I started doing coverage for collegiate wrestling during the 2001-2002 season & of the many things that have changed drastically the last 25 years, the one thing that has remained the same is the overall position of the Wolverines of Michigan. I've said it many times (and if I would have known more about keeping rights to my own work & not allowing someone to have full intellectual properties to my work 10 years ago, I'd be able to prove it) that Michigan is the best team historically yet to win an NCAA DI team title.
Yet it seems season after season, the last 1/4 of a century, the maize & blue always seem to be missing something. They've done as well as 2nd & often are a top team both within the BIG 10 & the NCAA DI. Yet they're that great band, that never seems to have it all at the same time. A great singer, a great lead guitar, a great rhythm guitar & a great bassist, they lack a talented drummer. Then once they get a great drummer, the singer quits. It's a never ending cycle with Michigan, this year no different.
I mean over the past 25 years, you've only had two bad seasons for the Wolverines. In 2010 they finished 43rd & in 2013 they finished 33rd. Other than that, the Wolverines have been a top 20 team or better most of the time. In fact, 17 times they've been a top 10 team. In the past 10 years, they've brought home team trophies three times, and finished one place shy of a team trophy (5th) twice.
If I can't think of a more elegant way to say it, I'm just ready for there to finally be a season 125, 133, 141, 149, 157, 165, 174, 184, 197 & HWT where Michigan has it all, all at the same time.
2026-2027?
The Wolverines are very strong throughout the middle weights. 149 through 184 things are looking good for Michigan. Yet at the moment, 125 & 133 remain untested. 197 & HWT, also seem at the moment to be holes in the lineup.
I hope to not be seen as negative or pessimistic. That isn't my intention here at all. It's simply that I was 16, a kid who had just got his license when I began to contemplate the idea of Michigan one day winning an NCAA DI team title. 5 years shy of having my first beer. Now I'm closer to early retirement than I am to those years. I'd still like to see Michigan bring home that gold plated trophy someday.
Gone are....
Diego Sotelo, a Harvard transfer who earned NCAA DI qualification three times during his career. Was 7th at Cliff Keen Las Vegas this year.
Dylan Ragusin, a four-time NCAA DI qualifier who earned a 5th place All-American finish in 2024. Unfortunately, he was hurt in 2025 & was never able to get healthy again.
Lachlan McNeil who really showed what tenacity was all about various times throughout his career. 4th-6th-5th-3rd in the NCAA DI championships, he came through and made it happen each season, even when many doubted him. A transfer of North Carolina, he was 3rd in the BIG 10 this year, 98 career wins. A future Common Wealth Games & Olympic medalist for Canada.
Joe Walker, who was not varsity this year, but nevertheless had some great wins. One match shy of placing at CKLV & 3rd at the Midlands.
Taye Ghadiali who came into the BIG 10 from Campbell and showed those who like to snub Southern Conference wrestling that there IS talent in the SOCON. The three-time SOCON champ came in and won a BIG 10 title. Earned a bronze medal at the NCAA DI's (8th earlier in his career for Campbell) & also took 3rd at CKLV. 128 wins to close out a fantastic career.
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| 133 Moses Mendoza |
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| 141 Kellan Wolbert |
Kellan Wolbert, a four-time Wisconsin State champion is another true-freshman that the maize & blue are looking very forward to this season.
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| 141 Eren Sement |
Eren Sement, a reserve for the Wolverines last year, took 8th at the Midlands.
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| 149 Sergio Lemley |
The two-time NCAA DI qualifier who was one match shy of All-American honors in 2025 returns to the lineup after redshirting this past season. 22-1 on the year, the Mt. Carmel product was 3rd at last year's Midlands.
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| 157 Dan Zepeda |
A transfer of North Carolina State, Dan Zepeda won RENO last year & had a very impressive 1:46 fall over Jude Swisher.
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| 165 Cam Catrabone |
22 wins on the season, Cam Catrabone was 5th in the BIG 10 & 7th in the DI nation. Pretty sure he's going to be our starter here at 165 lbs, but do keep in mind how touch 2025 DI qualifier Dylan Gilcher is.
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| 174 Beau Mantanona |
Been a lot of great brother combinations at Michigan over the years. The Amines, the Rechsteiners, the Churellas. Michigan is no stranger to great brother combinations. This generation is the Mantanona's. Beau won 25 matches for the Wolverines last season. 5th in the BIG 10 he was 7th in the DI nation & he also took 4th at CKLV.
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| 184 Brock Mantanona |
Brock Mantanona won 22 matches for the maize and blue last season. 3rd in the BIG 10, he was 5th at in the DI nation. Heads into 2026-2027 with CKLV finishes of 7th & 2nd.
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