Olson sets sights on national title

"It takes a little more to be a champion," boasts one athletic apparel company, and truer words could not be spoken when college wrestling is the issue.

Wrestling is arguably the most physically demanding of all collegiate sports, with its participants continuously training at the hardest level just so that they can make weight to compete. Wrestlers go to practice by 6:30 in the morning and go back again after classes at 3.

To reach the collegiate level of wrestling, let alone be considered a challenger for the national championship, an athlete must have a tremendous amount of drive, stamina, and physical ability.

It's been 13 years since a Wolverine wrestler held the honor of being called a national champion. But Michigan's Erick "Otto" Olson is looking to change that tomorrow, when he and six other Wolverines head to State College for the National Champions

DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily Eric Olson, also known as Otto, is looking to win the first national championship for the Michigan wrestling team since 1986.

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Olson has compiled an impressive 35-5 record this season, a record which earned him a No. 1 seed earlier this month at the Big Ten Tournament. Perhaps even more impressive was Olson's perfect 15-0 dual-meet record, and his 11-3 mark against opponents currently ranked in Amateur Wrestling News' top 20 poll.

Olson's accolades have not gone unnoticed by Michigan head coach Dale Bahr.

Otto has "as good of a chance as anyone in a long time to win a national title," Bahr said. "Otto is so hard to beat. He doesn't blow anyone out, but he just wears down everyone he faces."

However Olson is not invincible, a fact that was demonstrated at the Big Ten Championships when he was pinned in the first period of the semifinal round by Northwestern's Mark Bybee.

"He kind of got caught against Bybee at Big Ten's, but he's going to be tough to beat (at the NCAA's). I think he's got a better shot than (Jeff) Catrabone did last year to win a national title."

Catrabone has been the closest Wolverine in recent years to obtaining the title, finishing third at the NCAA's in both 1997 and 1998.

The loss at the Big Ten's was disappointing for Olson, but like any true champion he's using it as a building block.

"Right now I'm just going to get ready for the NCAA's," Olson said after the loss. "You work harder when you're upset, and right now I'm pretty upset."

A fact that could spell trouble for the rest of the 174 pounders this weekend.

03-17-99