By Mike Finn, W.I.N. Editor
Bigger is not always better … even with Michigan wrestling.
During Joe McFarland’s seven years as the Wolverine head coach, several of his wrestlers have moved up a weight or two and still found success.
The latest being former Michigan All-American Ryan Churella, who finished fourth and second, respectively, the last two years at 165 pounds after claiming third place at 149 pounds in 2004. Moving up a few weights was common in the Churella family as Ryan’s father, Mark, a three-time Michigan national champion (1977-79) won his final NCAA title at 167 pounds after capturing his first two at 150 pounds.
So it wasn’t that big of a surprise when the youngest of the Churellas — Josh, a junior, who wrestled the past two seasons at 141 pounds and earned All-American honors with a seventh-place finish in 2005 — announced that he was moving up to 149.
“That was a decision we made this summer,” McFarland said. “Josh loves to lift and wrestle. He’s been maturing and filling out. All the Churella brothers have gotten bigger as they’ve gone through the years here. Josh is no different. We felt a cut to 141 this year was not going to be good and productive for him.”
Josh Churella’s move didn’t necessarily create a domino effect on the Michigan line-up, but was just one of the puzzle pieces to a roster that also saw senior All-American Eric Tannenbaum, who finished fourth and sixth, respectively, the past two seasons at 149 pounds, move up to 165. And sophomore Steven Luke, who qualified for the NCAAs at 157 pounds, will wrestle at 174 pounds this winter.
“All those guys were getting bigger and maturing and having a more difficult time making weight,” McFarland said. “You just don’t know where these guys are going to end up.
“Some of these guys come into college and are done growing and stay in the same weight class. Look at (Michigan’s two-time NCAA champion) Ryan Bertin. He came in as a 157-pounder and left as a 157-pounder. Others coming in have not matured all the way and eventually move up a weight class.
“I think it’s going to be a good thing for us and these guys will be able to concentrate on training, wrestling hard, being in great shape, becoming better wrestlers and winning national championships and not have to worry about cutting weight.”
Then there is the case of senior Mark Moos, who is heading in the opposite direction.
After wrestling the past two years at 133 pounds, the native of Lorain, Ohio, will return to 125 pounds, where he competed as a redshirt freshmen and recorded his most seasonal victories (22) in a 61-26 career.
“He never got as big as he thought he was,” McFarland said. “He did a good job of getting his weight down. He felt that he could make a run for it this year at 125. I think it was a good choice.”
Returning to 125 pounds makes one remember when Moos was jump-starting the Wolverines in 2004, especially at the NWCA National Duals in Cleveland, Ohio, where he won all five of his matches — including upsets of All-Americans Bobbe Lowe (Minnesota) and Tom Noto (Hofstra) — and helped Michigan finish third in the team race.
Unfortunately, after jumping out to a 16-2 start in his Michigan career, after the 2004 National Duals, Moos’ maize and blue road has been a bumpy one. While the former Ohio state and Junior National champion has made three trips to the NCAA tournament, there have been and no All-American honors for Moos.
“He’s had his ups and downs,” admitted McFarland, who has seen Moos deal with rib and leg injuries during his career. “I think a lot of it has to do with the adversity he’s fought through. He’s had some issues and injuries. It hasn’t always been easy for Mark.”
McFarland said he likes Moos’ attitude, entering a senior season.
“I like where he’s at. I think he’s figured it out,” the Michigan coach said. “I think he is real excited about going back down to 125. He should have been at 125 the last couple years. But he was having a hard time keeping his weight at 125. Sometimes that requires a little bit more discipline.”
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