Wrestlers out to silence critics

With the Big Ten season starting in less than two weeks, the no- frills Michigan wrestling team is trying to prove that it is a team that can - and will - compete for the Big Ten Championship.

With three of the of the top four teams in the country, including defending champion Iowa, coming from the Big Ten and Illinois ranked eighth, the No. 11 Wolverines will need to wrestle their best all year to even be considered contenders.

"This is the premier conference in the country," Michigan coach Dale Bahr said. "But we feel good about ourselves in the toughest part of the year, at least psychologically. We feel that we have four guys that will win every time out, and will be our catalysts all year."

Before anyone starts thinking about winning the conference crown, Bahr was quick to point out that after losing four All-Americans, it will take a lot to contend.

The Michigan wrestling team finished 2nd at the Virginia Duals this past weekend. The Wolverines are ranked 11th in the nation.

"Everyone is really stepping up, and the Big Ten Championships are in Ann Arbor, but the Big Ten has always been an upperclassman conference - so we will see what happens," Bahr said. "We started the year not even ranked in the top 25, so I think that winning is really starting to have a positive effect. The more they win, the more they want to win. Next week I expect us to crack the Top 10."

Michigan's four "catalysts" continued their success this past weekend, finishing undefeated at the Virginia Duals. Chris Viola, Erick "Otto" Olson, Damion Logan and most outstanding wrestler Joe Warren all helped the Wolverines succeed in meeting the coaching staff's expectations.

"Our main goal right now is just to win the matches that we should win," Michigan assistant coach Kirk Trost said. "We want to keep working at improving until the Big Ten Championships and we will see what happens."

DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily

01-13-99