Meet the Freshmen: 2023-24 Michigan Wrestling
10/9/2023 3:54:00 PM | Wrestling
The Michigan wrestling program welcomed a heralded class of eight freshmen in 2023-24 -- rated the nation's No. 2 recruiting class. Now more than a month into the academic year, they are 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.
Dylan Gilcher | 149 lbs. | West Bloomfield, Michigan
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. The academics, being a top team in the nation year in and year out, coaching staff, teammates.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. A local club sent a flyer to my elementary school.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. It's very friendly, safe and a great environment overall.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. Fishing, spikeball, spending time with friends.
Q. What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?
A. Getting to make my college debut.
Favorite childhood TV show: Ben 10
Favorite movie: There's Something About Mary
Favorite artist/band: Luke Bryan
Best food you've had in Ann Arbor so far: HopCat
Guilty pleasure: Ice cream
Favorite thing to do with family: Movie night
Most embarrassing song in your playlist: Love Story by Taylor Swift
Amaan Gulacha | 157/165 lbs. | Hamilton, Ontario
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. What really attracted me to Michigan was the strong tradition of success with the wrestling program. Being a part of a program with a winning track record, exceptional coaching and access to top-notch facilities was certainly appealing. The presence of Olympic team members at the university is definitely inspiring and motivating, because I have similar goals as them.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. I first got involved in wrestling when I was four years old. This was because of my dad; he wrestled in India and continued wrestling in Canad
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. This is probably one of the nicest campuses I've been on and there are also a lot of other high-level athletes on campus. The Big House, that's really cool as well.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. I enjoy spending time with the guys on the team. Watching a movie with them or playing video games.
Q. What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?
A. I'm excited to get my ACL reconstructed and start my rehab. Looking forward to next season being healthy and stronger. Other than that, we do have a championship team competing this season, so that will be fun to support.
Favorite childhood TV show: Mickey Mouse
Favorite movie: Interstellar
Favorite artist/band: Drake
Best food you've had in Ann Arbor so far: Stray Hen
Guilty pleasure: Binge-watching Peaky Blinders
Favorite Wrestler: Sergei Belaglazov
Favorite thing to do with family: Spending time with the dogs outside
Most embarrassing song in your playlist: Love Story by Taylor Swift
Caden Horwath | 125/133 lbs. | Davison, Michigan
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. What attracted me to Michigan was how good the academics are here, as well as the wrestling. Also, what attracted me was how close U-M is to my home; that way, if I need to go home, I can drive there in about an hour.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. I got involved in wrestling at a pretty young age, being five years old. It interested me at first because I thought it was WWE. But when I found out it wasn't, I still enjoyed it and stuck with it.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. I like the scenery that Ann Arbor has to offer, but I also like how hard we train for wrestling because I just feel myself progressing every single day.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. I enjoy hanging out with family and friends and just spending time with them.
Q. What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?
A. I am most excited about showcasing my skills on the big stage, and just where I am at with my competition.
Favorite TV show: Suits
Favorite movie: Talladega Nights
Favorite artist/band: Drake
Best food you've had in Ann Arbor so far: HopCat
Guilty pleasure: I have a sweet tooth
Favorite Wrestler: Jordan Burroughs
Favorite thing to do with family: Quality time: cook some burgers and hotdogs and go out and swim in our pool together
Most embarrassing song in your playlist: Skee Yee by Sexxy Red
Sergio Lemely | 141 lbs. | Chesterton, Indiana
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. I was attracted to Michigan because of the great opportunities for an education and wrestling.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. I first got involved when I would sit in my older brothers wrestling practice.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. I've liked how everything is a challenge from school and a wrestling demand.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. I like to watch football and lift weights.
Q. What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?
A. I'm most excited to improve my wrestling every day and compete with guys on another level.
Favorite childhood TV show: South Park
Favorite movie: Wolf of Wall Street
Favorite artist/band: Future
Best food you've had in Ann Arbor so far: Core Life
Guilty pleasure: Unhealthy foods
Favorite Wrestler: Adam Saitiev
Favorite thing to do with family: Beach
Most embarrassing song in your playlist: Skee Yee by Sexxy Red
Beau Mantanona | 157/165 lbs. | Bermuda Dunes, California
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. The coaches, wrestling program, academics and the world class RTC.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. I got involved in wrestling because of my older brothers. My two older brothers started wrestling young and for as long as I could remember I just followed in their footsteps.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. I am really enjoying the people here in Ann Arbor. The kids, coaches, professors and teammates have all been great.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy fishing and playing video games.
Q. What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?
A. I am excited to get better and to showcase my skills in competition.
Favorite childhood TV show: Phineas and Ferb
Favorite movie: The Notebook
Favorite artist/band: Jon Pardi
Best food you've had in Ann Arbor so far: The Gatorade protein shakes in the SPC
Guilty pleasure: Eating sweets
Favorite wrestlers: Anthony and Troy Mantanona
Favorite thing to do with family: Spending quality time together and going on vacations.
Most embarrassing song in your playlist: Bubbly - Colbie Caillat
Connor Owens | 174 lbs. | Fenton, Michigan
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. I was attracted to Michigan due the outstanding combination of both athletic and academic opportunities. The athletic facilities are simply incredible. That, in combination with the tremendous academic opportunity that I am granted by attending the University made it the clear choice.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. I got involved with wrestling in first grade, when my dad took me to a practice. It was a lot to take in at first, but with my dad by my side I was able to navigate through the sport and learn enough to participate in some tournaments. The rest is history!
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. I've been loving Umich so far, there's so many great, like-minded people here that want to be the very best at their craft. It is nice being surrounded by people constantly striving to be the best versions of themselves; inspiring to say the least.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. Honestly, a bit of everything! I love nothing more than new experiences and trying new things. I truly believe it is important to seek and do everything you can in life, learning lessons and new skills along the way! But I enjoy working on cars, learning about technology/computers, exercising, and most of all: learning new things!
Q. What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?
A. To say I am excited for the upcoming season would be a HUGE understatement. I am truly excited about simply experiencing my first collegiate wrestling season; but most of all, I am excited about becoming the best wrestler I can be, and constantly improving.
Favorite childhood TV show: SpongeBob
Favorite movie: War Dogs
Favorite artist/band: Drake
Best food you've had in Ann Arbor so far: Chipotle
Guilty pleasure: Ice cream & cereal
Favorite Wrestler: Abdulrashid Sadulaev
Favorite thing to do with family: Sunday night family dinners
Most embarrassing song in your playlist: Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
Zack Ramsey | 157 lbs. | Las Vegas, Nevada
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. I was attracted to Michigan because it was the perfect mixture of fun, sports, and academics in a place that was different from home.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. I asked my dad in sixth grade to help start a wrestling program at my school because I wanted to try a new sport. He wrestled in college, so I was fairly confident he would be up for the task.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. I like how friendly the people are and the community around the school that the city is able to create. Everybody is so supportive of it.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. I love to play guitar and have been doing so for about 13 years.
Q. What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?
A. I am most excited to look back at the end of the year and to see how far I've come.
Favorite childhood TV show: Blues Clues
Favorite movie: Interstellar
Favorite artist/band: Kaleo
Best food you've had in Ann Arbor so far: Tomukun
Guilty pleasure: Oreos
Favorite Wrestler: Billy Bigelow
Favorite thing to do with family: Eating dinner together
Most embarrassing song in your playlist: Happy by Pharell Williams
Hayden Walters | 197 lbs. | Central Point, Oregon
Q. What attracted you to Michigan?
A. I was attracted to Michigan due to its top-tier Athletic program, as well as world-class education.
Q. How did you first get involved in wrestling?
A. I first got involved with wrestling when I was two years old. My dad took me to my first state tournament to watch our high school team win a state title. I was around the team growing up and started competing in 2nd grade.
Q. What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
A. I like that Ann Arbor always has something to do. Like the many home events our sports teams have.
Q. What do you enjoy when you're not wrestling?
A. I like to frisbee golf and fish when I'm not wrestling.
Q. What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?
A. I am most excited to learn and get better this season.
Favorite movie: Surf's Up or The Lion King
Favorite artist/band: Daniel Caesar
Best food you've had in Ann Arbor so far: Ricewood
Guilty pleasure: Watching documentaries
Favorite Wrestler: Rahman Amouzadkhalili
Favorite thing to do with family: Camping
Most embarrassing song in your playlist: Love Story by Taylor Swift
