Week #1: Wolverines to Open Season at Home vs. Virginia
11/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 8, 2016
» The Wolverines are projected to start seven redshirt freshmen against Virginia, including Austin Assad (125 pounds), Logan Massa (165) and Myles Amine (174), who are coming off EMU individual titles.
» Six Wolverines projected to wrestle Friday are ranked in at least one national poll at their respective weight classes, most notably No. 5 Brian Murphy (157 pounds), No. 7 Massa and No. 9 Domenic Abounader (184).
THIS WEEK
Friday, Nov. 11 -- vs. Virginia (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
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The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team (0-0) will kick off its 2016-17 dual schedule at home on Friday (Nov. 11), hosting Virginia at 7 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena.
PROMOTIONS
Virginia: Military Appreciation Night [ more promotions ]
Michigan's Projected Starting Lineup
| Wgt. | Name | Year/Elig. | Hometown (High School) |
| 125 | Austin Assad | So./Fr. | Northfield, Ohio (Brecksville) |
| 133 | Stevan Micic | So./Fr. | Cedar Lake, Ind. (Hanover Central) |
| 141 | Sal Profaci | So./Fr. | Monroe Twp, N.J. (Monroe Township) |
| 149 | Zac Hall | Jr./So. | St. Johns, Mich. (St. Johns) |
| 157 | Brian Murphy | Sr./Sr. | Carol Stream, Ill. (Glenbard North) |
| 165 | Logan Massa | So./Fr. | St. Johns, Mich. (St. Johns) |
| 174 | Myles Amine | So./Fr. | Brington, Mich. (Detroit Catholic Central) |
| 184 | Domenic Abounader | Sr./Sr. | Gates Mills, Ohio (St. Edward) |
| 197 | Jackson Striggow | So./Fr. | Orono, Minn. (Orono) |
| Hwt | Kostya Golobokov | So./Fr. | Moscow, Russia (The Hill School) |
WOLVERINE BITES
• Through 94 years of U-M wrestling history, Michigan has posted a 62-30-2 record in its first dual meet of the season. Last season, the Wolverines posted a perfect 3-0 record at the season-opening Northeast Duals, defeating Sacred Heart (47-3), West Virginia (21-12) and Hofstra (31-9). Under head coach Joe McFarland, Michigan is 14-3 in season openers.
• The Wolverines return six total NCAA qualifiers, including three All-Americans, this season.
• Senior Adam Coon, a two-time NCAA All-American at heavyweight, will redshirt the 2016-17 season due to injury and preseason surgery. Coon last competed in April's 2016 USA Olympic Team Trials, where he took second place to Robbie Smith in the best-of-three championship final in the 130kg/286-pound Greco-Roman division.
• Michigan is projected to start seven redshirt freshmen when it opens up the 2016-17 season against Virginia. It will be the collegiate dual debut for all of them.
• The Wolverines boasted four champions and eight individual placewinners at last Saturday's Eastern Michigan Open (Nov. 5). Sophomore/freshman Austin Assad captured the 125-pound title, before sophomore/freshmen Logan Massa and Myles Amine and senior captain Domenic Abounader earned the top prize at three consecutive weights -- 165, 174 and 184 pounds. It is the first event in a Michigan singlet for the three freshmen.
• Sophomore/freshman Myles Amine avenged his only two losses from a season ago with a 13-6 decision against Central Michigan's 20th-ranked C.J. Brucki in the EMU Open 174-pound championship bout. Amine scored five takedowns in the bout -- two apiece in the first and third periods -- and rode for 2:11.
• Seniors Domenic Abounader, Adam Coon and Brian Murphy were named Michigan's team captains for the 2016-17 season. It is the third straight year Coon earned the distinction, second year for Abounader and first for Murphy.
• Ten of the Wolverines' 14 dual-meet opponents ranked among the top 25 teams in the National Wrestling Coaches Association's preseason poll, including two of the top-10 ranked teams. No. 3 Iowa leads the pack of ranked opponents, which also includes No. 7 Nebraska, No. 11 Lehigh, No. 12 Rutgers, No. 13 Illinois, No. 15 Minnesota, No. 16 Oregon State, No. 18 Oklahoma, No. 19 Central Michigan and No. 20 Wisconsin.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Virginia: The Cavaliers will make their dual debut against Michigan on Friday. They boasted four champions and 14 total placewinners at last weekend's Clarion Open (Nov. 6) as Jack Mueller (125 pounds), Sam Krivus (149), Andrew Atkinson (157) and Chance McClure (197) won at their respective weights. Virginia owns a pair of nationally ranked wrestlers in No. 10 George DiCamillo (141) and No. 20 Atkinson. Michigan trails in the all-time series against Virginia, 2-1, and lost each of the last two meetings -- both during the 2009-10 season.
U-M Individual Rankings
| Wt. | Wrestler | InterMat | TW | Flo | AWN |
| 125 | Austin Assad | 20 | 20 | 20 | 17 |
| 133 | Stevan Micic | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 |
| 149 | Alec Pantaleo | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 157 | Brian Murphy | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| 165 | Logan Massa | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| 174 | Myles Amine | NF | 19 | NR | NR |
| 174 | Davonte Mahomes | NR | NR | 11 | NR |
| 184 | Domenic Abounader | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 |
UP NEXT
Friday, Nov. 18 -- at Oklahoma (Norman, Okla.), 7 p.m. CST
Sunday, Nov. 20 -- at Oregon State (Corvallis, Ore.), Noon PST
Players Mentioned
