AWP 50 in 50: #6 Michigan

WOLVERINES SET FOR BREAKOUT SEASON

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#6 Michigan
Head Coach: Joe McFarland
Assistant Coaches: Sean Bormet, Josh Churella, Kellen Russell
'14 Dual Record: 11-4
'14 NCAA Finish: 17th

Projected Lineup ('14 D1 Record)
125: #14 Conor Youtsey (19-13)
133: #8 Rossi Bruno (22-16)
141: #4 Steve Dutton (13-6)
149: Angelo Latora (4-9)/Jordan Amine (3-3)/Alec Pantaleo (FR)/Malik Amine (FR)
157: #11 Brian Murphy (19-9)
165: #8 Taylor Massa (17-1)
174: Jordan Thomas (4-3)/Ben Ralston (4-6)/Davonte Mahomes (FR)
184: #12 Domenic Abounader (13-11)
197: #13 Max Huntley (4-2)
285: #5 Adam Coon (28-5)

Team Outlook
Key Returners: Coach Joe McFarland will return a veteran-heavy lineup which features eight wrestlers who have qualified for the NCAA Tournament.  The lone returning All-American is Stephen Dutton at 141 pounds.  Dutton saw limited action last season, as he returned from injury in mid-January.  One he got back to form, he was a force for the Wolverines, as he stormed to a 7th place finish at nationals.  His only losses to returning 141 pounders were to Stieber and Retherford, so he'll have his sights set on climbing a couple spots on the podium in 2015.  One guy looking to make his first trip to the third day is heavyweight Adam Coon.  Coon was tremendous for the Maize and Blue last season, winning more than 20 consecutive matches to open his college career.  Though he struggled in March, he was active as usual this summer, earning Silver at FILA Junior Worlds.  He'll be a title contender this season, as he does have a win over defending champ Gwiazdowski to his credit.  Michigan will also have a dynamic duo in the lightweights with #14 Conor Youtsey and #8 Rossi Bruno providing a solid 1-2 punch out the gates.  Bruno was a match from All-American status last season, improving on his Round of 16 performance as a true freshman.  Youtsey, in his first full year as a starter, was also impressive, particularly late in the year- which may be a sign that he'll continue on that upward trajectory.  Both guys should be right in the hunt in March when it's all said and done.

Key Additions:  Taylor Massa will provide a big boost in the middleweights for U of M, fresh off a redshirt season.  Massa was a 2013 NCAA Qualifier, where he advanced to the Round of 12 as a true freshman.  Last season, he suffered just one loss, albeit a controversial one, to Nick Moore in the Midlands semis.  He also added a win over eventual All-American Pierce Harger.  Massa will be one of several 165 pounders gunning for a national title in 2015, and if his past is any indication, he'll definitely be a contender.  The Maize and Blue will also get 197 pounder Max Huntley back for his final year.  Huntley, a 2x NCAA Qualifier, was sidelined last year with an injury suffered early in the season.  He's been consistently in the 15-20 range in the past, and at 184, but I think he has the ability to break through and make a podium push.  

X-Factors:  Two guys who were the difference makers last season will be X-Factors again this year for Michigan.  Brian Murphy (157) and Domenic Abounader (184) both jumped onto the college circuit as true freshmen in 2014, and both had successful years.  Murphy broke out early in the season, where he stormed to the semis at Vegas, falling to James Green in OT.  An interesting tidbit on him is that eight of the nine guys he lost to last year are no longer in the weight class; his lone loss to returners coming to Green.  He also has a win over Dylan Ness to his credit.  Abounader, on the other hand, was planned to redshirt but was pulled due to the aforementioned Huntley injury.  Though he was about .500 through the incredibly challenging dual meet schedule, he went off at Big 10's and finished 3rd.  Both of these guys will need to replicate their work from a year ago and then some in order to get Michigan a team trophy in 2015.

Key Dates
Nov. 15- vs. Edinboro @EMU
Nov. 25- at Central Michigan
Dec. 5- at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite
Jan. 1- at Southern Scuffle
Jan. 9- at Minnesota
Jan. 11- at Michigan State
Jan. 18- vs. Ohio State
Jan. 23- vs. Wisconsin
Jan. 30- vs. Penn State
Feb. 6- vs. Nebraska
Feb. 13- at Iowa
Feb. 20- vs. Pittsburgh
Mar. 7- at Big 10 Championships

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