Wolverines Welcome Five During Early Signing Period

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan wrestling head coach Joe McFarland announced Thursday (Nov. 9) that five student-athletes -- Nick Freeman, Will Lewan, Michael Mars, Mason Parris and Joey Silva -- have signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period to attend Michigan and compete in wrestling next fall.

"We really think this is an exceptional class," said McFarland. "It's a group of high performers and high achievers, who are serious about their wrestling and committed to being the best they can be. They're also good students and high-character young men. Those are the attributes that we want in our program. We think they're going to fit in well and do great things here."

Freeman, a native of Walled Lake, Michigan, captured a Michigan state title at 135 pounds last season (2017) and is a three-time state placewinner for Walled Lake Central High School, taking third as a sophomore (2016) and fifth as a freshman (2015). He carries a career prep record of 126-21. His brother, Ben, is a current freshman on the Wolverine team. Freeman is projected to wrestle at 149 for Michigan.

Lewan, a native of Chicago, Illinois, is ranked No. 2 nationally at 152 pounds and as the No. 8 overall recruit by Flowrestling and No. 17 recruit by InterMat. He captured an Illinois state title at 145 pounds last season (2017) and is a three-time state placewinner for Montini Catholic High School, taking third place as a sophomore (2016) and fourth as a freshman (2015). He owns a 105-20 career prep record. Lewan also excels at the international styles, most recently capturing a 2017 Cadet freestyle world title at 69kg/152 pounds -- after initially making the U.S. world team in both styles -- and claimed a junior freestyle title in Fargo. He will likely wrestle at 157 pounds at Michigan.

Mars, a native of Westland, Michigan, is a two-time Michigan state champion at John Glenn High School, winning at 103 and 112 pounds as a freshman and sophomore (2015, '16), and a three-time state finalist after taking runner-up honors as 119 pounds last season. He boasts a 159-9 career prep record. Mars is likely to wrestle at 125 pounds for Michigan.

Parris, a native of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, is ranked No. 1 nationally at 220 pounds and as the No. 6 overall recruit by Flowrestling and No. 8 recruit by InterMat. He is a two-time Indiana state champion, winning back-to-back titles at 220 pounds (2016, '17) after claiming third place at 182 pounds as a freshman (2015). He boasts a 159-1 career prep record, including a 105-0 mark over his last two seasons. As a football player, Parris is a two-time TriState Football Indiana Defensive Player of the Year and Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference 3A Defensive Most Valuable Player recipient (2015, '16) and helped guide his Lawrenceburg High School to state runner-up honors last season. He will wrestle heavyweight at Michigan.

Silva, a native of Orlando, Florida, is ranked No. 1 nationally at 132 pounds and as the No. 13 overall recruit by Flowrestling and No. 9 recruit by InterMat. He is already a four-time Florida state champion at Lake Highland Prep, winning at four different weights -- from 106 pounds as an eighth grader (2014) to 132 pounds last season. He has also captured three grade-division titles at the NHSCA High School Nationals. He boasts a career prep record of 206-11. He recently won at FloWrestling's Who's #1 and claimed his third straight Super 32 title to kick off his senior campaign. He will wrestle at 133 or 141 pounds at Michigan.

Michigan currently has one additional unsigned commitment and could expand its incoming class with additional members in the spring.