Wrestling: Incoming FR Mattin(126) and Freeman (138) win Junior Freestyle titles

Submitted by TheTeamTheTeam… on July 18th, 2017 at 7:33 PM

Drew Mattin and Ben Freeman both win JR Freestyle National titles this evening in Fargo, ND. Freeman won his finals match in grand fashion with a 10-0 technical fall. Excited to see these kids debut next year!

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WayOfTheRoad

July 18th, 2017 at 8:05 PM ^

And I'm glad you make them. Speaking of Drew, I grew up right outside of Delta and have heard nothing but good things about him as a person. He's a terrific wrestler (obviously) but also a young man we'd want at Michigan. I've spoken to him a few times and he's a good kid. He'll be the 2nd NWOAL wrestler that I've known to attend Michigan, albeit knowing and seeing Drew a lot less than Forward. I haven't had a chance to see Freeman wrestle outside of video but I like what we have coming in this year. A lot of growth can be had for both and it's exciting as a former wrestler and fan of the sport. Watching Michigan raise their team talent level as of late has been great. We have always thrown out a couple really talented guys but the team itself is growing. Keep the updates coming!

Joined: 06/26/2017

MGoPoints: 7609

blueblooded14

July 18th, 2017 at 8:32 PM ^

I really appreciate these posts and also encourage you to continue this righteous mission of grappling awareness.

Joined: 01/27/2013

MGoPoints: 3075

M Ascending

July 19th, 2017 at 9:41 AM ^

With three All-American upper class men returning from injury redshirts, and with this high quality freshman class, we should make some real waves at NCAAs. I predict no worse than fifth, and very possibly a podium finish. This has to be the year Joe gets the team to perform to its potential come tournament time, which it rarely has done in the past.

Joined: 09/14/2016

MGoPoints: 21265

BlueWolverine02

July 19th, 2017 at 10:58 AM ^

that's the problem, I feel like they rarely perform to their potential. I don't know how many times over the years I've seen Iowa wrestlers outperform their seed, yet rarely a Michigan wrestler.

Joined: 09/20/2014

MGoPoints: 18406

M Ascending

July 19th, 2017 at 4:31 PM ^

Yup. For some reason we seem to always be dual meet monsters, but can't get the team to perform under tournament conditions, either at the B1Gs or NCAAs. It's a completely different mentality, having to go through the brackets.

Joined: 09/14/2016

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BlueWolverine02

July 18th, 2017 at 8:19 PM ^

is Embree in this class too?

Joined: 09/20/2014

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MichFan1997

July 18th, 2017 at 8:46 PM ^

Yep. I'm very excited for his potential. He almost beat Massa in high school a few years ago. Had a third period lead before falling by decision. I think he's going to be an all-American in a year or two

Joined: 08/04/2008

MGoPoints: 10619

BlueWolverine02

July 18th, 2017 at 10:35 PM ^

I wrestled his dad back in HS, didn't go well for me. Interested to see what his kid can accomplish.

Joined: 09/20/2014

MGoPoints: 18406

BrownViper

July 18th, 2017 at 10:53 PM ^

HS coach here, love the updates and discussions.

Joined: 05/03/2017

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MichFan1997

July 19th, 2017 at 9:00 AM ^

Me too. Where do you coach at?

Joined: 08/04/2008

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TheTeamTheTeam…

July 19th, 2017 at 10:10 AM ^

I also coach, I was an assistant at a school in Ohio in the Akron area, and recently moved to Colorado.

Joined: 06/16/2016

MGoPoints: 1547

McSomething

July 18th, 2017 at 9:28 PM ^

Wrestling can never get too much love on here.

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drjaws

July 19th, 2017 at 12:35 AM ^

some wrasslin

Joined: 02/26/2014

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UM Griff

July 19th, 2017 at 10:43 AM ^

And Iowa? Sounds like these two are upping the ante for M wrestling.

Joined: 12/03/2016

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M Ascending

July 19th, 2017 at 4:34 PM ^

And PSU!

Joined: 09/14/2016

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ewrestling4c

July 19th, 2017 at 3:12 PM ^

These 2 will be super solid and Embree could be a stud as well. Mattin may have to start depending on how well Assad comes back from his injury. Next year's line-up probably will look like:

125: Mattin or Assad - Best case - LOW AA, Worst case - Qualifier

133: Micic - Best - Champ, Worst - Low AA

141: Sal Profaci (Assuming Freeman redshirts to get bigger) - Best Case - LOW AA/RD of 12

Worst case - Qualifier

149: Possibly Pantaleo (but I heard he was going up) Best Case - 2nd, Worst - Low AA

Malik Amine : Best Case - Rd of 12, worst - Not a qualifier

157: Pantaleo or Van Anrooy (incoming stud freshmen)

165: Massa - Champ or top 3

174: Amine - Best - High AA, Worst - Low AA/Rd 12 - Tough weight class, had a great tourney hopefully he continues to improve

184: Abounader - Best - High AA, Worst Low AA/Rd 12 - I hate to put RD 12 on there but he hasn't AA yet

197: Beasley - Best - High AA , Worst - Low AA/Rd 12

Hwt: Coon - Best 2nd, Worst 2nd

Just my 2 cents. I have watched a lot of Michigan wrestling and sat with the families/cheering section at both the Big Tens and NCAA's the last few years. Hope to see some Mgoblog love at those events. Especially the Big tens because it is in East Lansing this year.

Joined: 09/30/2015

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