Welcome to Wolverine Wrestling Wrap!
The University of Michigan wrestling program is proud to introduce Wolverine Wrestling Wrap, its new email-based newsletter aimed at Michigan wrestling alumni and fans across the country. This weekly-email newsletter will replace the monthly paper editions from year's past and will provide a one-stop source for all things Wolverine wrestling, including match recaps, musings from head coach Joe McFarland, features and important ticket, hotel and promotional information for upcoming events. Those who previously received the paper newsletter will still receive a tri-annual bulletin with additional alumni news and profiles. If you would prefer not to receive Wolverine Wrestling Wrap, or would prefer to use a different email address, the necessary instructions are listed at the bottom of this newsletter.
U-M Keeps Rolling Through Big Ten Slate
The No. 18-ranked Wolverines picked up a pair of impressive road wins last weekend to improve their Big Ten dual record to 3-0-1. Michigan used a late rally and bonus points to claim a 17-16 upset win against No. 8 Minnesota last Friday evening (Feb. 6) in Minneapolis, Minn. Trailing by seven points after the 165-pound contest, U-M claimed three of the final four bouts, including major decisions from its fifth-year senior captains -- Steve Luke and Tyrel Todd -- at 174 and 197 pounds, respectively, to put itself in the driver's seat with one bout remaining. While the Golden Gophers took the heavyweight match, its decision win was not enough to overcome the Michigan advantage. Sophomore Kellen Russell earned the Wolverines' first win of the contest, knocking off eighth-ranked Mike Thorn, 6-4, in the 141-pound bout. It was Russell's second win over the Gopher wrestler this season.
After kicking off the conference schedule with three close duals, Michigan dominated intrastate rival Michigan State last Sunday (Feb. 8), winning the last six straight matches to roll past the Spartans 28-7 at Jenison Field House. U-M won eight total matches in the effort, highlighted by strong comeback performances from senior Michael Watts and junior/sophomore Aaron Hynes at 125 and 157 pounds, respectively. Both Michigan wrestlers turned their Spartan opponents for three points in the third period to put an exclamation point on their decision wins. For the second time in as many appearances, both Wolverine captains earned bonus victories, including Todd's quick first-period fall in the 197-pound contest -- his sixth pin of the season.
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According to Coach McFarland ...
On the progress the U-M team has made throughout the season ... "The guys have been doing a great job working on the little things, week to week and match to match, that are going to make them better. That’s definitely starting to show now. There’s no question that these guys have made great progress throughout the year. I think we’ve made progress technically, and I think we’ve made progress with our conditioning. The guys are wrestling harder right now, and they’re wrestling with more confidence, going out and getting after it for seven hard minutes. We’ve been seeing it in the practice room, and it’s starting to really translate to matches. Now after you fix one thing, there’s always something else to work on. But we just need to be sure that we take these weekends as learning experiences for us and continue to get better as wrestlers, so that, by the end of the year, we don’t have any weaknesses."
On Michigan's goal to outwork their opposition ... "That’s important, and we really preach that a lot -- a hard-nosed style of wrestling. That’s our philosophy. We want to set the pace in our matches and out-condition, out-tough and out-work our opponents. In tight matches, it’s important to win that third period. We’ve done a pretty good job of that, and I’m really happy about where these guys are at."
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Catching Up with Andy Hrovat
Wolverine volunteer coach Andy Hrovat is just five months removed from a trip to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and, not surprisingly, he is already in full preparation for the next quadrennial event. Hrovat was one of the big success stories from the trials in July -- the consummate underdog who paid his dues and rallied from several deficits to knock off favored Mo Lawal in the best-of-three championship series at 84 kg/185 pounds. His Olympic experience was somewhat bittersweet after a first-round loss to Cuba's Reineris Salas in the closing seconds of the third and final period left his ultimate lifelong goal still unfulfilled. But for Hrovat, it's simply back to the grindstone. It’s back to training, traveling and competing -- the same things that ultimately landed him in Beijing. It's back to the wrestler’s life -- the only life that he knows.
Fresh off his two-week training camp in Russia and with the U-M team approaching the Big Ten dual season and the final stretch of the 2008-09 campaign, Andy sat down to discuss his life since the Beijing Games, his coaching role with the Wolverines and his plans for the next several months. Check out the full Q&A with the Wolverine Olympian.
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Wolverine News & Notes
The Michigan wrestling program cordially invites all former Wolverine wrestlers back for Alumni Night 2009, scheduled for Friday's (Feb. 13) dual meet against rival Ohio State. All wrestling alumni will receive free admission for themselves and their families and will be honored in a halftime ceremony. The U-M coaching staff will host a post-meet social at The Arena in downtown Ann Arbor. All alumni and Cliff Keen Takedown Club members are invited to attend.
On Saturday (Feb. 14), the Wolverines will honor their soon-to-be alumni prior to the Penn State dual meet, recognizing seniors Justin Chrzanowski, Steve Luke, James Tobias, Tyrel Todd, Phil Shaheen, Cody Waters and Michael Watts for their contributions to the Michigan wrestling program.
Congraulations to former Wolverine wrestlers Tom Davids and Robert Lence on the publishing of their book, Wrestling the ABC's. Tom wrote the book, along with his wife Veronica, while Robert provided the illustrations. Tom will have copies of the book available for sale at this weekend's home dual meets. For more information about Wrestling the ABC's, visit Tom's website.
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On the Horizon
The Wolverines will wrap up the home portion of their 2008-09 schedule this weekend with a pair of Big Ten Conference meetings against rivals Ohio State and Penn State. U-M will face the Buckeyes at 7 p.m. on Friday (Feb. 13), before squaring off against the Nittany Lions at 7 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 14). Both matches will be held at Cliff Keen Arena.
Friday's dual vs. Ohio State will be broadcast via same-day, tape-delay at 10:30 p.m. EST, on the Big Ten Network.
With two Michigan hockey games also scheduled the weekend, we recommend that Wolverine fans planning to attend this weekend's home dual meets should prepare to arrive early and plan to park at Elbel Field. For additional parking information, click here.
Wolverine Wrestling Wrap is sent by the University of Michigan wrestling program to all U-M alumni, booster, parents, campers and fans. If you prefer not to receive it, please send an email to wrestlingwolverines@gmail.com with a subject of UNSUBSCRIBE. If you would prefer use of a different email address, send an email to wrestlingwolverines@gmail.com with a subject of ADDRESS CHANGE.