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32 CAVALIER CORNER cavalier profile MICHAEL BATTISTA Graduate Student • Wrestling When Michael Battista joined the Virginia wrestling program out of Broad Run High School in Ashburn, Va., he came to the Cavaliers with several accolades including two-time state champion. Despite the honors and a work ethic in the weight room and train- ing facility that head coach Steve Garland has said is unmatched, Battista had room to grow when it came to the technique of wres- tling. As a first-year, he saw limited action but got thrown into the fire with his first dual appearance against fourth-ranked Missouri. He redshirted his second-year season and then returned to the mat in a Virginia singlet for the 2019-20 campaign — the year he said he re- ally changed his focus. "I'm extremely grateful to the coaching staff," Battista said. "I came in and knew how to work hard, but I didn't know much in wrestling about how to focus on the things that could make you a great wres- tler. I was focused on strength and cardio. They helped me under- stand, and over the years that started to click, and I bought in." That year he took on the mantle of starter at 184 pounds and posted an 18-20 mark on the season. He advanced to the third- place match at the ACC Championships but missed a bid to the NCAA Championships. He also missed out on the 2021 NCAA Championships despite posting significant wins for the Hoos — including one over No. 16 Gregg Harvey to help the Cavaliers upset 12th-ranked Pitt in the regular season. Those misses motivated him to work even harder, but in the wres- tling room perfecting technique. That effort finally paid off this season. He opened the year with an 11-match win streak that vaulted him into the national rankings in his weight class. He then achieved the next goal at home in John Paul Jones Arena when he secured his first NCAA Championships bid as one of eight Cavaliers to represent Virginia on the biggest stage in collegiate wrestling. "It was a nice feeling and maybe even a relief because it's been a long journey," Battista said of locking up his bid. "I was confi- dent going into the ACC Championships, but it was a relief be- cause I could finally focus on the next thing, which was the NCAA Championships." — Bill Bunting • Photo by Jim Daves/courtesy UVA