Meet the Freshmen: 2022-23 Michigan Wrestling
9/7/2022 2:18:00 PM | Wrestling, Features
The Michigan wrestling program welcomed a class of eight freshmen in 2022-23. Now more than a week into the academic year, they are getting settled into life in Ann Arbor. Learn more about the Wolverine newcomers, how they got to Michigan and what they bring on and off the mat.
Jack Cummings | 197 Pounds | Wilmette, Ill.
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. The blend between academics and athletes is the best in the nation.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. I started wrestling in second grade after my football coach recommended it to my parents.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. The game day atmosphere is nothing like I have experienced before.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. Playing chess and fantasy football.
Favorite childhood TV show… Phineas and Ferb
Favorite movie… Top Gun
Favorite subject in school… Math
Favorite superhero… Thor
Guilty pleasure… Cookie dough ice cream
Favorite thing to do with family… Movie night
Most embarrassing song in your playlist… Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Ira Jenkins | Heavyweight | Whitehall, Mich.
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. I was attracted to Michigan for a few reasons. Michigan has some of the best academic programs in the country, so no matter what major I ended up pursuing it would be top tier. The wrestling program spoke for itself, everyone trains with a get-after-it attitude, everyone supports each other and wants to win, the support for the program was unlike anywhere else I'd visited, so I knew that with my goals that was for sure the environment I wanted to put myself in. The NROTC program at Michigan was a big factor, too, as with this I knew I'd be able to achieve my goals in wrestling with one of the best programs in the country and at the same time pursue my lifelong goal of becoming a fighter pilot.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. I was introduced to wrestling by my dad when I was pretty young. I wasn't too into it until about third grade, then I started taking training more seriously and went from there.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. Michigan and Ann Arbor, from what I've seen so far, is a great place to be. The people are cool. There's plenty of fun stuff to do. Joe's Pizza is a go-to on Saturday nights. Now I just need to find a couple fishing spots.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. When I'm not wrestling I enjoy hunting, fishing, playing guitar, playing piano, working on cars, drawing, painting, listening to music and spending time with friends or family
Favorite childhood TV show… Thomas the Train
Favorite movie… Interstellar
Favorite subject in school… Art
Favorite superhero… Deadpool
Guilty Pleasure… German chocolate cake
Favorite thing to do with family… Fishing or boating
Most embarrassing song in your playlist… No comment
Nathan Jerore | 141 Pounds | Woodhaven, Mich.
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. I was attracted to Michigan because of the excellent wrestling, coaching and opportunities for success that the school provides.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. My parents signed me up for wrestling when I was younger in a local wrestling club.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. I love the school spirit of Ann Arbor and support for athletics that they provide, and there are a lot of great restaurants and places in A2.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. When I'm not wrestling, I like to read sports and mindset books, and play disc golf, but I really love working out even when I'm not wrestling.
Favorite childhood TV show… SpongeBob SquarePants
Favorite movie… Fight Club
Favorite subject in school… Spanish
Favorite superhero… Superman
Guilty Pleasure… Staying up late on my phone
Favorite thing to do with family… Play Cribbage and Euchre
Most embarrassing song in your playlist… Lookout Weekend by Debbie Deb
Codei Khawaja | 174 Pounds | Georgetown, Ind.
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. I've always liked the University of Michigan because it's an everything school. Whether it was sports or academics, I knew that coming here was going to be beneficial to whatever I wanted to do in the future.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. My grandpa introduced me to wrestling when I was around 5 years old. It was back when the Olympic Training Center had a kids program, and I remember it being Greco-focused.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. Being surrounded by like-minded people who are all working to accomplish similar goals as me is the best part because it serves as a motivational factor to push myself as much as they push themselves.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. I love listening to music and hanging out with friends.
Favorite childhood TV show… Wonder Pets!
Favorite movie… The Wolf of Wall Street
Favorite subject in school… Math
Favorite superhero… Spider-Man
Guilty pleasure… Late-night lentils
Favorite thing to do with family… Movie night
Most embarrassing song in your playlist… Baby by Justin Bieber
Josh Knudten | 174/184 Pounds | Libertyville, Ill.
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. I was attracted to Michigan because of the high standards for school, plus the school colors are my favorite.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. I first got involved with wrestling in sixth grade joining my middle school team because it was apparently good for football.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. I love how everyone is so friendly in Ann Arbor and how the entire town has so much spirit for the school.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. I enjoy spending time with my friends, playing spikeball, watching TV shows and playing video games.
Favorite childhood TV show… The Backyardigans
Favorite movie… Star Wars III
Favorite subject in school… Biology or any sciences
Favorite superhero… Homelander
Guilty pleasure… Arnold Palmers
Favorite thing to do with family… Play Settlers of Catan
Most embarrassing song in your playlist… Bad Romance by Lady Gaga
Rylan Rogers | 184 Pounds | Coeur D'Alene, Idaho
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. World-class coaching staff, training partners, fans, alumni, academics and atmosphere.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. I grew up watching my cousins wrestle for Oklahoma State. I always looked up to them.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. I really enjoy the energy throughout the entire campus. The whole community provides every resource in order for me to reach my highest potential.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. I love the outdoors. Boating, rafting, hiking and recently picked up Frisbee golf.
Favorite childhood TV show… The Wiggles
Favorite movie… Step Brothers
Favorite subject in school… Math
Favorite superhero… The Flash
Guilty pleasure… Watching wrestling
Favorite thing to do with family… Raft and camp
Most embarrassing song in your playlist… Justin Bieber
Lance Trost | 197 Pounds | Pinckney, Mich.
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. I've been a Michigan fan all my life, and my father wrestled at Michigan. So when I got the opportunity to come and wrestle for Michigan, it was a no brainer.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. My dad brought me to our town's practices when I was little, and I just loved it ever since I first stepped my foot on the mat.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. I like how much there is to do in Ann Arbor and how many opportunities you are given at a school like the University of Michigan.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. I love to play disc golf, pickleball and spikeball.
Favorite childhood TV show… Tom and Jerry
Favorite movie… Creed 2
Favorite subject in school… Biology
Favorite superhero… Captain America
Guilty pleasure… Can't think of one
Favorite thing to do with family… Going out on the lake and fishing
Most embarrassing song in your playlist… Diamond in my Pocket
Nolan Wertanen | 125 Pounds | St. Joseph, Mich.
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. I cannot think of an area or resource, whether academically or athletically, that Michigan doesn't thrive in.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. My dad wrestled at Grand Valley State University and brought me to wrestling practice when I was 4 years old.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. Ann Arbor seems to be the perfect size for a city. It's big enough to support niche restaurants and stores, but not too big to where it takes an hour to drive five miles.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. Music is a big part of my life. I've played the piano since I was 5 and I'm usually listening to my super long playlist when I'm by myself.
Favorite childhood TV show… SpongeBob SquarePants
Favorite movie… ***** **** (Fight Club)
Favorite subject in school… Math
Favorite superhero… Percy Jackson
Guilty pleasure… Arby's
Favorite thing to do with family… Argue on pointless topics during long car rides
Most embarrassing song in your playlist… Applause by Lady Gaga and Complicated by Avril Lavigne
