAA tournament.
184
Redshirt freshman Ian Hinton appears ready to step into the Spartan lineup this year and has fared well so far this season, finishing 3rd at the MSU Open. Hinton is a big, athletic 184lber who should be a force in this lineup for the next few years.
197
2-year starter Nick Palmeiri is back up at 197 after wrestling 184lbs last year. Palmeiri is one of the strongest 197lbers around and has the expierence to compete and win alot of matches for the Spartans. Redshirt freshman Tyler Dickensen of St Johns is here as well.
285
Lakewood junior Alan O'Donnell is back for his 3rd straight year wrestling 285 for MSU. O'Donnell has been steadily improving throughout his career and should continue to do so this year. True freshman Steve Andrus of Kansas comes in with a lot of hype and if things start to get rough he may get the call here.
