The 18th ranked Michigan wrestling team faced off against the #19 Northwestern Wildcats last night at Cliff Keen Arena and came away with a 17-17 tie. The Wildcats dominated the lighter weight categories but gave way starting at 141 pounds. Possibly due to the big hockey game against ND at Yost the crowd at Cliff Keen was minimal (549), but they were boisterous once the Wolverines got rolling. In fact, a few times they sounded like the hockey crowd, especially when chants of “Stalling” blew out from the stands when Tyrel Todd thoroughly dominated Northwestern’s Erich Smith. Joe McFarland’s team started out miserably. 15th Ranked Michael Watts was nearly blown off the mat by third ranked Brandon Percin in the first match at 125. Things didn’t improve much until Kellen Russel at 141 slipped past Eric Metzler for a win (4-2). Though the meet ended in a tie the action was fast and furious in several matches including one Northwestern wrestler being put into the Northwestern bench (chairs) and another being flung into the scorers' table. The Michigan wrestling team is benefiting from the addition of Barwis who brought assistant Jesse Miller with him. Miller works with the team to improve core body strength and earned the confidence of the team quickly. Quotes taken from team members reflect those given by the football team. They are getting stronger, more explosive and are being pushed beyond expectations. I think Jesse curses a little, too. But wrestlers, who are gluttons for punishment by nature, don’t seem to mind as much as Boren did. Former Michigan wrestlers Andy Hrovat and Ryan Churella have come back to UM to work with Miller as they continue their grappling careers. Michigan faces off against Indiana today at 2:00 pm at Cliff Keen.