Weekly Release #1
11/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Fri-Sat., Dec. 1-2 -- at Cliff Keen Invitational (Stateline, Nev.), all day
Friday, Dec. 8 -- vs. Michigan State (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 9 -- vs. Central Michigan (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
Wolverines Head to the Desert
The seventh-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team kicks off its first team competition of the 2000-01 campaign at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in Stateline, Nev., on Friday and Saturday (Dec. 1-2). Team and individual champions will be crowned.
Tournament History
Michigan has competed in the Las Vegas Classic 17 times dating back to 1983. The Wolverines finished in fifth place last season with Otto Olson (Everett, Wash./Everett HS) and Joe Warren (1995-2000) winning their weight classes at 174 pounds and 133, respectively.
The Maize and Blue has never finished worse than eighth in the tournament and has placed fifth or better in the past seven seasons. Michigan brings seven grapplers with experience in the desert and three newcomers to the invitational.
Tentative Starting Lineup (Rankings by Intermat)
| Wgt. | Wrestler | Yr./Elig. | Record at Cliff Keen Inv. |
| 125 | #13 A.J. Grant | So./So. | 5-2 |
| 133 | #11 Foley Dowd | So./Fr. | 0-0 |
| 141 | #12 Clark Forward | So./Fr. | 0-0 |
| 149 | #16 Mike Kulczycki | Jr./So. | 1-2 |
| 157 | Pat Owen | So./Fr. | 0-0 |
| 165 | Charles Martelli | Jr./Jr. | 2-2 |
| 174 | #1 Otto Olson | 5th/Sr. | 13-4 |
| 184 | Kyle Smith | Jr./So. | 0-1 |
| 197 | #16 Joe DeGain | 5th/Sr. | 3-6 |
| Hwt | #4 Matt Brink | Sr./Jr. | 3-4 |
Wolverines at the Cliff Keen Invitational
| Season | Place | Points | Champions |
| 1999-2000 | Fifth | 96 | Joe Warren (133), Otto Olson (174) |
| 1998-99 | Fourth | 90.5 | None |
| 1997-98 | Fourth | 101 | Jeff Catrabone (167), Airron Richardson (Hwt) |
| 1996-97 | Fourth | 102 | Jeff Catrabone (167) |
| 1995-96 | Fourth | 89.5 | None |
| 1994-95 | Fifth | N/A | N/A |
| 1993-94 | Fourth | 81 | Sean Bormet (158), Steve King (Hwt) |
| 1992-93 | Eighth | 50 | None |
| 1991-92 | Fifth | 75.75 | None |
| 1990-91 | Fifth | N/A | None |
| 1989-90 | Sixth | 67.75 | None |
| 1988-89 | Fourth | 79.5 | John Fisher (134), Joe Pantaleo (158) |
| 1987-88 | Fourth | 92.5 | None |
| 1986-87 | Fifth | 75.5 | Doug Wyland (118), |
| 1985-86 | Eighth | 60 | None |
| 1984-85 | Fifth | 103 | Joe McFarland (126) |
| 1983-84 | Seventh | 53 | None |
Michigan Dominates in Preseason Tournaments
Eastern Michigan Open (Nov. 4) -- The Michigan grapplers opened up its season at the Eastern Michigan Open (Nov. 4) in Ypsilanti, Mich., by claiming eight individual championships -- A.J. Grant (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) at 125, Foley Dowd (Howell, N.J./Peddie School) at 133, Clark Forward (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold HS) at 141, Ryan Bertin (Broadview Hgt., Ohio/St. Edwards HS) at 157, Charles Martelli (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North HS) at 165, Otto Olson at 174, Joe DeGain (White Lake, Mich./Clarkston HS) at 197 and Matt Brink (Muskegon, Mich./Fruitport HS) at heavyweight.
Also placing at the EMU Open were Chris Rodrigues (Marietta, Ga./The Walker School) placing fifth at 125, Jeremiah Tobias (Grass Lake, Mich./Manchester HS) placing fifth at 141, Mike Kulczycki (N. Royalton, Ohio/St. Edwards HS) placing third at 149, Pat Owen (Polson, Mont./Polson HS) placing third at 157, Mark Lazzo (Rochester, Mich./Adams HS), Kyle Smith (Butte, Mont./Butte HS) placing third at 197. Overall the 26 Wolverine grapplers who competed finished the tournament with 66-35 record.
Eagle Open (Nov. 11) -- The Wolverines sent 12 grapplers to Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio, for the eight annual Eagle Open. Winning individual championships were Tobias claiming the 141 title, Bertin at 157 and Kulczycki and Dan Seder (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) forfeited the final match at 149 to become co-champions. Tony Holifield (Mt. Morris, Mich./E.A. Johnson HS) finished third at 157 and Katsuhiko Sueda (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) earned his inaugural placing (fifth) performance of his career at 125.
West Virginia Open (Nov. 11) -- Michigan had three wrestlers represented at the West Virginia Open in Morgantown, W.Va. Andy Hrovat (Gates Mills, Ohio/St. Edwards HS) claimed the 184-pound title, Martelli placed fourth at 165 and Lazzo finished with a 3-2 record, but didn't place.
Michigan State Open (Nov. 18-19) -- Michigan followed up with another impressive showing at the Michigan State Open in East Lansing, Mich., with four individuals claiming titles -- Kulczycki at 149, Olson at 174, Hrovat at 184 and Brink at heavyweight -- and three runner-up finishes with Dowd at 133, Forward at 141 and DeGain at 197.
In the three second-place performances, Dowd, Forward and DeGain lost by a total of four points to some tough competitors; Dowd was edged out 3-2 by fourth-ranked Pat McNamara of Michigan State, Forward went down to MSU's Mike Castillo, ranked fifth, 7-6 and DeGain dropped a 7-5 decision to No. 3 Nick Preston of Ohio State.
Also placing at the MSU Open were Grant (third) at 125, Rodrigues (fifth) at 125, Seder (fifth) at 149, Bertin (fourth) at 157, Holifield (sixth) at 157, Mark Churella (Northfield, Mich./Novi HS) eighth at 157, and Martelli (fourth) at 165.
Maize and Blue Intrasquad
The Wolverines held their intrasquad meet at Cliff Keen Arena on Nov. 22 to determine the starting rotation for the opening of the season. Most of the matches set the starting lineup besides the battle at 157, where freshman Ryan Bertin defeated Pat Owen 8-6 in overtime, but Bertin is expected to redshirt leaving Owen as the starter. 133-pounder Foley Dowd did not compete but is expected to start.
Intrasquad Results
| Wgt. | Result |
| 125 | A.J. Grant dec. Chris Rodrigues, 9-6 |
| 141 | Clark Forward pinned Jeremiah Tobias, 0:40 |
| 149 | Mike Kulczycki dec. Dan Seder, 7-1 |
| 157 | Ryan Bertin dec. Pat Owen, 8-6 (OT) |
| 157 | Mark Churella dec. Tony Holifield, 4-2 |
| 165 | Charles Martelli dec. Mark Lazzo, 13-4 |
| 174 | Otto Olson pinned Landon Greene, 2:21 |
| 184 | Andy Hrovat dec. Kyle Smith, 8-3 |
| 197 | Joe DeGain major dec. Steve Heleniak, 16-8 |
| Hwt | Matt Brink pinned Aaron Walter, 4:08 |
Fast Start for a Frosh
Wrestling in his first collegiate tournament, freshman Jeremiah Tobias broke into the U-M history books when he recorded four straight falls at the Eastern Michigan Open (Nov. 4). Tobias tied William Courtright (1941-47) for sixth place on Michigan's consecutive falls list.
Hrovat Expected to Redshirt
Junior Andy Hrovat, a 1999 All-American, is slated for a redshirt season. Hrovat currently is ranked 11th by AWN, but is likely to take the year off of team competition and test the waters in various open tournaments throughout the season to improve his skills, so he can make a run at a national championship in his last two years. Hrovat has already won individual titles at the MSU Open (Nov. 19) and West Virginia Open (Nov. 11) and was a respectable 1-1 at the prestigious Sunkist Open (Nov. 4), which featured top national competitors.
Century Club Initiation
No. 1-ranked Otto Olson returned to the mat after a knee injury cut his season short in 1999-2000 and became the 18th member of U-M's 100-win club with four victories at the EMU Open. Olson's 101st victory came over fourth-ranked Mike Feeney of Eastern Michigan with a 5-4 decision in the championship final at 174. Olson moved into a tie for 14th with Bill Lacure (1995-98) on Michigan's all-time win list (106) at the MSU Open.
Captains Announced
Fifth-year senior Otto Olson was named the Wolverines team captain for the second straight year. Assisting Olson in leadership duties will be fifth-year senior Joe DeGain, who will reserve the title as co-captain.
Martelli's Back at 165
After filling in for Otto Olson last season at 174 pounds, Charles Martelli will compete this year at his more natural weight of 165. Martelli was an incredible surprise last season -- in which he was supposed to be redshirted -- when he placed sixth at the Big Ten Championships. This will be Martelli's third straight season in the starting lineup.
Redshirt Freshmen Ready to Go
Foley Dowd, Clark Forward and Pat Owen are three talented redshirt freshmen who will get a chance to show their worth in the starting lineup at 133, 141 and 157, respectively. Dowd, ranked 11th, and Forward, ranked 18th, are 1999 prep All-Americans who have won individual titles at the EMU Open. Forward comes into the season after winning the Fila Junior Freestyle National Championship at 137.5 pound this past summer. Owen was 19-5 in open tournaments last year and placed third at this season's EMU Open.
Sun Bathing
Highly touted freshman Chris Rodrigues, ranked as the nation's top recruit by Intermat, is the first Wolverine to be included in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue. Rodrigues was the "Old Spice" prep athlete of the month in SI's February 2000 issue. The 125-pounder is expected to redshirt this season.
Wolverines Dubbed Seventh in the Intermat Poll
Michigan comes into the 2000-01 campaign with a No. 7 ranking by Intermat. The Wolverines have eight wrestlers ranked in their respective weight classes.
Intermat Top 10 (11/22/00)
| 1. | Iowa |
| 2. | Minnesota |
| 3. | Iowa State |
| 4. | Oklahoma State |
| 5. | Illinois |
| 6. | Oklahoma |
| 7. | MICHIGAN |
| 8. | Lehigh |
| 9. | Michigan State |
| 10. | Boise State |
Individual Rankings by Intermat (11/22/00)
| Wgt. | Wrestler | Rank |
| 125 | A.J. Grant | 13th |
| 133 | Foley Dowd | 11th |
| 141 | Clark Forward | 12th |
| 149 | Mike Kulczycki | 16th |
| 174 | Otto Olson | 1st |
| 184 | Andy Hrovat | 10th |
| 197 | Joe DeGain | 16th |
| Hwt | Matt Brink | 4th |
Contact: Jason Binge (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
