Weekly Release #4

Upcoming Schedule
Sunday, Jan. 2 -- vs. Central Michigan (Cliff Keen Arena), 1 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 8 -- at Lone Star Duals (Dallas, Texas)
    vs. Nebraska (10 a.m. CST), vs. Army (Noon CST), vs. Stanford (8 p.m. CST)
Friday, Jan. 14 -- vs. Penn State (Crisler Arena), 7:30 p.m.

This Week: vs. Central Michigan
The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team (1-1, 0-0 Big Ten) will resume its 2004-05 schedule early in the new year with a dual meet against intrastate rival No. 14 Central Michigan on Sunday (Jan. 2). The match is slated for a 1 p.m. start at Cliff Keen Arena.

Scouting the Chippewas
Michigan leads the all-time series by a 16-2 margin, dating back to the 1981-82 season, and owns a four-meet winning streak. At Cliff Keen Arena, the Wolverines boast a near-perfect 9-1 record. In the last meeting between the two programs -- in last season's season opener on Nov. 23 -- fifth-year senior Pat Owen and freshman Joshua Wetizel (Lincoln University, Pa./Oxford HS) registered falls at 165 and 184 pounds, respectively, to pace U-M to a 27-16 victory. Michigan head coach Joe McFarland owns a 4-1 record against the Chippewas while Central Michigan head coach Tom Borrelli, in his 14th season with the CMU program, is 2-7 against Michigan. The Chippewas enter this weekend's dual meet with a 2-0 record on the season with wins over Michigan State (25-10, Dec. 8) and Oregon State (36-4, Dec. 19). Central Michigan on the Internet: www.cmuchippewas.com.

Probable Michigan Starting Lineup

Wgt.	Wrestler	Yr./Elig.
125	Mark Moos	Jr./So.
133	Craig Gillison	Fr./Fr.
141	Josh Churella	So./Fr.
149	Eric Tannenbaum	So./Fr.
157	Ryan Bertin	5th/Sr.
165	Ryan Churella	Sr./Jr.
174	Nick Roy	Jr./So.
184	Joshua Weitzel	So./So.
197	Willie Breyer	Sr./Jr.
Hwt	Greg Wagner	Sr./Jr.

Recapping the Cleveland State Dual
The Wolverines ended the 2004 portion of its schedule in explosive fashion, tallying five falls -- the most in a match by Michigan in 13 seasons -- against Cleveland State on Dec. 10 en route to a 40-9 non-conference victory at Cliff Keen Arena. After trailing early following a forfeit at 125 pounds, U-M won eight of the nine remaining bouts as Craig Gillison (Arcadia, Mich./Benzie Central HS), Jeremiah Tobias (Manchester, Mich./Manchester Hs), Ryan Churella (Northville, Mich./Novi HS), Joshua Weitzel and Greg Wagner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider HS) all recorded pins and big points for the Maize and Blue.

In the Bonus
The Wolverines proved their ability to dominate the opposition at the Cliff Keen Invitational (Dec. 3-4), scoring with big points from major decisions, technical falls and pins. U-M earned bonus points in 53.8 percent (21/39) of its wins at the annual tournament with six falls, seven technical falls and eight major decisions. On the other side of the coin, Michigan allowed bonus points in only 27.3 percent (3/11) of its losses.

Climbing the Charts
Fifth-year senior Ryan Bertin tallied a 14-4 major decision over Cleveland State's Marcus Effner (Dec. 10) to improve his career record to 119-20, moving him into the 13th spot on U-M's all-time wins list. With a perfect 8-0 mark this season, Bertin is just one win shy of the 12th spot, currently held by two-time All-American Lanny Green (120, 1990-93). 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).

The Fall Guy
With a quick first-period fall against Cleveland State's Ryan Hurley, fifth-year senior Jeremiah Tobias registered his eighth fall of the season and brought his career total to 52 during his five seasons at Michigan. The Wolverine senior leads the team in pins this season and owns a near-perfect 10-1 mark with first-place and third-place performances at the Michigan State Open (Nov. 20-21) and EMU Open (Nov. 6), respectively. Tobias ranks second on U-M's all-time falls list, just three shy of record-holder Jeff Catrabone (55, 1994-98). Tobias also holds the Wolverines' single-season falls record with 17 (2001-02).

Home Sweet Home
Since moving into Cliff Keen Arena in 1989, Michigan has posted a record of 73-23-3 in its primary home facility. Last season, Lehigh snapped a 17-match U-M winning streak with its 18-12 victory in the season-opening tri-meet, but the Wolverines have won every match since to start up a new six-meet streak. Adding this season's 40-9 victory over Cleveland State (Dec. 10), the Wolverines are 66-14-3 overall and 14-2 in home openers at Cliff Keen Arena.

A Look at the Polls
Following their lop-sided victory over Cleveland State before the holiday break (Dec. 10), the Wolverines remained in the No. 5 spot in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association's poll, released Dec. 21. U-M also boasts six ranked individuals, including four listed among the top-five wrestlers at their respective weights by both InterMat and Amateur Wrestling News.

NWCA/InterMat Division I Team Rankings (12/21/04)

RANK, TEAM POINTS 1. Oklahoma State (11) 440 2. Iowa State 429 3. Illinois 417 4. Nebraska 406 5. MICHIGAN 395 6. Lehigh 384 7. Minnesota 373 8. Hofstra 368 9. Iowa 351 10. Oklahoma 341 11. Cornell 331 12. West Virginia 312 13. Missouri 310 14. Central Michigan 296 15. Wisconsin 284 16. Penn State 267 17. Northern Iowa 264 18. Arizona State 253 19. Edinboro 241 20. Navy 230 21. Pennsylvania 215 22. Northwestern 198 23. Army 197 24. Northern Illinois 188 25. Pittsburgh 184

Individual Rankings by InterMat and Amateur Wrestling News

Wgt.	Wrestler	InterMat	AWN
125	Mark Moos	5th	4th
149	Eric Tannenbaum	7th	7th
157	Ryan Bertin	5th	3rd
165	Ryan Churella	3rd	4th
174	Nick Roy	13th	11th
Hwt	Greg Wagner	2nd	3rd

On the Horizon
Michigan will travel south next weekend for its second-straight appearance at the Lone Star Duals on Saturday, Jan. 8 in Dallas, Tex. The Wolverines will wrestle three non-conference duals meets at the annual competition, kicking off against Nebraska at 10 a.m. CST before facing Army at Noon and Stanford at 8 p.m. at the South Grand Prairie Warrior Coliseum.

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423