Weekly Release #1
11/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, Nov. 26 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 1 p.m.
Fri-Sat., Dec. 2-3 -- at Cliff Keen Invitational (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Friday, Dec. 9 -- vs. Nebraska (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 11 -- at Central Michigan (Mount Pleasant, Mich.), 2 p.m.
This Week: at Penn State
The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team will kick off its 2005-06 slate on Saturday (Nov. 26) with a Big Ten Conference dual meet against No. 12 Penn State in State College, Pa. The match is slated for a 1 p.m. start at Rec Hall.
Scouting the Nittany Lions
Michigan holds the narrow 22-20 advantage in the all-time series against Penn State, dating back to 1933. The Wolverines have also been dominant of late with wins in eight of the last nine meetings, including a pair of lopsided victories last season. U-M rallied from early deficits in both duals, winning 31-9 in the regular-season affair in Ann Arbor before posting a 29-14 win at the National Duals one week later. Senior/juniors Ryan Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) and Greg Wagner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider HS) played instrumental roles in both wins, each collecting back-to-back falls at 165 pounds and heavyweight, respectively. Michigan head coach Joe McFarland owns a near-perfect 7-1 record against the Nittany Lions since taking the helm of the Wolverine squad while PSU head coach Troy Sunderland owns a 67-65 career record in eight seasons at Penn State and is 1-7 against the Wolverines. The Nittany Lions own a 3-1 record already this season, losing 19-15 to Wisconsin in their most recent outing. Penn State on the Internet: www.GoPSUSports.com.
Probable Michigan Starting Lineup
| Wgt. | Wrestler | Yr./Elig. |
| 125 | Jim Shutich | Jr./Jr. |
| 133 | Mark Moos | Sr./Jr. |
| 141 | Josh Churella | Jr./So. |
| 149 | Eric Tannenbaum | Jr./So. |
| 157 | Steve Luke | So./Fr. |
| 165 | Ryan Churella | 5th/Sr. |
| 174 | Nick Roy | Sr./Jr. |
| 184 | Tyrel Todd | So./Fr. |
| 197 | Willie Breyer or Casey White | 5th/Sr. So./Fr. |
| Hwt | Greg Wagner | 5th/Sr. |
Marquee Matches
149 Pounds -- #3 Eric Tannenbaum vs. #14 James Woodall
Tannenbaum made a pretty successful season debut on Monday (Nov. 21) with a 7-3 win over Oklahoma State's top-ranked Zack Esposito at the NWCA All-Star Classic. He will square off against a ranked opponent for the second time in as many matches when he takes on Penn State's 14th-rank James Woodall. The two wrestlers will meet for the first time as Woodall regains his 149-pound starting role after posting a 10-2 record last season while backing up PSU starter Jack Decker. The Nittany Lion wrestler owns a 2-1 mark in 2005-06 with his lone loss coming in overtime against Wisconsin's Tyler Turner (8-6).
157 Pounds -- #19 Steve Luke vs. #10 Nathan Galloway
One week after solidifying his starting role in U-M's lineup, Luke will immediately face his first major challenge when he squares off against Penn State's 10th-ranked Nathan Galloway in just his first varsity match. Galloway is 2-2 this season with a pair of big bonus wins and both losses falling in the tiebreaker round. In his most recent outing, Galloway fell to Wisconsin's Craig Henning 5-3. Luke posted a 7-3 record in open tournament competition during his redshirt campaign and, in a successful summer season, represented the United States at the Junior World Championships. Saturday's dual meet will mark his season debut.
All-Star Meet Recap
Junior/sophomore Eric Tannenbaum earned a 7-3 decision against Oklahoma State's top-ranked Zack Esposito at the NWCA 40th annual All-Star Classic on Monday (Nov. 21). Tannenbaum posted six points in the third period of the 149-pound match, scoring a reversal, a takedown and two back points to avenge a semifinal loss at last season's NCAA Championships that Esposito won 7-2 en route to the NCAA individual crown. Tannenbaum's win marked the first U-M all-star win since Otto Olson and Andy Hrovat each collected big victories at the 2002 event. At that meet, Hrovat earned a 7-5 decision against Indiana's top-ranked Viktor Sveda.
Maize and Blue Intrasquad
The Wolverines held their annual intrasquad meet at Cliff Keen Arena on Nov. 17 to determine the starting lineup for the 2005-06 season.
Intrasquad Final-Round Results
| Wgt. | Result |
| 125 | Jim Shutich dec. Michael Watts, 4-3 Shutich dec. Watts, 4-2 |
| 133 | Mark Moos dec. Justin Chrzanowski, 5-0 |
| 141 | Josh Churella dec. Brad Cusumano, 14-4 |
| 149 | Eric Tannenbaum dec. Braden L'Amoreaux, 8-2 |
| 157 | Steve Luke dec. Jeff Marsh, 3-2 |
| 165 | No Match |
| 174 | Nick Roy dec. Cody Waters, 9-5 |
| 184 | Tyrel Todd dec. Omar Maktabi, 6-2 |
| 197 | Casey White dec. Willie Breyer, 3-2 TB |
| Hwt | No Match |
Recapping the Open Tournaments
EMU Open: Sophomore/freshmen Tyrel Todd and Casey White led a contingent of four U-M placewinners with runner-up performances at 184 and 197 pounds as the Wolverines made their first season appearance on the mat at the EMU Open (Nov. 5). Todd posted a 4-1 mark, outscoring his opponents 39-9 with three major decisions en route to the final match. White went 3-1 -- outscoring his preliminary competition 20-3 -- before falling 2-1 in overtime against Purdue's Nate Moore. Senior/juniors Jeff Marsh and Hassen Berri also placed for U-M, claiming third at 157 pounds and fifth at 174 pounds, respectively.
MSU Open: Marsh registered a 3-1 mark en route to second-place distinction at 157 pounds to headline a group of seven Wolverine placewinners at the Michigan State Open (Nov. 12-13). Also placing among the top eight at their respective weights were junior Jim Shutich (125, sixth), sophomore/freshman Brad Cusumano (141, eighth), freshman Justin Chrzanowski (133, sixth), freshman Braden L'Amorueax (149, eighth), Berri (174, eighth) and White (197, third).
Conference Success
In what many consider the premiere collegiate wrestling conference, Michigan has always been a top contender among the Big Ten schools. The Wolverines went undefeated in conference action last season, boasting a 5-0-1 record en route to their second straight Big Ten dual meet crown. In 83 years of Big Ten dual meet action, U-M owns an impressive 413-157-16 mark (.718).
Master of the House
Head coach Joe McFarland enters his seventh season at the helm of the Wolverine program as the third winningest coach in U-M history with a career record of 88-21-2 (.799). Over his tenure, McFarland has led the Wolverines to five straight top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships and coaches 14 different student-athletes to two NCAA individual titles, 24 All-America citations and nine Big Ten individual crowns. Last season, Michigan boasted its most successful season in three decades, compiling a 15-3-1 record (7-0-1 in Big Ten duals) en route to its second consecutive Big Ten dual meet title, third place at the Big Ten Championships and runner-up honors at the NCAA Championships, matching the best showing in program history.
The Leaders and the Best
Fifth-year seniors Ryan Churella and Greg Wagner were named wrestling co-captains for the 2005-06 season. It is the 15th time in Michigan wrestling history that two individuals will share the distinction. Churella retains the honor after serving as one of two U-M captains last season, along with two-time NCAA champion Ryan Bertin. Churella's father, Mark Churella, was the captain of the 1978-78 Michigan squad. Wagner is the xth Wolverine heavyweight to garner the captain honor.
Climbing the Charts
Fifth-year senior captain Greg Wagner enters the 2005-06 season with a career mark of 105-34, ranking 21st among Michigan's all-time wins leaders. Wagner is just one wins shy of the 20th spot, currently held by Matt Brink (106, 1999-2002). Four-time All-American John Fisher holds the Wolverine career win record with a 183-21 mark during his five seasons at Michigan (1985-89).
Joining the Century Club
Fifth-year senior captain Ryan Churella sits just outside Michigan's 100-Win Club with a career record of 88-17. Churella's needs just 12 more wins to become the 27th Wolverine wrestle to tally 100 career victories.
In the Bonus
During his four seasons with the wrestling Wolverines, fifth-year senior Ryan Churella has dominated the competition, earning 52 of his 88 career wins (59.1 percent) with bonus points. Churella has boasted 27 career falls -- ranking him tied for 10th among Michigan's all-time leaders in the category -- five technical falls and 25 major decisions.
Starting Things with a Bang
Through 84 years of U-M wrestling history, Michigan has posted a 53-26-2 record in its first dual meet of the season, and had won eight of the last nine season openers. When U-M opens the season on the road, they have had a 24-20 mark. Last year, Lehigh broke the Wolverines' eight-meet winning streak last season with a 22-15 victory in Bethlehem, Pa.
Strength of Schedule
Michigan faces a tough field of competitors again this season, with 11 of the Wolverines' 13 dual meet opponents ranked among the top 25 teams in the National Wrestling Coaches Association's preseason poll, including four of the top-10 ranked teams. No. 4 Illinois leads the pack of ranked opponents, which also includes No. 6 Minnesota, No. 8 Lehigh, No. 9 Cornell, No. 11 Northwestern, No. 12 Penn State, No. 13 Central Michigan, No. 16 Indiana, No. 17 Nebraska, No. 18 Hofstra and No. 19 Michigan State.
A Look at the Polls
The Wolverines will begin the 2005-06 season with the third-place team ranking in the National Wrestling Coaches Association's preseason poll, released Oct. 27. Michigan also boasts seven individuals ranked among the top 20 wrestlers in their respective weight classes in the InterMat or Amateur Wrestling News polls. Michigan's four returning All-Americans lead the way with top-five listings. Junior/sophomore Eric Tannenbaum and fifth-year senior captains Ryan Churella and Greg Wagner all hold the No. 3 position in both polls at their respective weights, while junior/sophomore 141-pounder Josh Churella ranks No. 5 by Amateur Wrestling News and No. 8 by InterMat.
NWCA/InterMat Division I Preseason Team Rankings (10/27/05)
RANK, TEAM POINTS 1. Oklahoma State (12) 600 2. Oklahoma 584 3. MICHIGAN 574 4. Illinois 567 5. Iowa 549 6. Minnesota 534 7. Iowa State 528 8. Lehigh 515 9. Cornell 499 10. Arizona State 492 11. Northwestern 471 12. Penn State 470 13. Central Michigan 445 14. Missouri 436 15. Wisconsin 430 16. Indiana 424 17. Nebraska 414 18. Hofstra 406 19. Michigan State 378 20. Pittsburgh 352 21. Cal Poly 346 22. Tennessee-Chattanooga 313 23. Edinboro 232 24. Boise State 263 25. Pennsylvania 141
Individual Rankings by InterMat and Amateur Wrestling News
| Wgt. | Wrestler | InterMat | AWN |
| 133 | Mark Moos | 13th | 11th |
| 141 | Josh Churella | 8th | 5th |
| 149 | Eric Tannenbaum | 3rd | 3rd |
| 157 | Steve Luke | 19th | -- |
| 165 | Ryan Churella | 3rd | 3rd |
| 174 | Nick Roy | 11th | 12th |
| Hwt | Greg Wagner | 3rd | 3rd |
On the Horizon
The Wolverines will continue early-season action in two weeks at the 24th annual Cliff Keen Invitational on Friday-Sunday, Dec. 2-3 in Las Vegas, Nev. Competition is slated to begin with pigtail rounds on Friday at 9 a.m. at the Cashman Center. U-M returns to the prestigious tournament as the defending team champions.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
