Michigan Grappler's College Preview 2012
--Michigan Natives to Watch---
*Note - All rankings come from InterMat's Division 1 Pre-Season Rankings
125
Jared Germaine (Eastern Michigan/Swan Valley HS) - There are no ranked Michiganders at 125 in
InterMat's top 20, however, Swan Valley graduate Jared Germaine is ranked #24 according to
D1collegewrestling.net, and Germaine comes off a stellar sophomore campaign last year for EMU
in which he qualified for the NCAA tournament. Germaine has all the makings of a repeat run to
the NCAA tournament this year as he has shown the ability to compete with the country's best little
guys. Not bad for a wrestler who never won a state title in high school....
133
Terry Turner (Michigan State/Davison HS) - Turner saw some time in the Spartan lineup last
year as a true freshman, going 1-3 in dual-meet action. This year he looks to be the man again
at 133lbs and with a year of college wrestling under his belt, it will be interesting to see what the
Davison native can do for MSU.
141
Andrew Schutt (Buffalo/Yale HS) - Schutt comes off a redshirt season last year, but was a NCAA Qualifier for Buffalo in 2011. The former D3 State Champ is ranked #20 by D1collegewrestling.net and is poised for a breakout junior season, according to Buffalo coach Jim Beichner, "Andrew is a fearless wrestler who has proven that he can go out and beat top 25 wrestlers on a consistent basis. He's going to be our starter and we know what he's capable of," Beichner said.
Mike LeHolm (Eastern Michigan/Jackson Northwest HS) - The former D2 State Champ and Fargo All-American will look to return to the Eagle lineup after being the primary starter at 141 in 2011. Leholm was 13-14 for the Eagles two years ago and will look to improve on that mark this year in his redshirt-junior season.
Brandon Fifield (Michigan State/Leslie HS) - Fifield saw the majority of the load for MSU at 133 last year, competing as a true freshman in the Big Ten. He won two dual meet matches last year and will be competing up a weight at 141 this year, unless they opt to redshirt the former 2x State Champ.
Nick Trimble (Michigan State/Sparta HS) - Trimble is just a few months out of high school, however, the Spartans have not shyed away from wrestling their top recruits right away and Trimble could get the nod this year. The 2011 State Champ would not have much time to waste as the daunting Big 10 schedule is just around the corner.
149
Dan Osterman (Michigan State/St Johns HS) - With two NCAA tournament trips under his belt, the
former 3x State Champion enters the season ranked #24 by D1collegewrestling.net. Osterman will
likely break the 100 career win mark for Michigan State this year as he has 71 wins heading into this
season. He has yet to redshirt, which may happen this year, giving one more year of Danny Osterman
in East Lansing.
Roger Wildmo (Michigan State/Durand HS) - Wildmo has competetion with Osterman to start at 149
for MSU, however, if he is in the lineup he will be a storyline to follow for MSU this year. The former
3x State Champ was a top 30 recruit in the country coming out two years ago and put together a
stellar redshirt season winning EMU and Grand Valley Open Titles.
Donnie Corby (Central Michigan/Croswell Lexington HS) - Corby is senior, 2x NCAA Qualifier and returning MAC Champion from a year ago. He will make the cut down to 149 this year and the former D3 state champ will likely be an intregal part to what could be a big season for CMU.
Jaylyn Bohl (Eastern Michigan/Allegan HS) - As a redshirt freshman starting the whole season last year, Bohl went 14-16 and gained valuable experience that should prime him for an improved showing this year as year 2 as the go-to-guy for EMU at 149lbs.
157
#20 Craig Eifert (Cornell/Mason HS) - The former 3x Division 2 State Champion was on the
brink of a breakout season last year and will look to transition that breakout into this season.
Eifert started 7 duals for Cornell last year from 149-165 and scored some big wins including a
win over All-American Dylan Ness of Minnesota. He also won the Bighamton Open last year
and placed at the BodyBar and Southern Scuffle.
David Cheza (Michigan State/Grand Blanc HS) - Cheza is back for another year after being
granted a 6th year of eligibilty by the NCAA for medical waiver. He is a legit All-American
contender and team captain for the Spartans after qualifying for the NCAA tournament twice in
his career.
Andrew Morse (Northern Illinois/Lowell HS) - Morse, who claimed his 2nd Division 2 State
Title last spring for Lowell High School, is slated as the probable starter for Northern Illinois
this year as a true freshman after winning his recent wrestle off. Big brother Jackson Morse,
who started for Illinois at this weight last year, appears to be redshirting this year.
165
#8 Taylor Massa (Michigan/St Johns HS) - InterMat did a recent feature on this year's top freshman to watch and Taylor Massa was #1. It feels like just yesterday he was an 8th grade phenom tearing up Fargo, and now he is starting in the Michigan lineup, ranked top 10 nationally, and one of the most well known names in amateur wrestling. It will be exciting to see how he does this year.
Troy Lamson (Michigan State/Swan Valley HS) - Lamson, who was a D3 state champ and Senior National All-American a couple years ago at Swan Valley and this year he appears to be the likely starter for the Spartans at 165. Lamson is an athletic wrestler who has accumulated a 25-12 record in open tournaments in his first two years. While the Big Ten schedule will be more challenging than open tournaments, he has proven he can compete.
Jake Dorulla (Eastern Michigan/Rockford HS) - One of the more intrueging storylines in the EMU lineup is Dorulla, who is a likely candidate to start for them. Dorulla's talent is undoubted as he 4x D1 State Finalist and 2x State Champ, however, this year will be his first official college season for the Eagles. He comes in as a Redshirt Sophomore eligibility-wise, but has yet to officially don the EMU Green and White.
174
#15 Dan Yates (Michigan/Hesperia HS) - Yates has started for UM the past two years and qualified the NCAA tournament both years. The 2009 MI Grappler Prep Wrestler of The Year already has 71 collegiate wins under his belt, however, he is yet to go deep into the National Tournament, going 0-2 and 1-2 in his two trips. Therefore, this year the Wolverines will look to see him turn it on in March and make a run.
LJ Helbig (Wyoming/Mason HS) - Helbig, a 2008 State Champ for Mason High School, in his senior season for the Cowboys and has competed everywhere from 184-285 for Wyoming. This year he is slated as the 174lb starter after winning his first dual match against Boise State and a 2nd place finish at the Wyoming Open, the 2x state finalist appears primed for a great final college season.
Mike Curby (Eastern Michigan/Hillsdale HS) - The former State Champ served as the starter for EMU at 184 last year and struggled at times, going 13-18 overall, however, that full year of experience and the drop to 174, where he should be strong for the weight should help him improve this year as he looks to compete for a top finish in the MAC and an NCAA tournament bid.
184
#5 Ben Bennett (Central Michigan/Rockford HS) - Bennett, who was the 2008 MI Grappler
Prep Wrestler of The Year, has already made his mark in Mt Pleasant. He is a 3x All-
American and is primed to become CMU's first ever 4x All-American. The only thing he
has yet to do is win an NCAA title, and all eyes will be on him come March as he is one of,
if not the best bet for a Michigan native to win a title this year.
#19 Jordan Thomas (Michigan/Greenville HS) - JT is jumping right into action this year
for Michigan and is ranked nationally without wrestling a college match. His talent is
undeniable, but it will be intersting to see how he and the other UM freshmen fare in the
grind of the Big Ten schedule. He should benefit from a great training situation that
includes teammates Massa and Yates, coaches Bormet and Pritzlaff, and a great training
option in World Silver Medallist Jake Herbert who lives and trains in Ann Arbor.
Philip Joseph (Eastern Michigan/Lapeer East HS) - Joseph was a somewhat overlooked prospect coming out his senior year as we (Michigan Grappler) had the D2 State Champ as the #18 recruit in his class. He has already overacheived that status, with 43 wins in two years of starting for the Eagles and a trip to the NCAA tournament last year. D1collegewrestling.net ranks him as the #24 wrestler in this weight and he is capable of contending for a MAC title this year.
197
Shawn Scott (Northern Illinois/Holly HS) - As a true freshman, Scott has appeared to earn the starting spot at 197 for the Huskies. He won the D2 state title last year at a stacked 215lb class and Scott has great athletic ability for his weight class, however, starting as a true freshman is not an easy task so it will be interesting to see how he adjusts.
Nick McDiarmid (Michigan State/Hartland HS) - McDiarmid returns after starting in 11 duals for Michigan State last year, going 5-6. The former 2x State Champ and Senior National Champ has shown signs of his potential and if clicking on all cylinders, could be a major player on the national scene at 197lbs this year.
Nick Whitenburg (Eastern Michigan/Bedford HS) - With two full seasons under his belt starting at 197 in the Eagle lineup, the athletic Whitenburg is a veteran on the brink of a breakout. The former D1 State Runner-Up had an impressive 20-9 mark last year and finished 2nd in the MAC at 197lbs.
285
#4 Jarod Trice (Central Michigan/Highland Park HS) - "Doughboy" is back for his final go-round at CMU after taking an Olympic Redshirt year that saw him finish 4th at the Olympic Trials and 1st at Midlands competing unattached. Trice was an All-American in 2011 and 2010, finishing 4th his junior year in 11'. He comes in ranked 4th in the preseason poll, however, he is as legit a contender to win an NCAA Title as anyone.
#15 Mike McClure (Michigan State/Holland West Ottawa HS) - McClure has spent his first two seasons fighting most of his battles just to earn a starting spot with two other NCAA Qualifier heavyweights in the MSU room. He is now the main man at 285 for MSU and will have a full season in the lineup to see what he is capable of. He was ranked as high as #10 in the country last year with a plethera of big time wins, so the prospect is there for a big time year.
Justin Heiserman (Buffalo/Dundee HS) - Heiserman will make the jump to 285 this year for Buffalo after starting at 197 last year in his true freshman season. The move to 285 should be better for his style and the year of experience in the lineup should have him primed to be a big contributor for Buffalo this year.
Chris Eggert (Eastern Michigan/Dundee HS) - Another Dundee grad moving to heavyweight, Eggert makes a bigger jump than Heiserman as he moves from 174 to 285. He was out last year with injury, but was the starter for EMU at 174 two years ago. He has a ton of experience and great athleticism and mat-skills for 285, but it will interesting to see if he can deal with the size and strength of heavyweights.
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Germaine
Osterman
Eifert
Bennett
