Conqu'ring Heroes: Bormet Excited to Build on Successes of Team 100
10/27/2022 11:15:00 AM | Wrestling, Features
By Kiera Burns
University of Michigan wrestling head coach Sean Bormet joined the "Conqu'ring Heroes" podcast this week to discuss the success of Team 100 and what he is looking forward to for Team 101 in the 2022-23 season. Bormet returns three All-American honorees while adding eight freshmen to the roster.
The veterans on the team have been putting in the work during the offseason in preparation for another competitive year, while the freshmen are quickly adapting to collegiate wrestling. Bormet praised the rookies' maturity and their work ethic inside the practice room.
"When the freshmen come in, they get a full dose of intensity but they've been handling it really well," said Bormet. "Up and down the lineup, I feel really confident about where this team is at and their willingness to do the work to continue to improve from now until March."
Before kicking off the season with the MSU Open next Saturday (Nov. 5), Bormet described how the team is training together but facing off as competitors in their respective weight classes. The opener will be a good indicator for the team as it will be the first time they compete against opponents instead of each other.
"Once they start competing, that's when you get some really valuable feedback," he said.
Bormet specifically praised the three returning All-Americans -- Will Lewan, Cameron Amine and Mason Parris -- for their preparation leading up to the season and how all three are championship contenders. In spotlighting some of the biggest weight-class battles, he mentioned experienced veteran Jack Medley and Kurt McHenry at 125 pounds as well as the 174-pound class with veterans Max Maylor and Joseph Walker.
"It's been fun to watch them because they're great teammates," said Bormet. "They've been competing all summer, knowing that somebody's going to get their hand raised and get that spot as the year progresses."
Bormet also is ready to build on the excitement that the 2022 season brought to Michigan wrestling, especially bringing in new fans after the NCAA Championships were at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit last year.
"I can't tell you how many people I ran into this summer who told me going to the NCAA Championships was the first time they ever went to see college wrestling," Bormet said. "Consistently, the message was, 'That was the most exciting college athletic event ever, from start to finish.'"
Bormet shared that he hopes wrestling fans will come out to support the Wolverines this season and their top-tier talent. Michigan opens its 2022-23 home campaign on Sunday, Nov. 20, when it hosts Columbia at Cliff Keen Arena.
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