Weekly Release #3
12/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Dec. 9 -- vs. Nebraska (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 11 -- at Central Michigan (Mount Pleasant, Mich.), 2 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 2 -- at Hofstra (Hempstead, N.Y.), 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 3 -- vs. Cornell (New York, N.Y.), 6 p.m.
This Week: vs. Nebraska/at Central Michigan
The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team (1-0, 1-0 Big Ten) opens the non-conference portion of its schedule with meetings slated against Nebraska and Central Michigan this weekend. U-M will host its first home match of the season against the No. 4 Huskers on Friday (Dec. 10) in a 7 p.m. dual at Cliff Keen Arena. Two days later, the Wolverines will head to Mount Pleasant, Mich., to square off against No. 9 CMU at 2 p.m. at the Chippewas' Rose Arena.
U-M Wrestling Live on the Internet
Live video of Wolverine wrestling home duals will be webcast through Michigan's All-Access subscription service and CSTV's All-Access XXL wrestling service. Friday's home opener vs. Nebraska will be offered as a free trial. For more information, please visit Michigan's All-Access page or the All-Access XXL page.
U-Meet the Athlete Clinic Information
The Wolverines will host a pre-match U-Meet the Athlete clinic from 4-6 p.m., prior to Friday's dual meet against Nebraska (Dec. 9) at Cliff Keen Arena. The cost of the clinic will be $10 and will include free admission to the meet. All proceeds go to the Jeff Reese KidSport Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for disadvantaged kids to attend the University of Michigan's KidSport Summer Camp. For more information, visit the U-Meet the Athlete site.
Post-Match Poster Signing on Tap
Wolverine wrestling fans that attend the Nebraska dual meet on Friday (Dec. 9) will be treated to free U-M wrestling items as a show of the university's appreciation of their tremendous support. Following the meet, Michigan wrestling posters will be given away to all remaining fans, who will have the opportunity to get autographs and chat with all Wolverine wrestlers.
Scouting the Huskers
Michigan leads the all-time series against Nebraska by a 3-1 margin, dating back to the 1941-42 season. When the two teams squared off against each other at last season's Lone Star Duals, the Wolverines won seven bouts en route to a 25-12 victory. U-M put an exclamation point on the non-conference win with bonus wins at the closing two weights. Senior/junior Willie Breyer (Oxford, Mich./Oxford HS) pinned 13th-ranked B.J. Padden at 3:55, while senior/junior heavyweight Greg Wagner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider HS) posted a 8-0 major decision against Mitch Manstedt. Michigan head coach Joe McFarland owns a 1-0 record against the Huskers while Nebraska head coach Mark Manning, in his sixh season with the program, is 0-1 against Michigan. The Huskers enter this weekend's dual meet with a perfect 2-0 mark, including a dominant 40-3 victory over Wyoming in their most recent appearance (Nov. 26). Nebraska on the Internet: www.huskers.com.
Scouting the Chippewas
Michigan leads the all-time series against CMU by a 17-2 margin, dating back to the 1981-82 season. In the last season's meeting between the two programs, the Wolverines rallied from a nine-point deficit to win six the final eight bouts and claim a 24-15 non-conference win. Michigan head coach Joe McFarland owns a 5-1 record against the Chippewas while Central Michigan head coach Tom Borrelli, in his 15th season with the CMU program, is 2-8 against Michigan. The Chippewas enter this weekend's dual meet with a 3-1 record on the season with a 31-6 win over Tennessee-Chattanooga in their most recent outing (Nov. 26). Central Michigan on the Internet: www.cmuchippewas.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 | Casey White | So./Fr. |
| Hwt | Greg Wagner | 5th/Sr. |
Recapping the Cliff Keen Invitational
Behind the performances of four individual champions and 10 scorers, U-M captured its second consecutive team trophy at the Cliff Keen Invitational (Dec. 2-3). The Wolverines combined for 145 points over the two-day tournament to dominate the 50-team competition, beating runner-up Cornell by 29 points. Fifth-year senior captains Ryan Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) and Greg Wagner repeated at 165 pounds and heavyweight, respectively, while junior/sophomore Josh Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) and sophomore/freshman Steve Luke (Massilon, Ohio/Perry HS) each won in his first-ever Cliff Keen appearance, at 141 and 157 pounds, respectively.
Luke Nets Big Ten Wrestler of the Week Honors
Sophomore/freshman Steve Luke earned the Wolverines' first Big Ten Conference Wrestler of the Week award of the 2005-06 in recognition of his first-place performance at the Cliff Keen Invitational (Dec. 2-3). Luke registered a perfect 6-0 mark en route to his first collegiate tournament title, including wins against Cornell's fourth-ranked Dustin Manotti and Illinois top-ranked Alex Tirapelle in the final.
Climbing the Charts
Claiming his second straight Cliff Keen Invitational heavyweight crown, fifth-year senior captain Greg Wagner improved his career mark to 111-34, moving him to the 16th spot among Michigan's all-time wins leaders. He needs five more wins to move to the 15th position, currently held by two-time All-American A.J. Grant (116, 2000-03). 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).
Nearing the Century Club
Fifth-year senior captain Ryan Churella inched closer to joining Wagner in Michigan prestigious 100-Win Club, with a perfect 5-0 record at the Cliff Keen Invitational (Dec. 2-3) en route to the 165-pound title. Churella improved his career mark to 95-17 and needs just five more wins to become the 27th Wolverine wrestle to tally 100 career victories.
In the Bonus
Demonstrating the value in scoring dominant wins, Michigan earned 21 of its 37 wins at the Cliff Keen Invitational (Dec. 2-3) with bonus points. The Wolverines tallied seven falls, three technical falls, 10 major decisions and one forfeit victory. Fifth-year senior captains Ryan Churella and Greg Wagner each earned bonus points in four of their five wins.
The Fall Guy (Part 2)
Fifth-year senior captain Ryan Churella tallied a pair of falls at the Cliff Keen Invitational (Dec. 2-3), including a second-period pin against Adam State's Evan Copeland in the semifinal round, to bring his career total to 30. He ranks 10th among Michigan's all-time falls leaders, needing just one more to reach the ninth spot, currently held by Rob Rechsteiner (31, 1981-84). Churella has dominated the competition in his five seasons at Michigan, earning 57 of his 95 career wins (60.0 percent) with bonus points. In addition to his 30 falls, Churella boasts six career technical falls and 26 major decisions.
A Look at the Polls
The Wolverines moved up to the No. 2 spot in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association's poll, released Dec. 6. Michigan also boasts eight individuals ranked among the top 20 wrestlers in their respective weight classes in the NWCA/InterMat or Amateur Wrestling News polls. Sophomore/freshman Steve Luke skyrocketed up the 157-pound rankings after his first-place performance at the Cliff Keen Invitational (Dec. 2-3), moving from 17th to No. 5 in both major polls.
NWCA/InterMat Division I Preseason Team Rankings (12/6/05)
RANK, TEAM POINTS PREV 1. Oklahoma State (12) 480 1 2. MICHIGAN 465 3 3. Oklahoma 440 4 4. Illinois 438 2 5. Minnesota 430 6 6. Iowa 426 7 7. Iowa State 413 5 8. Cornell 390 11 9. Central Michigan 373 9 10. Lehigh 371 10 11. Wisconsin 357 8 12. Penn State 344 13 13. Missouri 331 15 14. Nebraska 327 12 15. Northwestern 321 14 16. Indiana 306 16 17. Michigan State 285 17 18. Arizona State 281 18 19. Edinboro 273 22 20. Hofstra 237 19 21. Northern Iowa 225 NR 22. Navy 216 21 23. Cal Poly 204 NR 24. Penn 197 25 25. Army 196 23
Individual Rankings by InterMat and Amateur Wrestling News
| Wgt. | Wrestler | InterMat | AWN |
| 133 | Mark Moos | 12th | 12th |
| 141 | Josh Churella | 5th | 4th |
| 149 | Eric Tannenbaum | 5th | 4th |
| 157 | Steve Luke | 5th | 5th |
| 165 | Ryan Churella | 3rd | 3rd |
| 174 | Nick Roy | 10th | 17th |
| 184 | Tyrel Todd | 20th | -- |
| Hwt | Greg Wagner | 3rd | 3rd |
On the Horizon
Michigan will open up the New Year with a pair of non-conference road duals in the Empire State. The Wolverines will travel to Hempstead, N.Y. to square off against Hofstra at 7 p.m. on Jan. 2, before heading to New York City the following day (Jan. 3) to face Cornell at the New York Athletic Club at 6 p.m.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
