Awesome match, he sure made that one nerve racking.
4 time big ten and 2 time national champ. Best ever?
He is the only wolverine with 4 big ten titles. Not sure if anyone from Michigan has ever won three NCAAs.
3 time national champ for Michigan, '77, '78, and '79. He also has the record for the most wins at the NCAA championships at 22.
But the most wins thing is kind of hollow since you only get that by losing a match and then winning wrestle backs, or getting stuck in a pig tail.
March 18th, 2012 at 10:33 AM ^
I don't think he lost to many matches.
March 18th, 2012 at 11:14 AM ^
To get 22 he lost 1. My point is there are 4 time champions, but they won less matches because of how the brackets for wrestle backs work. Thus my point this is a hollow record. If he had the most all time wins overall then we would be talking. But either way the three championships are awesome and speak to his greatness.
Ric Flair was a 24 time champion.He's well on his way though.
Woo!
Listen Kellen, to be the man, you gotta beat the man!
Hail to the Victor! Way to go, Kellen!!
Great! Good for him, and good for Michigan
he needs to be in it. Best Michigan wrestler ever, IMO
What a stud and an incredible Michigan Man. He represents Michigan well on and off the mat.
My wife said that she wants to wrestle him while naked. I think she would win since she's a heavy weight and her nickname is the "black hole".
It was really frustrating when the coverage cut away from the sudden death match. Nevertheless, it was nice to see a Wolverine get the victory. Great work Kellen & Go Blue!
March 17th, 2012 at 10:06 PM ^
Congrats to Kellen. He should be a shoo-in for the MGoHallofFame IMO
March 17th, 2012 at 11:11 PM ^
Congrats Kellen, Winning a national championship is not easy feat, winning two is almost almost impossible.
March 17th, 2012 at 11:19 PM ^
is though, the Hodge (wrestling's Heisman) should go to Penn State sophomore David Taylor. Kid is a FREAK.
March 18th, 2012 at 10:06 AM ^
I think Kyle Dake gets it, but who knows... Kellen was a great Michigan Man his 5 years in Ann Arbor. It will be sad to see him go but I'm really looking forward to Massa.
March 18th, 2012 at 11:50 AM ^
for Jordan Thomas. Kid was a 3x champ with his only loss at states coming as a freshman to Massa. Actually, two of his three career high school losses were to Massa when they were freshman. Plus I was pretty impressed with Thomas being injured and still beating Gabe Dean 5-1 at the Palace.
With those two, the Florida kid coming too, and Ben Whitford in next year's class, it should be very interesting to see how Michigan Wrestling does in the near future.
Congrats Kellen! Go Blue!
An AWESOME accomplishment! To those that follow college wrestling, they know that ONLY the special ones are able to become repeat NCAA champions....He joins the pantheon of M wrestling legends Ryan Bertin, & the elder Churella (Mark?). I am no wrestling historian, but this achievement is extremely rare. We are proud of you Mr Russell :)
Much respect. I've swam, ran track, played basketball, football, tennis, volleyball...but the most difficult and demanding sport I've ever tried was *by far* wrestling. Amazing feat by Russell.