'M' wrestlers say goodbye to Bahr

A 21-year-old chapter of Michigan wrestling history will come to a close this weekend when Michigan wrestling coach Dale Bahr walks the maize and blue mat of Cliff Keen arena for the last time as the Wolverines' coach. Bahr leaves behind a legacy of 219 victories - second only to the legendary Cliff Keen.

The Wolverines also close out the dual-meet season against Big Ten foes Penn State today and Ohio State on Sunday.

Michigan's first opponent, the Nittany Lions, look to extend their current three-match winning streak.

DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily Sunday's contest against Ohio State will be the last Michigan dual meet coached by Dale Bahr, who will retire at the end of this season.

"We've gotta change that streak around," Bahr said. "Overall this should be a good matchup."

The key matchup of the evening pits Michigan's fifth-ranked 174 pounder, Otto Olson, against the nation's second-ranked wrestler in that weight class - Penn State's Glenn Pritzlaff.

Pritzlaff will test Olson's perfect 13-0 dual record when the two collide in the match that could decide which wrestler notches the number one seed in the Big Ten tournament at Crisler Arena two weeks away.

"It's a big match for both of them with all that is on the line," Bahr said. "It's definitely going to be the match of the evening."

Another key matchup is in the 125-pound weight class, where eighth-ranked Chris Viola will lock up with Penn State's second-ranked Jeremy Hunter.

"There's going to be some matches that go either way against Penn State," Bahr said. "The key to victory will be at 149, 165 and 184 pounds."

On Sunday, four seniors and one outstanding coach bid farewell to Cliff Keen arena. Viola ends what has been one of the most successful runs for a lightweight in recent Wolverine history. Along with Viola, 149-pounder Corey Grant, and Michigan backups Luis Aguilar and Brian Aparo also say their goodbyes.

The 25th-ranked Buckeyes have struggled this season, managing only one conference win.

"If we wrestle the way we are capable of wrestling, we should handle them pretty well," Bahr said. "We need to make sure that we don't take them for granted, though."

The focus of the meet is less on the individual matches, but on the end of an era.

"You know I haven't really thought about it," Bahr said. "This season has been going by so fast, it's been tough to think about (it ending). It will probably hit me come Sunday, but the real nostalgia won't come until I reflect back in the offseason."

02-19-99