Weekly Release #1

Upcoming Schedule
Fri-Sat., Nov. 30-Dec. 1 -- at Cliff Keen Invitational (Las Vegas, Nev.), 9 a.m. MST
Friday, Dec. 7 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 8 -- vs. Central Michigan (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.

Wolverines Head to the Desert
The fourth-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team kicks off its first team competition of the 2001-02 campaign at the Cliff Keen Invitational on Friday and Saturday (Nov. 30-Dec. 1) in Las Vegas, Nev. Team and individual champions will be crowned.

Tournament History
Michigan has competed in the Las Vegas Classic 18 times dating back to 1983. The Wolverines finished in 10th place last season with A.J. Grant (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) taking second place at 125 and Mike Kulczycki (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward HS) and Foley Dowd (Howell, N.J./The Peddie School) finishing seventh at 149 and 133, respectively.

The Maize and Blue has placed fifth or better in seven of the last eight seasons. Michigan will be taking nine grapplers with experience and one newcomer in redshirt freshman Ryan Bertin (Broadview Heights, Ohio/St. Edward HS) to the invitational.

Tentative Starting Lineup (Rankings by Intermat, 11/21/01)

Wgt.	Wrestler	Yr./Elig.	Record at CKI
125	#4 A.J. Grant	Jr./Jr.	10-3
133	#7 Foley Dowd	Jr./So.	5-2
141	#6 Clark Forward	Jr./So.	2-2
149	#5 Mike Kulczycki	Sr./Jr.	5-4
157	#9 Ryan Bertin	So./Fr.	0-0
165	#6 Charles Martelli	Sr./Sr.	5-4
174	#2 Otto Olson	6th/Sr.	13-4
184	#4 Andy Hrovat	Sr./Sr.	5-2
197	Kyle Smith	Sr./Jr.	2-3
Hwt	#4 Matt Brink	5th/Sr.	6-6

Wolverines at the Cliff Keen Invitational

Season	Place	Points	Champions
2000-01	10th	54	None
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. 3) -- The Michigan grapplers opened up the season at the Eastern Michigan Open in Ypsilanti, Mich., by claiming seven individual championships -- A.J. Grant at 125, Clark Forward (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold HS) at 141, Mike Kulczycki at 149, Ryan Bertin at 157, Otto Olson (Everett, Wash./Everett HS) at 174, Andy Hrovat (Gates Mills, Ohio/St. Edward HS) at 184 and Matt Brink (Muskegon, Mich./Fruitport HS) at heavyweight.

Also placing at the EMU Open were Ryan Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) placing second at 141, Jeremiah Tobias (Grass Lake, Mich./Manchester HS) placing third at 141, Pat Owen (Polson, Mont./Polson HS) placing second at 157, Mark Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS) placing third at 157, Matt Thomas (Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Central HS) finishing fourth at 157, Dan Seder (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) finishing third at 165, R.J. Boudro (Richmond, Mich./Armada HS) finishing in fifth place at 165 and Greg Wagner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snyder HS) finishing second at heavyweight.

Michigan State Open (Nov. 18-19) -- Michigan followed up with another impressive showing at the Michigan State Open in East Lansing, Mich., with five individuals claiming titles -- Dowd at 133, Kulczycki at 149, Olson at 174, Kyle Smith (Butte, Mont./Butte HS) at 197, and Brink at heavyweight one runner-up finish, Bertin at 157.

Hrovat and Grant finished in third place at 184 and 125, respectively. Jeremiah Tobias finished in fifth place at 149, Churella in sixth place at 157, Seder in fourth place at 165 and William Breyer (Oxford, Mich./Oxford HS) finished in fourth place at 197.

Maize and Blue Intrasquad
The Wolverines held their intrasquad meet at Davison High School on Nov. 21 to determine the starting rotation for the opening of the season. Most of the matches set the starting line-up except the battle at 157, where freshman Ryan Bertin defeated Pat Owen 3-1. 141-pounder Clark Forward did not compete but is expected to start.

Intrasquad Results

Wgt.	Result
125	A.J. Grant major dec. Shaun Newton, 18-9
133	Foley Dowd major dec. Nick Velissaris, 16-8
141	No match due to injury
149	Mike Kulczycki tech. fall Jeremiah Tobias, 25-10
157	Ryan Bertin dec. Pat Owen, 3-1
165	Charles Martelli dec. Dan Seder, 7-4
174	Otto Olson tech. fall David Felger, 18-2
184	Andy Hrovat dec. William Breyer, 7-6
197	Kyle Smith major dec. Steve Heleniak, 15-5
Hwt	Matt Brink dec. Greg Wagner, 8-2

Century Club
Andy Hrovat earned his 100th career victory with a 7-6 decision over Michigan State's John Wechter at the Michigan State Open (Nov. 17-18). Hrovat is just the 19th wrestler in U-M history to accomplish the feat.

Matt on Brink of 100 Wins
Senior heavyweight Matt Brink is four wins away from 100 career wins at U-M. Brink has earned nine wins in two open tournaments so far this season, bringing his career total to 96. Brink will be just the 20th wrestler in Michigan history to earn 100 victories.

Oh Captain, My Captain
Andy Hrovat has been selected as the 2001-02 team captain. Hrovat, a two-time NCAA All-America, will be the 87th captain in the program's history.

Olson Moves into Fourth Place on U-M Win List
Otto Olson is now in fourth-place on U-M's all-time wins list as he earned his 142nd win at the Michigan Open (Nov. 17-18). Olson is 18 wins away from tying Jeff Catrabone (160, 1995-98) for the third sport.

Record Setter
Jeremiah Tobias set an Eastern Michigan Open (Nov. 4) record for falls with five and followed up his performance with four more at the Michigan State Open (Nov. 17-18). Tobias now has nine on the season and is seven away from setting the U-M single season fall record (16) held by Rob Reichsteiner (1983-84). Tobias led the Wolverines in falls last season with 15.

U-M, Palace to Host 2007 NCAA Wrestling Championships
The NCAA Wrestling Committee has selected Detroit as the site of the 2007 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.This will be the first time the event has ever been held in the Detroit area. The University of Michigan, the Detroit Metro Sports Commission and the Palace of Auburn Hills partnered on the successful bid. U-M will serve as the NCAA host institution. The event will be held March 15-17, 2007.

Hrovat Wins National Championship, Takes Silver at Pan Ams
Andy Hrovat took first place at the University Freestyle National Championships (March 30-Apr. 1) at 187.25 pounds and went undefeated at the three-day tournament with a 6-0 record. Hrovat defeated Randy Pugh (Iowa-Cat Wrestling Club) 7-4 in the championship match. With the win, Hrovat went on to compete at the Pan American Championships (May 19-20) in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he competed at 85 kg (187.25 lbs.) and won the silver medal. Hrovat had consecutive technical falls over Enrique Minier (Dominican Republic), 11-1, and Fernando Marquez (Brazil), 13-2, before losing to 2000 Olympic silver medalist Yoel Romero (Cuba), 5-1, in the final.

In the Polls
Nine starters are ranked in the latest Intermat poll in the top-10. A.J. Grant starts out the season at No. 4, having finished No. 10 heading into the NCAA Championships (March 15-17), while Foley Dowd is ranked No. 7. Clark Forward is No. 6, while Mike Kulczycki is No. 5, having finished No. 12 in last year's final poll. Ryan Bertin starts out at No. 9, coming off an impressive 25-2 redshirt season and Martelli is No. 6 after finishing 10th last season. Otto Olson, who finished third at the NCAA Championships and finished No. 2, starts out at No. 2 again. Andy Hrovat is No. 4, improving on his No. 7 final ranking from last season, while Matt Brink also has a No. 4 ranking having finished No. 5 last year.

Wolverines Ranked Fourth in the Intermat Poll
Michigan comes into the 2001-02 campaign with a No. 4 ranking by Intermat (11/21/01). The Wolverines have nine wrestlers ranked in their respective weight classes.

Intermat Top 10 (11/21/01)

1.	Minnesota
2.	Oklahoma State
3.	Oklahoma
4.	MICHIGAN
5.	Iowa
6.	Iowa State
7.	Ohio State
8.	Lehigh
9.	Nebraska
10.	Pennsylvania

Individual Rankings by Intermat (11/21/01)

Wgt.	Wrestler	Rank
125	A.J. Grant	4th
133	Foley Dowd	7th
141	Clark Forward	6th
149	Mike Kulczycki	5th
157	Ryan Bertin	9th
165	Charles Martelli	6th
174	Otto Olson	2nd
184	Andy Hrovat	4th
Hwt	Matt Brink	4th