The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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the kid can really wrestle. He's good on top, and that's the one thing that can separate a guy sometimes at that weight class. It's a great neutralizer, if you can have the ability to dominate on top. It makes it very difficult on your opponent." Sophomore Rossi Bruno was 8-3 on the year and ranked 17th nationally, after posting a 5-2 record and a fifthplace finish at 133 pounds in the Cliff Keen Invitational. "Bruno looked really good in Vegas," McFarland said. "He competed really well. I like him because he can wrestle in all positions. He needs to work on attacking early on and scoring some more takedowns, but he will be fine." And at 125 pounds, the Wolverines are relying on yet another underclassman that is competing above his experience level: redshirt freshman Conor Youtsey (6-3 record), who is battling fifth-year senior Sean Boyle to keep the starting job. "That is an interesting weight class for us, because we have two really good guys there," McFarland said. "Connor is a young guy, who is competing really well. He needs to work on his leg attacks more, get a little more offensive, but I think he will be at a very high level." be deeper and more talented across the board this season, thanks to a loaded senior class and some promising newcomers. It starts with Sampson, the Wolverines' all-star all-arounder who won the 2013 NCAA individual national championship in the floor routine. "We have told Joanna, the team goes as she goes," Michigan head coach Bev Plocki said. "It is very important for her to be upbeat and positive, which she absolutely is. She's another reason I think this is going to be a good year, because she has matured and grown every year she has been here. She is GYMNASTS HAVE DEPTH, TALENT Usually, the season after graduating two gymnasts as prolific as seven-time All-American Katie Zurales and threetime All-American Brittnee Martinez, a team can expect a rebuilding year. But the Wolverines could possibly Senior Joanna Sampson, who won the individual national title in the floor routine at the 2013 NCAA Championships, has emerged as a team leader for the Wolverines. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS