UM Wrestling - True freshman Lemley defeats #1 ranked Woods @ 141-lbs
February 4th, 2024 at 2:50 AM ^
That was awesome. He didn’t even play it safe in the third with the lead
February 4th, 2024 at 7:40 AM ^
I wish that my high school had a wrestling program growing up.
It seems like an incredible way for young men to learn patience, body awareness, and respect for others.
I can't imagine a more consistently humbling experience. Real Woods was 12-0, clearly very skilled, and he got manhandled.
Conversely, Sergio had already lost 4 times going into this matchup. Life lessons abound.
February 4th, 2024 at 8:53 AM ^
Well said Dennis.
It tests every aspect of your manhood.
February 4th, 2024 at 11:01 AM ^
Wrestling builds more character and prepares kids for adversity more than any other sport. No sport exemplifies “no excuses” like wrestling. It not only builds character, it exposes it.
February 4th, 2024 at 12:08 PM ^
There is absolutely nowhere to hide on that mat and I love it for that aspect alone. It teaches resilience and problem solving all while forcing kids to accept that their actions and their actions alone are the difference between their winning and losing. There's nothing I love more than seeing my son get better against guys who previously destroyed him and when he loses a match he should have won there's absolutely no "Buts" his coaches will accept.
What I love even more is teaching them how to deal with disappointment.
In the aftermath of a match the emotions are raw but you have to deal with them and be a good sportsman both ways. I also love how even though its a sport where the kids are literally fighting each other on the mat there are so many fewer shenanigans than there are with basketball in terms of both parental and athlete behavior.
February 4th, 2024 at 3:13 PM ^
I was a high school wrestler in an area (eastern PA) where wrestling is huge. Important matches had to be moved to university gyms because the high school gyms could not handle the size of the crowds,
Wrestling is all-encompassing. In addition to everything else, you have to have the non-athletic discipline to make weight which is the toughest part of all. Even when nobody is around, it is your life.
February 4th, 2024 at 6:21 PM ^
Knew a buddy from Harbor Creek who wrestled at Michigan. Insane wrestling community there.
February 5th, 2024 at 6:16 AM ^
When I was in high school our football coach required that we go out for another sport to help keep us conditioned in the off season. I chose wrestling because I thought it would translate well into football and because our high school was the premier wrestling program in the state.
I am not proud to say I washed out in a week. Our coach was no BS. We ran stairs till we puked. I (a novice who had never wrestled before) was often tines paired up with a multiple time State Champ since we were the same weight class. He repeatedly rag-dolled me every day for a week. I had bones and muscles so sore from being contorted into shapes I did not know were possible with the human body.
Wrestlers have my respect....but it was not for me.
February 4th, 2024 at 11:03 AM ^
Underhooks and front head locks are as safe as you can get, he stayed aggressive but from pretty safe positions, played it perfectly. Woods must not like to go upper body much.
February 4th, 2024 at 1:36 PM ^
Username checks out. I used to coach (and ref) back in college
February 4th, 2024 at 1:43 PM ^
Nice, what levels did you coach and ref? I was also an MHSAA, NUWAY, and MYWA official, definitely makes you a better coach.
February 4th, 2024 at 4:45 PM ^
What would you recommend for adults who want to dabble for fitness and learning?
I tried a blended submission wrestling and BJJ gym and it was extremely douchie and machismo. Not my crowd.
February 4th, 2024 at 5:26 PM ^
That’s really the only adult opportunities, try a different gym with some stoners and boomers, it all depends on the vibe of the gym. I go to a very chill one that has a lot of success in competitions, I just go for open roll though.
February 4th, 2024 at 5:19 AM ^
Wow. That was unreal. The kid has it.
Thanks for sharing.
February 4th, 2024 at 6:20 AM ^
Looks like Sergio is the "Real" Deal.. Can he play D-line .... worked for Mason Graham....go blue!
February 4th, 2024 at 8:17 AM ^
Well he weighs about half as much as Mason Graham so would be hard
February 4th, 2024 at 8:33 AM ^
Can Mason Graham eat him to absorb more DL powers?
February 4th, 2024 at 6:38 AM ^
the move in the first period that got him 6 points was really nice. the move at the end of the match when he had it won and could've just ridden out the last 20 seconds was fantastic. loved that, and yeah, he's not going to be ranked #19 the next time they do the rankings.
February 4th, 2024 at 7:57 AM ^
Agreed. Replayed a few times.
That last 20 seconds showed his character. He wrestled to win the match. So often, you see them passive looking to run out the clock. Wow, just a true freshman with gigantic balls. And then after, he was still composed and acted like he'd been there before. The kid's an absolute beast. Bright future ahead.
February 4th, 2024 at 12:02 PM ^
That's what I was most impressed by and agree a lot of guys just take the points and the win, he stayed aggressive and it paid off.
February 4th, 2024 at 12:54 PM ^
Looked like a pin to me.
Kid is dynamic.
February 4th, 2024 at 3:16 PM ^
That was absolutely a pin.
February 4th, 2024 at 6:49 AM ^
I vote, for the sake of everyone on this blog, Seth included, that basketball articles be replaced by wrestling for the remainder of the season!
February 4th, 2024 at 7:36 AM ^
who told you that we had a basketball team? shame on them.
February 4th, 2024 at 10:59 AM ^
Seconded, Bormet won’t disappoint!
February 4th, 2024 at 7:39 AM ^
I was flipping channels looking for something to kill a few minutes with and stumbled onto that match. He was already up 16-3, or something, and I watched the rest of it. Dude was impressive! I don't know anything about wrestling, but I know enough about sports to understand the little "1" next to Woods' name and that he was getting his ass kicked. The crowd at Cliff Keen was also noisy and impressive!
February 4th, 2024 at 8:22 AM ^
Win or lose, the crowd can feel the energy and effort from our beloved student athletes and we cheer accordingly. Unfortunately our MBB team hasn't given us a reason to cheer or get involved. Sad, but true.
February 4th, 2024 at 8:33 AM ^
It was great to watch it as it happened! Go, Blue!
February 4th, 2024 at 8:36 AM ^
Why was that not a pin at the end?
February 4th, 2024 at 8:47 AM ^
Wondered the same. Looked pretty good to me.
February 4th, 2024 at 9:18 AM ^
I saw a different angle of the replay before the next match started and it clearly showed that Woods somehow pinned his hands against his thighs, planted his elbows on the mat, and straightened out his spine. So his shoulder blades stayed up and off the mat. It was unbelievable!! But I believe it, because I saw it...
It was a great replay angle that I wish the posted clip had caught.
February 4th, 2024 at 11:23 AM ^
It was a pin, but just barely. The video doesn't show the angle but Woods had some air between his shoulder blade and the mat most of the time. I did see he was pinned right at the end but ref was a bit shy to call it, maybe half second left in the match at that point.
February 4th, 2024 at 8:48 AM ^
One of the better wrestling victories in the last few years! Great match
February 4th, 2024 at 9:37 AM ^
Congrats to the young wrestling Wolverine!
Do you think he would try out for the football team to replace Grant and Graham at nose tackle as we have been told by the experts on message boards that they will tran$fer to get paid? /s
February 4th, 2024 at 10:50 AM ^
That was a very entertaining match. I'm not a wrestling expert, by any means, but that fellow from Iowa looked pinned at the end of the contest.
February 4th, 2024 at 10:57 AM ^
Wrestled a smart and safe match, dictated the tie up and pace of match, waited for the perfect times to capitalize. Must he a freestyle/greco kid goin for that metzger and dominating the third with underhooks, now thats an old school move! Great hips on that scramble!
February 4th, 2024 at 11:59 AM ^
I'm trying to talk my son into getting involved in a Freestyle club this summer. Any talking points you can give me to try to get him over the fence. His coaches are trying to talk him into it as well, but he's pretty stubborn and I don't want to burn him out, but its frustrating as he has potential if he'll just get more aggressive.
He's a good defensive wrestler, but needs more offense. In the Spring he'll be running track and doesn't want to get overwhelmed, which is a good objection to have, but I've seen the difference between the kids who do freestyle in the offseason and those who don't.
February 4th, 2024 at 12:13 PM ^
The biggest difference I see in those kids are their comfort level of wrestling upper body, whether it’s being comfortable scoring from there OR defending. I’ve seen kids get over the hump because of their ability to throw and pummel and catch kids off guard there. If you can tie a kid up and score from there that’s a great strategy against a superior athlete or wrestler, not a lot of kids wanna go up top or know how. If he is an upper weight then it’s almost a necessity but even if he is a light or middle weight it will open up his offense and give him a whole new set of moves that most kids don’t know. Freestyle can also really help with scrambling and the funk wrestling, par terre starts really teach you how to feel and use your hips for mat wrestling. The best part is you just drive to tournaments with your buddies, coach each other (which is a valuable lens for a wrestler to learn from), and wrestle with no pressure and just cut it loose. I had three kids qualify for Fargo and if it weren’t for that experience i doubt they would have been 3x all state HS wrestlers, one was a HS state runner up. If he is already in a spring sport at least have him attend the local club practices, if your school doesn’t have one someone close will, most club practices are in the evening so spring sport athletes can attend.
February 4th, 2024 at 1:13 PM ^
He's 175 Varsity as a sophomore and my guess is he'll settle in at 190 as a junior and senior. Good to know the info about it almost being s necessity at higher weights. I'll tell him that. Very much appreciate the advice and perspective e.
February 4th, 2024 at 11:56 AM ^
WOW!!!
This kid is going to do some awesome things. Loved the defense and the reversal in the second period was ballsy, but well executed and totally turned the match on its head.
Then to keep up the aggression at the end of the match and come away with a major! What a match!
February 4th, 2024 at 12:55 PM ^
Wow. I don't know much about wrestling but that was exciting and fun to watch. The announcer said Sergio was ranked 19th in the country. Woods is a two time All American and undefeated this year going into the match. Quite the upset.
Congratulations Sergio. Go Blue!
Also, Sergio is a true freshman which makes it even more incredible.
February 4th, 2024 at 1:00 PM ^
My mom is a huge fan of Kelly Ripa (as am I to be honest) so I know way more about Michigan wrestling than I ever did when I was on campus haha
February 4th, 2024 at 3:30 PM ^
Did you see the episode when they had Mason Parris on the show, and he put on a wrestling demo with Ripa's husband, Mark Consuelos?
Parris threw Consuelos around like a rag doll, of course. @5:00
February 5th, 2024 at 1:21 AM ^
I did! He didn't take it easy on Mark
February 4th, 2024 at 4:04 PM ^
I accomplished nothing but a couple of withdrawls from the most important premed classes my freshman year.
February 5th, 2024 at 2:20 PM ^
That was tremendous! GO BLUE!!