Michigan College Wrestling Team of the Decade


6/13 - The past decade has seen three different Michigan
collegiates crowned NCAA Champions:  Wolverines Ryan
Bertin and Steve Luke, and MSU Spartan Franklin Gomez. 
Those three champs highlight our All-Decade College
Wrestling Team.  The team consists of only wrestlers who
competed for Michigan colleges from 2000-2009.





Michigan Grappler's
College Team of the Decade
Weight - Name (School), Graduating Year
125 - Nick Simmons (Michigan State), 2007
133 - Franklin Gomez (Michigan State), 2010
141 - Andy Simmons (Michigan State), 2007
149 - Josh Churella (Michigan), 2008
157 - Ryan Bertin (Michigan), 2005
165 - Ryan Churella (Michigan), 2006
174 - Steve Luke (Michigan), 2009
184 - Andy Hrovat (Michigan), 2002
197 - Wynn Michalak (Central Michigan), 2008
285 - Greg Wagner (Michigan), 2006

This list consists of only wrestlers who competed for Michigan colleges from the 2000 to 2009 seasons.


125 - Nick Simmons (Michigan State), 2007
Simmons finished up his college career as a 4x All-American and 3x Big Ten Champion
for Michigan State.  He carried a reputation as one of the nation's most dangerous
wrestlers as he racked up 46 pins in his career to set a new MSU record.  Simmons
entered the 2006 and 2007 NCAA tournament as the top seed before getting upset in the
semifinals both years. He also finished his career as #2 on MSU's all-time wins list.

Honorable Mention
A.J. Grant (Michigan), 2003 - Grant was the catalyst for some of the Wolverines' best teams of
the McFarland era.  The Clarkston native earned All-American honors twice with 4th place
finishes at 125lbs in 2001 & 2003.  Grant is now an assistant coach at North Carolina University.
Chris Williams (Michigan State), 2001 - The current MSU assistant coach had a consistent
career as the Spartan 125lber before graduating in 2001.  Williams was an All-American in
2001 and amassed over 100 wins in his 4 years atop the Michigan State lineup.



133 - Franklin Gomez (Michigan State), 2010
Gomez is the only Spartan of this decade to win a National Title as he claimed the 133lb
NCAA Championship this year.  He also repeated as Big Ten Champion this year, after
winning the conference crown in 2008 at the same weight class.  The Puerto Rican native
has emerged as one of the most exciting wrestlers to watch with his blend of explosive
power and skill and while Gomez still has a year left in East Lansing, he has already done
enough to be the best 133lber of the decade here in Michigan.

Honorable Mention
Pat McNamara (Michigan State), 2001 - McNamara quietly ammassed one of the best careers in MSU history.  The Minnesota native picked up 3 All-American honors during this time in East Lansing and gained a reputation as one of the best mat wrestlers in the country.
Joe Warren (Michigan), 2000 - Before gaining notoriety as a Greco-Roman World Champion and MMA fighter, the "Baddest Man on the Planet" was a nitty, gritty 133lber for the Wolverines.  Warren earned all-american honors in 2000 after advancing to the NCAA Semifinals and eventually finishing 3rd.  Warren and fellow honoree Pat McNamara had some memorable battles that ignited the MSU-UM rivalry around the turn of the millenium.



141 - Andy Simmons (Michigan State), 2007
Simmons impact was felt immediately upon arriving at Michigan State.  He fell just short of All-American honors his freshman season, but made the podium his sophomore and junior seasons after advancing to the NCAA Semifinals each year.  Simmons senior season was a little rocky and shortened due to injury, however, when he was at his best he was one of the elite 141lbers in the country.

Honorable Mention
Jason Mester (Central Michigan), 2004 - Mester graduated as one of CMU's top grapplers as he ranked third on the all-time Chippewa winning percentage list.  He garned all-american honors in 2003 and 2004 finishing 5th and 4th and he was also a 3x MAC champion.
Kellen Russell (Michigan), 2011 -Russell came to U of M from Blair Academy and made a splash in 2008 as a true freshman for the Wolverines.  Already in his young career he has won two Big Ten titles and earned All-American honors this year. 



149 - Josh Churella (Michigan), 2008
Churella was a staple in the middle of the Wolverine lineup from 2005-2008.
He came on strong as a freshman, winning his only Big Ten title and
earning his first all-american honor.  The Novi native went on to become a
3x All-American after placing 2nd and 4th in his junior and senior seasons. 
Wrestling in front of his home crowd in 2007, Churella advanced all the way
to the NCAA finals at 149lbs when the tournament was in Auburn Hills. 

Honorable Mention
Mike Kulyzcki (Michigan), 2003 - The current Wolverine assistant garnered
all-american honors once for the Wolverines, but was qualified for the NCAA
tournament all 4 years of his career.  Kulzyzcki was slick on his feet, leading
Michigan in takedowns twice.  He also won over 100 wins and is top 20 on
Michigan's all-time win list.
Mark Disalvo (Central Michigan), 2006 - Before he was the head assistant at
CMU Disalvo was a 2x all-american and MAC champion for the Chippewas. 
He was the MAC Tournament Outstanding wrestler in 2006 as well.



157 - Ryan Bertin (Michigan), 2005
Ryan Bertin was one of the most notable Wolverines of the decade and until Steve Luke this year, he was the only Wolverine to win an NCAA title this decade, winning it twice in 2003 and 2005.   Bertin was a 4x all-american to go along with his two national titles.  A true gamer, Bertin won his titles in the highly contested 157lb weight class and he was never the favorite to win.  He never won a conference title, which shows how tough the 157lb weight class was in the Big Ten during his years.

Honorable Mention
Gray Maynard (Michigan State), 2003 - Maynard was always just shy of breaking through, however, he quietly ammased a solid career at MSU with three all-american honors.  Maynard was a hard nosed wrestler on the mat and that is working for him now as UFC contender at 155lbs.
Jason Brew (Olivet), 2009 - Brew was arguably the best Comet wrestler during the Todd Hibbs era, finishing NCAA Division III National Runner-Up twice in 2008 and 2009.  The former Sparta state champ, along with fellow Sparta grad Kyle Vanderhyde, led the resurgence of the OC program and put Olivet back on the map.



165 - Ryan Churella (Michigan), 2006
The older of the Churella brother tandem, Ryan was consinstently one of the best in the country throughout his career, but especially the final three years.  He was a 3x All-American, finishing 3rd at 149 as a sophomore, 4th at 165 as a junior, and NCAA Runner-Up as a senior at 165lbs.  His NCAA Finals loss to Oklahoma State star Johnny Hendricks was a controversial one as most thought Churella had Hendricks pinned in the 2nd period.  He also won three Big Ten titles during his stay in Ann Arbor. 

Honorable Mention
Eric Tannenbaum (Michigan), 2008 - Tannenbaum came into college as a big recruit and his impact was immediately felt.  He was a major player at 149 as a freshman and sophomore and continued that at 165lbs during his final two seasons.  He was a 4x NCAA All-American, 2x Big Ten Champ, 2008 NCAA Runner-Up, and was invited to wrestle in the NWCA All-Star Meet twice.
David Bolyard (Central Michigan), 2004 - Bolyard was a beast at 165lbs for the Chipps, earning all-american honors his senior season with a 6th place finish at the NCAA tournament.  He also won the MAC Championship his senior season and was ranked as high as 2nd that year nationally.  He finished his CMU career ranked #7 on the all-time wins list.  He is now an assistant at Eastern Michigan.




174 - Steve Luke (Michigan), 2009
Luke capped off his stellar career this year by winning the 174lb National
Championship.  He became only the 2nd Wolverine to win a National Title this decade.
Luke started his career at 157lbs then moved up to 174lbs his sophomore season
and never looked back.  He won 3 Big Ten titles at 174lbs and earned All-American
honors each of his last three years.  After finishing 6th as a sophomore, Luke fell in
the finals his junior season and won it all his senior year.  He finished his senior
season undefeated with at 32-0 record and only gave up three takedowns the whole
year.

Honorable Mention:
Otto Olson (Michigan), 2002 - Otto Olson was as physical and hard nosed as they came. 
The gritty 174lber earned all-american honors three times for Michigan, including a
runner-up performance in 1999.  He landed two Big Ten titles as well along the way
and entered  the 2002 NCAA tournament as the top seed before being upset in the semifinals.
Ryan Cunningham (Central Michigan), 2000 - When people think of Cunnigham they often think of former CMU national champ Casey, however, Casey's brother Ryan was one of the all-time great Chippewas as well.  Ryan garnered three all-american honors while in Mt. Pleasant, placing 4th as a sophomore, 7th as a junior, and 3rd as a senior.




184 - Andy Hrovat, 2002
"Silent H" was an instant success at Michigan as he was the first
Wolverine freshman to become an all-american in nearly 15 years.  He
ended up being a 3x all-american and was the #1 ranked 184lber in the
country throughout most of his senior season.  His highest NCAA finish
was 4th and he finished his career with 132 wins.  Since graduating Hrovat
has served an array of different roles on the Michigan coaching staff while
training for international competetion. He has been on a World Team and
represented the US in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 

Honorable Mention:
Tyrel Todd (Michigan), 2009 - Todd finished his Wolverine career this year at
197lbs, however, he was a 2x all-american for UM at 184lbs before moving up. 
He placed 5th and 3rd his sophomore and junior seasons at 184lbs before moving up to 197.  All in all, Todd finished his career as a Big Ten Champ and 3x All-American.
Christian Sinnott (Central Michigan), 2008 - The Allen Park native was an all-american during his senior season at 184lbs and along with brother Brandon, surpassed expectations at CMU after flying under many recruiting radars heading into college.



197 - Wynn Michalak (Central Michigan), 2008
The Caro, Michigan native was one of a handful of less than heavily sought after recruits to flourish in Mt. Pleasant.  Michalak was agile and technical for a big man, and he made an immediate impact at 197lbs, earning all-american honors as a freshman.  He would go on to become an all-american again as a sophomore and senior, advancing the National Finals in 2008 as a senior.  Michalak finished his career with 128 wins, which ranks 4th all-time at CMU.

Honorable Mention:
Kyle Smith (Michigan), 2003 - Smith was a 2x all-american for Michigan, placing 7th in 2002 and 2003
Nick Muzashvilli (Michigan State), 2000 - Muzashvili came to MSU from the Republic of Georgia and developed into one of the country's best big men.  He entered the 2000 season as the #1 ranked 197lber in the country by all major publications and finished his career as a 2x all-american.



285lbs - Greg Wagner (Michigan), 2006
Wagner was one of the best big men to ever step the mats for Michigan, earning three all-american honors in his career.  He finished his career with 134 wins, good for 9th all time at Michigan.  Wagner was top 4 his final two seasons and competed in a tough era for heavyweights as his weight saw the likes of guys like Mocco and Rowlands throughout most of his career. 

Honorable Mention:
Bubba Gritter (Central Michigan), 2008 - Bubba anchored the Chipps lineup for much of the decade, earning all-american honors in his final two seasons.  He was also a 2x MAC Champ his final two seasons.
Matt Brink (Michigan), 2001 - The Fruitport native was one of many talented big men to wrestle for Michigan.  He garnered all-american honors in 2000 and 2001.




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Nick Simmons
Josh Churella
Steve Luke
Andy Hrovat