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Michigan looks to avenge Illinois loss earlier this season

Chicago, Rockford, Skokie, Des Plains, Spring City.

What do these places have in common?

They are some of the few cities in Illinois that the Michigan wrestling team will not encounter when it travels to the land of Lincoln to face the Fighting Illini and the Wildcats of Northwestern.

These will be critical matchups for the No. 17 Wolverines (5-4) in terms of solid competition and Big Ten conference standings.

Michigan coach Dale Bahr acknowledged the importance of the meet in terms of team development in taking on No. 8 Illinois and No. 18 Northwestern.

"All eleven schools in the Big Ten are nationally ranked," Bahr said. "Every meet is very competitive."

Michigan will look to avenge a 16-19 loss to Illinois at the Virginia Duals earlier this season.

Bahr will juggle his lineup in hopes of gaining an edge by placing sophomores Bill Lacure and Jeff Catrabone into the 150 and 158-lb. slots as opposed to the heavier positions (158 and 167, respectively) where they had been stationed thus far.

"The difference this time around will be that Bill and Jeff will move down," Bahr said. "We're gonna move them down and hopefully knock some people out."

Lacure and Catrabone will have their work cut out for them as they are being called upon to knock out No. 8 Eric Siebert (150) and defending NCAA champion Ernest Benion at 158.

Catrabone defeated Benion twice last year before a season-ending injury prevented a matchup at the NCAA championships.

Another intriguing dual will pit No. 8 Airron Richardson against No. 9 Seth Brady of Illinois at heavyweight.

Northwestern will also keep the Wolverines' hands full according to sophomore Brian Aparo, who recalled the Wildcat football team's Cinderella season.

"Northwestern is a real surprising team," Aparo said. "Nobody expected them to be great, but they just knocked out [No. 7] Minnesota."

In facing the Wildcats, senior captain Jesse Rawls Jr. (177) will get a dose of what is yet to come at the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic, January 29.

By virtue of his No. 3 ranking, Rawls was invited to the prestigious meet. He will prepare by taking on No. 4 Rohan Gardner of Northwestern on Saturday.

Aparo indicated that this would be a pivotal matchup. Rawls and Gardner have met twice this season and come away on both sides of the coin.

"Our 177 match will be very interesting," Aparo said. "If it comes down to that at Northwestern, it will be very exciting."

The lineup for the lower weight classes has not yet been solidified with the exception of Brandon Howe at 126. Freshmen Joe Warren and Chris Viola will vie for the 118 position. The 134 slot will also be a toss-up between freshman Corey Grant and Brian Aparo.

In addressing the difficulties in the lower classes so far this season, Bahr continues to be uncertain.

"There's not much you can do," Bahr said. "We'll take along two guys at 118 and 134 and go with whoever's doing better in practice."

Despite these question marks, Aparo was optimistic about the Wolverines chances in the state of Illinois.

"We've got some guys coming back from injuries," Aparo said. "We're not going to blow anybody out, but if we wrestle how we're capable, we should do all right."