Wolverines Ink Three Wrestlers in Early Signing Period
11/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan wrestling team has announced the signing of three student-athletes during the National Letter of Intent early signing period for the 2003-04 season. The Wolverines inked top recruits Josh Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS), Eric Tannenbaum (Naperville, Ill./North HS) and Josh Weitzel (Lincoln University, Pa./Oxford Area HS).
"We're really excited about these three top guys joining our program," said head coach Joe McFarland. "We were able to fill a lot of our team's needs for weight classes with these three student-athletes. They have all proven themselves nationally as All-Americans at the Junior National Championships, and I think they will all fit well into our program. These were three guys that we really wanted, and we were very fortunate to get them. They will help ensure a continued tradition of success for Michigan wrestling in the years to come."
Churella, continuing his family's tradition of Michigan wrestling, will join father Mark Sr. and brothers Mark Jr. and Ryan in wearing a Wolverine singlet. Churella is a two-time Michigan state champion, winning in 2001 and 2002. In freestyle competition, Churella finished sixth at the 2002 Junior National Championships. He is ranked No. 7 nationally at 125 pounds by InterMat. Churella is projected to compete at 133 or 141 pounds for Michigan.
Tannenbaum, ranked by InterMat as the nation's top wrestler at 140 pounds, is a two-time Illinois state champion and three-time state finalist. Tannenbaum also won the Junior Freestyle National Championship in 2002 and was the Double Cadet National champion (freestyle and Greco) in 2001. He is expected to compete at 149 pounds for the Wolverines.
Weitzel, a three-year letterwinner at Oxford Area High School, is a two-time Pennsylvania state placewinner, finishing second at 171 pounds in 2002 and fifth at 145 pounds as a sophomore in 2001. Weitzel was a finalist at both the 2002 Junior National Championships and 2001 Cadet National Championships. He is ranked second nationally by InterMat at 171 pounds. Weitzel is projected to compete at 174 or 184 pounds for Michigan.
The Wolverines will open their 2002-03 season with a road trip to Bethlehem, Pa., on Friday (Nov. 22) to take on the Lehigh Mountain Hawks in a dual slated to begin at 7 p.m.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
