U-M Relishes Host Role for 2007 NCAA Championships
12/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
By Leah Howard, U-M Athletic Media Relations
It's a scene that could rival the excitement and energy of any blockbuster movie. Two opponents run into an arena amid thousands of boisterous spectators to meet atop a raised platform at the center of the competition floor. All eyes are focused on these two combatants who, for the next seven minutes, will push, pull, trip, throw and tackle each other, pouring every ounce of training and preparation into the task, until a victor is determined with a simple raise of the hand.
U-M took second place at the 2005 NCAA Championships
The oldest form of competition known to man, wrestling is featured prominently in Greek mythology as the sport of gods. It affords comparisons to the ancient gladiator games, which made heroes of the criminals and slaves who battled in the face of death, for a chance at glory, freedom and public adulation. And while the circumstances are considerably different more than 2,000 years later, these modern-day gladiators prove no less courageous nor heroic.
The NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships have become one of the most popular collegiate events over the last few decades, consistently ranking among the top NCAA championships in revenue and attendance. With 330 student-athletes making up the competitive field and more than 70 institutions represented, tickets often come at a high premium as loyal fans travel across the country to witness the premier event of collegiate wrestling. Wolverine fans will not have to travel far this coming March. For the first time since 1942, the event will return to the state of Michigan when U-M and the Detroit Sports Commission host the annual tournament March 15-17 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
"The NCAA Wrestling Championships is one of the most exciting events that I've ever seen," said U-M head coach Joe McFarland. "The place is guaranteed to be sold out every year. It's nonstop action. There's always a big match going on somewhere, so the crowd is always into it. It's loud. It's intense. What more can you ask for"
"The environment is just something else," said senior/junior Josh Churella. "It is organized chaos, especially those first few rounds. I think that's why I love it so much. There are so many diehard fans cheering on all different schools. It creates a lot of nerves for the wrestlers, and you really have to be on your game to compete in front of that many people. It's certainly not for the faint of heart."
While perhaps lacking the same notoriety as several other perennial wrestling states, Michigan has established a deep and well-regarded tradition in the sport over the last century. The state has provided breeding ground for NCAA champions, Olympic champions and coaching legends. Every year, Michigan supplies the collegiate ranks with some of its greatest talent. The three premier programs in the state -- U-M, Michigan State and Central Michigan -- have asserted themselves among the top tier of collegiate wrestling in recent years with consistent top-20 rankings, a figure which few other states can boast. All three teams boast individual wrestlers with the ability to reach the top of the NCAA podium in March, and many local wrestling enthusiasts view the tournament as an opportunity to showcase their teams at the national level.
Churella expects the hometown fans to provide a U-M advantage.
"I'm hoping this event will be an opportunity to prove that we are one of the top wrestling states in the country," said McFarland. "Michigan has had a great tradition in the sport of wrestling. Our college programs here are healthy and have had tremendous success over the years, which I think has been great for the state. This will be a terrific chance to not only showcase our schools to the broader wrestling community but to showcase our sport to the entire state."
It can be tough to operate in a state where football is king, or at a university where nearly every sport produces a winning season. But the success realized by the Michigan wrestling team over the last decade can be matched by few other collegiate programs in the state. The Wolverines have won the Big Ten dual-meet title for three straight years, earning at least a share of the crown in each season since its inception during the 2003-04 season. They have claimed seven consecutive top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships, including a national runner-up performance in 2005, and boasted at least three All-America wrestlers in each of the last nine. With the expectation of the largest U-M cheering section in recent memory, the Maize and Blue views its host role as a distinct hometown advantage and looks to use it in retaking its position on the national podium.
"It's like a dream come true," said Churella. "The Palace is only 30 minutes from my hometown, and I'm going to have a lot of support from my family, high school friends and college friends. It will be great returning to the place where I won two state titles, and where I feel really comfortable in that atmosphere. I think it will really benefit me."
"We're hoping that not only will all the wrestling fans get out and grab some tickets," said McFarland, "but anybody who has never been able to see a wrestling meet. This is such a great opportunity for them to get in and see wrestling at its best. I've had more people over the years get involved in our sport because they went to see a match for the first time. I think people will admire the intensity of the sport, the effort of the sport and its combativeness. We are really looking forward to getting a lot of people out there and the opportunity to give people a taste of what Michigan wrestling is all about."
Note: This story, which originally ran in "M," the official program of U-M athletics, also was featured in The Riding Times: an inside look at U-M wrestling.
