Michigan at the Big Ten Championships: Notes & Quotes
3/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
N O T E S
Michigan has claimed third place at the Big Ten Championship three times over the last four years (2005, '06, '08). The Wolverines' two-day point total of 97.5 ranked as the ninth highest in program history.
Freshman Kellen Russell is the second Wolverine wrestler to claim the Big Ten Freshman of the Year distinction, joining Joey Gilbert (1990-92).
Russell is the fourth Wolverine to win a Big Ten individual title as a freshman, joining Jarrett Hubbard (1971-74) and current senior captains Josh Churella and Eric Tannenbaum. He is only the second to accomplish the feat as a true freshman. Hubbard, who captured the 150-pound crown in 1971, went on to win two more conference titles in 1971 and 1972.
Michigan also registered three individual titles at the 2005 Big Ten Championships when Josh Churella, Eric Tannenbaum and Ryan Churella won at 141, 149 and 165 pounds, respectively.
Fifth-year senior Eric Tannenbaum and senior/junior Steve Luke are the 20th and 21st Michigan wrestlers to capture two Big Ten crowns. Eight Wolverines have claimed three titles, most recently Ryan Churella (2003-06), who won the 149-pound title before bumping up two weight classes and claiming back-to-back trophies at 165 pounds.
With a perfect 4-0 record en route to his 165-pound title, Tannenbaum ends his career with a 12-3 career record at the Big Ten Championships. Tannenbaum ties John Risher (1985, '87-89) and current assistant coach Mike Kulczycki (2000-03) for the fourth-most wins by a Michigan wrestler at the conference tournament.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Joe McFarland
On the Wolverines' performance... " The Big Ten Conference is tough. Look at how many teams are ranked among the top 20. So, to come out with third place, I was happy. I thought the whole team wrestled solid. We wrestled with a lot of intensity and really set the pace in a lot of our matches. We took advantage of scoring opportunities. We won three out of four in the finals. Tyrel's matches was just one that he let get away from him. He relaxed a bit in that third period, which is uncharacteristic of him. You just can't do that and win championships; he knows it. So, it was a nice reminder for him going into nationals. He won't let that happen again."
On Michigan's qualifiers for the NCAA Championships "We wanted to take more than six to NCAAs. But the six guys we have going deserve to go. They are all capable of having very strong performances and going very deep in the tournament. We have a handful of guys who could be fighting for national championships. That's encouraging. I always felt that we would have a great NCAA tournament team, and it looks like it's panning out to be that way. I think these guys will be ready to go. They're really excited for the next couple weeks."
On freshman Kellen Russell "Kellen is just a great tournament wrestler. I was really pleased with him. For a freshman to come in and win at such a tough weight -- that was pretty impressive. He keeps his composure in those close matches, and he knows what he needs to do to win. Sometimes, they're nail-biters for me in the corner, but he's always comfortable."
U-M Freshman Kellen Russell
On his 141-pound match "Going into the match, I wanted to be more offensive than I was and get my offense going in that first period. I think I hand fought better than I had in the previous matches. I didn't give up any ducks and did a pretty good job protecting my legs, except for giving up that single. But I wound up scoring off of that, so I didn't mind that too much. I doesn't bother me when guys get in on my legs, especially a guy like [Manuel] Rivera, who I know wants to scramble with me. I feel pretty confident in that situation."
On his tournament abilities... "I think wrestling in tournaments is a lot different than dual meets. I think I get more pumped up for tournaments because you wrestle more than one match a day, and it all builds up. I think after wrestling through the Big Ten, I've wrestled most of the top guys in the country. So, I have a good feel for what to expect in two weeks."
U-M Fifth-year Senior Eric Tannenbaum
On his 165-pound match... "I just wanted to get in there and wrestle my match, not worry about what he was doing. In the last match we had against each other, I was a little too cautious to shoot. I was too concerned about what leg he was leading and things like that. In this match, I just went in there and got after it. I thought I had a takedown off that first shot I took, but I didn't get the call. But I got the next one. I felt like I could have gotten in on his legs fairly often, but he's pretty good at neutralizing that position. As long as I stay solid, I don't think he'll be able to score off my shots anymore."
On this tune-up for the NCAA Championships "This is definitely a good step in the right direction. It will help my seed; it will be nice to be on the opposite side of second/third. It definitely gives me a little boost of confidence that, this year, two weeks before nationals, I beat the defending champ. If we do meet again, whether or not I'm able to beat him, I know I can."
On Michigan's NCAA Championship team "We should, as Ryan Churella puts it, bring some heat for nationals. I think a lot of people didn't really expect Kellen [Russell] to be this good. He's been a great addition to this team, and he's proven himself already numerous times. It takes a lot of guts to go out there and do what he did. He started the year with a win in Vegas, which is tough to do as a freshman, and followed it up with a win at Big Tens. I wouldn't be surprised if he finished up the year with a national title -- hopefully, adding to a few more national titles at different weights. I think Josh [Churella], Steve [Luke], Tyrel [Todd] and I all have the capability to win. So, I think we're looking good. [Jeff] Marsh has been wrestling well. He's a goer; he's a gamer. I won't be surprised if he brought the heat as well and snuck in there."
U-M Senior/Junior Steve Luke
On his 174-pound match... "I got my offense going pretty well early. I think I could have kept it up better throughout the match. He's one of those kids that catches people when they make mistakes, so I was limiting my mistakes and staying in good position on my feet."
On preparing for the NCAA Championship "I feel like I'm wrestling well right now, probably as well as I have all season. I lost a couple matches back in January, but, during that two-week span, that was probably some of our toughest competition. I feel pretty good going into nationals. I just need to make sure I stay focused and don't get caught up in all the enormity of the event. If I take one match at a time and not worry about who is next, I should be fine."
Players Mentioned
