Michigan young Talent having a great US Open

[MichiganMade3]

They're having a tremendous US Open both Wisconsin boys are in the final eight Wolbert and Peterson...Aslikyan is in the final eight...Bodie Abbey a four-time Michigan state champ lost his match in the round of 16 to Wolbert... last year's recruits Sement, Botero had deep runs Sement lost rd 16, Botero won his first three matches before losing and has won his first match in the consolations... tons of young Talent and of course Brock Mantanona is dominating in the final eight looking like a straight Collision Course with Sinclair... does anyone know why Nicholas Sahakian isn't wrestling he was listed as participating in the u20 but didn't see him?  Also nice to see two michiganders in the final eight wrestling each other with Jackson Blum and Nicholas Sorrow who I don't know how Michigan missed out on him to me he was the most dominant wrestler coming out of Michigan even more so than Blake Cosby ..Sorrow should be ranked much higher he's a four-time champion as well

Edited April 26 by MichiganMade3

[MoveCountermove]

Sorrow is definitely a stud, but not sure Michigan necessarily missed on him by taking Mendoza and Wolbert. Sorrow would be an unbelievable get to have in the room with the current logjam and Mendoza coming in as well. He’s likely to be the best wrestler at MSU as long as he stays there. That said, I would still take Moses Mendoza over Sorrow, and I think that’s about the conversation surrounding Michigan’s recruitment of him.

Agreed it was a good tournament for the Michigan men. Sahakian must be healthy, as they aren’t bringing anyone in from the portal, but if I’m not mistaken he hasn’t wrestled since hurting himself his high school senior year? I’m sure that’s incorrect, but that would be concerning to roll into the season with an untested young buck coming off an injury that’s kept him away from competition for an extended time. I think that’s exactly what happened to Walters and why he looked so poor this season. 
 

Blake Cosby is a great wrestler and could find himself in the starting line up in time and on the podium at NCAAs. Nicholas Sorrow has been better IMO and I think his future is brighter, but for the sake of UM wrestling I’d love to be wrong

[elc215]

What do we think the line up will look like next yr with the addition of Daniel Zepeda.  Does Lemely stay at 141.  I know He wrestled 149 in opens this yr.  

[wrestlingfan22]

19 minutes ago, elc215 said:

What do we think the line up will look like next yr with the addition of Daniel Zepeda.  Does Lemely stay at 141.  I know He wrestled 149 in opens this yr.  

Sement 141 lemley 149 zepeda 157 cat 165 is my guess

[nhs67]

I think the best lineup with the current roster (no more transfers in) is...

125 - Botero

133 - Mendoza

141 - Lemley

149 - Zepeda/Hilton

157 - Zepeda/Hilton

165 - Cattrabone/Gilcher

174 - Mantanona

184 - Mantanona

197 - Walters

285 - Sahakian

Imagine the Mantanonas going up a weight again, and sliding Gilcher up another weight...

I would love to see Gilcher train with his brother at Indiana for his last year or maybe join former HS teammate Rojas in Central Michi...err...Wyoming.  Unfortunately he seems to be odd man out, even if I think he is the better 165lber between him and Cat (Cat is too small and Gilcher's strength is good enough for 165).

Edited April 28 by nhs67

[elc215]

Looks very solid.  Hopefully the coaching staff continues to develop the young talent 

[SplitTheG]

Barring any more transfers (for Michigan or other schools), I currently have Michigan as 5th in my predicted team standings for next year, knocking on the door for a podium spot.

[MoveCountermove]

3 hours ago, nhs67 said:

I think the best lineup with the current roster (no more transfers in) is...

125 - Botero

133 - Mendoza

141 - Lemley

149 - Zepeda/Hilton

157 - Zepeda/Hilton

165 - Cattrabone/Gilcher

174 - Mantanona

184 - Mantanona

197 - Walters

285 - Sahakian

Imagine the Mantanonas going up a weight again, and sliding Gilcher up another weight...

I would love to see Gilcher train with his brother at Indiana for his last year or maybe join former HS teammate Rojas in Central Michi...err...Wyoming.  Unfortunately he seems to be odd man out, even if I think he is the better 165lber between him and Cat (Cat is too small and Gilcher's strength is good enough for 165).

I don't agree that Lemley will be at 141, and I don't think that Cooper Hilton is likely to be one of 2 at 149/157. Cam has said he will go 165 already, so that is a solid nugget we can lean on. I agree that Cat did NOT look like an overly large 157 last season, so unless his body takes on a different shape, I don't think he will be a big dude who is cutting down to 165.

I think Lemley's best chance for his career outlook is to stay at 141, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was firmly in his past.

Are Zepeda and Gilcher even likely to be options this coming season? Especially first semester? Honestly don't know much about their injuries, but I thought DZ was an ACL? If so, I think you RS DZ this season and run with Sement or Wolbert.

I think Catrabone has a substantially higher ceiling than Gilcher, even if their body types are different and the weight suits Gilcher's size more. I like Gilcher a lot and really wanted him to pop this season, but I think he might be hard stuck as a NQ type who could make his way into the blood rounds or something, but not so sure he ever gets to the podium. This was his year and then he got injured, and that doesn't bode well for him, and despite his injury, he had several frustrating matches he was expected to win, where he couldn't find any offense and looked off his game.

125 - Bortero (Aslikyan/Kiser)

133 - Mendoza (Hinz/Flores)

141 - Sement

149 - Lemley (Zepeda/Hilton/Wilson)

157 - Wolbert (Cosby/Peterson)

165 - Catrabone (Gilcher/Gates/Peterson)

174 - Mantanona

184 - Mantanona

197 - Portal/Walters

HWT - Sahakian

 

Edit: Also, I think mentioned the idea of them sliding the Mantanonas up and then backfilling everything behind them in another thread. I don't ever see the weights for the guys really for weigh ins, but Brock continues to look like a 165 pounder to me lol would be hilarious to see him standing across from an Endene type. For a moment anyway, then I'd be sad after

Edited April 28 by MoveCountermove

[nhs67]

1 hour ago, MoveCountermove said:

I don't agree that Lemley will be at 141, and I don't think that Cooper Hilton is likely to be one of 2 at 149/157. Cam has said he will go 165 already, so that is a solid nugget we can lean on. I agree that Cat did NOT look like an overly large 157 last season, so unless his body takes on a different shape, I don't think he will be a big dude who is cutting down to 165.

I think Lemley's best chance for his career outlook is to stay at 141, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was firmly in his past.

Are Zepeda and Gilcher even likely to be options this coming season? Especially first semester? Honestly don't know much about their injuries, but I thought DZ was an ACL? If so, I think you RS DZ this season and run with Sement or Wolbert.

I think Catrabone has a substantially higher ceiling than Gilcher, even if their body types are different and the weight suits Gilcher's size more. I like Gilcher a lot and really wanted him to pop this season, but I think he might be hard stuck as a NQ type who could make his way into the blood rounds or something, but not so sure he ever gets to the podium. This was his year and then he got injured, and that doesn't bode well for him, and despite his injury, he had several frustrating matches he was expected to win, where he couldn't find any offense and looked off his game.

125 - Bortero (Aslikyan/Kiser)

133 - Mendoza (Hinz/Flores)

141 - Sement

149 - Lemley (Zepeda/Hilton/Wilson)

157 - Wolbert (Cosby/Peterson)

165 - Catrabone (Gilcher/Gates/Peterson)

174 - Mantanona

184 - Mantanona

197 - Portal/Walters

HWT - Sahakian

 

Edit: Also, I think mentioned the idea of them sliding the Mantanonas up and then backfilling everything behind them in another thread. I don't ever see the weights for the guys really for weigh ins, but Brock continues to look like a 165 pounder to me lol would be hilarious to see him standing across from an Endene type. For a moment anyway, then I'd be sad after

Mantanona was weighing under 180 to start the season wrestling 184lbs.

Also, Gilcher isn't big.  He is strong.  Big difference there.

ZP redshirtted last year, but if he is good to get a medical, sure.

Wolbert just wrestled Bassett at 65 KG (143lbs).  He won't be 157

Also, I said 'best' not that it was likely.

I do think a lineup that is...

141 - Wolbert

149 - Lemley

157 - Hilton

165 - Catrabone 

...makes sense, especially considering potential injury recoveries.

Why don't you like Hilton?  He's really fckn good man.

Edited April 28 by nhs67

[MoveCountermove]

1 hour ago, nhs67 said:

Mantanona was weighing under 180 to start the season wrestling 184lbs.

Also, Gilcher isn't big.  He is strong.  Big difference there.

ZP redshirtted last year, but if he is good to get a medical, sure.

Wolbert just wrestled Bassett at 65 KG (143lbs).  He won't be 157

Also, I said 'best' not that it was likely.

I do think a lineup that is...

141 - Wolbert

149 - Lemley

157 - Hilton

165 - Catrabone 

...makes sense, especially considering potential injury recoveries.

Why don't you like Hilton?  He's really fckn good man.

Right on, didn’t mean to mince your words at all.

Yeah, Mantanona kids are just wiry and that’s how they are built, which is totally fine and even beneficial for a lot of kids (I’ve seen each of them try to run the legs on opponents and struggle with positioning/getting too high and giving reversals). Not gunna pretend those frames don’t have plenty of space for added meat, tho.

yeah my thought with DZ was a med shirt makes a lot of sense but idk enough to know the options there.

When discussing Gilcher, I was meaning more about his thickness/strength than size, but I didn’t make myself clear. Cam wants to make contact and roll around on the mat and catch you in a weird funk move. There’s a fair bit of variability there, but I’d love to see Cam add to his bag and get better from various positions. I think he and Gilcher would be fun matches to watch, I just think Cam has a higher ceiling.

Def correct about Wolbert, I literally watched him wrestle this weekend at 65 so idk why I’m hooked on him being larger. Just cuz he was ranked by Flo at 150 I suppose, but I think he walks around at about that fat and happy so no qualms with what you said.

I don’t have any hate for Hilton, and I agree that he is gifted and I think he will be great, but I don’t think he’s necessarily the best on the roster for that section of weights (coming from the moron who tries to list Wolbert at 157…). May very well be the best option at the time and that’s totally ok, I think he wins plenty of matches, places at Big Tens and gets his shot at NCAAs if he’s the guy. And I’m not at all trying to rule any kid out ahead of time, just speculating that Hilton may have a ceiling closer to Gilcher, wherein he’s going to win tons of matches and push it in the conference tourney and NCAAs, but I’m not so sure he will podium. And I hate even posting this stuff cuz it’s my speculation and gut feeling and he doesn’t deserve that speculation out there in the ether; he could crush it and prove me very wrong, and the arrow could stay pointing up for him; look at Taye Ghadiali.

And yes, beat not likely. Again, my bad there. Got so excited to talk shop I stayed running away with your post and doing what I wanted with it lol

I think the bottom line is that they have such an embarrassment of riches around the 141-149/157 weights that it’s going to be hard to watch a few of these guys miss out. Whatever they choose to do, I hope it’s better than the last few years where we are giving up 1-2 weights per dual. Brutal. Also, Walters taking 10-20 steps forward would be nice, if they can’t address 197 in the portal.

Appreciate the opinions and discourse, as always.

[Tyler Perry]

I’m really excited for this group. The Botero/Aslikyan battle at 25 is interesting. I think it’ll be 

125: Aslikyan/Botero

133: Mendoza 

141: Sement 

149: Lemley

157: Zepeda 

165: Catrabone (per himself)

174: Beau

184: Brock

197: Walters 

285: Nick 

[nhs67]

For what it is worth, from what I am hearing now, there may be more smoke to Zepeda and Gilcher both seeking medicals.

That outs Cat at 157lbs for another season.

Roll out Peterson or Cosby at 165lbs and make a call once they both hit their five matches on who gets the go.

Lemley at 141 and Hilton at 149 make the most sense.

Don't sleep on Hilton.

[TW8]

Love Michigan talk!!!  Going to be a fun year to watch.  

[Tyler Perry]

8 hours ago, nhs67 said:

For what it is worth, from what I am hearing now, there may be more smoke to Zepeda and Gilcher both seeking medicals.

That outs Cat at 157lbs for another season.

Roll out Peterson or Cosby at 165lbs and make a call once they both hit their five matches on who gets the go.

Lemley at 141 and Hilton at 149 make the most sense.

Don't sleep on Hilton.

As in Zepeda won’t go this year? Seems risky with impending 5/5

 

Cam said himself he’s going 65

Edited April 30 by Tyler Perry

[nhs67]

7 hours ago, Tyler Perry said:

As in Zepeda won’t go this year? Seems risky with impending 5/5

 

Cam said himself he’s going 65

He didn't say when, though.  And you say it as if he is the authority on it.

Have you met Cam?  I have, and his father.  Both of them are of the cloth that they will do what is best for the team.  Cam saying he would go 165lbs was him saying that is where he would go, if the team needed him there.  That wasn't him saying he was for certain going to be 165lbs next season.

[TW8]

If they want their best lineup Cam goes 65 to make room for DZ at 57.  That's if DZ wrestles this year.  I'm assuming he wont be clear until fall/late fall from his ACL surgery.  If he takes this year to recover from surgery Cam could stay at 57.  Or, Cam is already in bulk season to get to 65.  Who knows really. 

Big fan of Hilton, but he seems to always be injured.  I'm assuming he is nagging now. otherwise he would've been at the us open.  

Botero had a great us open.  He could be 125 next season.  

I hope they are on Cochran if he can make 197.  

FRL had a little segment on Michigan's potential lineup for next season.  Seemed reasonable.

[MoveCountermove]

On 4/29/2026 at 2:44 PM, nhs67 said:

For what it is worth, from what I am hearing now, there may be more smoke to Zepeda and Gilcher both seeking medicals.

That outs Cat at 157lbs for another season.

Roll out Peterson or Cosby at 165lbs and make a call once they both hit their five matches on who gets the go.

Lemley at 141 and Hilton at 149 make the most sense.

Don't sleep on Hilton.

Curious...Would you take a lineup of Lemley - Hilton - Catrabone over Sement - Lemley - Catrabone? I've seen a lot more of Sement in a Michigan singlet than Hilton, and I am not sure Lemley still has 141 capabilities (literally not sure, he very well may be able to hit that weight, which he should if he can). 

[nhs67]

16 minutes ago, MoveCountermove said:

Curious...Would you take a lineup of Lemley - Hilton - Catrabone over Sement - Lemley - Catrabone? I've seen a lot more of Sement in a Michigan singlet than Hilton, and I am not sure Lemley still has 141 capabilities (literally not sure, he very well may be able to hit that weight, which he should if he can). 

I absolutely would take Hilton in over Sement.  Higher ceiling and just plain better.

3 hours ago, TW8 said:

If they want their best lineup Cam goes 65 to make room for DZ at 57.  That's if DZ wrestles this year.  I'm assuming he wont be clear until fall/late fall from his ACL surgery.  If he takes this year to recover from surgery Cam could stay at 57.  Or, Cam is already in bulk season to get to 65.  Who knows really. 

Big fan of Hilton, but he seems to always be injured.  I'm assuming he is nagging now. otherwise he would've been at the us open.  

Botero had a great us open.  He could be 125 next season.  

I hope they are on Cochran if he can make 197.  

FRL had a little segment on Michigan's potential lineup for next season.  Seemed reasonable.

Cat is smaller than Lewan when Lewan was at 157.  Cat was also 149 during his redshirt, so this last year was his first at 157lbs.  If he bulks, it is to be full-size 157lber, not full-size 165lber.

[MichiganMade3]

On 4/28/2026 at 10:18 AM, elc215 said:

What do we think the line up will look like next yr with the addition of Daniel Zepeda.  Does Lemely stay at 141.  I know He wrestled 149 in opens this yr.  

125 Aslikyan 

133 Mendoza

141 Hilton, Wolbert, Sement... I am leaning towards Hilton.He's a stud that goes under the radar. In 2022 he was ranked 11 p4p for class of 2025.. I don't know what happened for him to drop to the forty first ranking in 2025

149 Lemley 

157 Zepeda 

165 Cat

174 Mantanona 

184 Mantanona 

197 Hopefully we get an improved Walters.. His red shirt year in the year before he showed a lot of good signs , I don't know what happened last year

Hwy Nicco Saha

Edited May 8 by MichiganMade3

[MoveCountermove]

1 hour ago, MichiganMade3 said:

125 Aslikyan 

133 Mendoza

141 Hilton, Wolbert, Sement... I am leaning towards Hilton.He's a stud that goes under the radar. In 2022 he was ranked 11 p4p for class of 2025.. I don't know what happened for him to drop to the forty first ranking in 2025

149 Lemley 

157 Zepeda 

165 Cat

174 Mantanona 

184 Mantanona 

197 Hopefully we get an improved Walters.. His red shirt year in the year before he showed a lot of good signs , I don't know what happened last year

Hwy Nicco Saha

I think Hilton is a mix of staying healthy and him having not really wrestled folkstyle since his freshman year of HS. Plenty of catching up to do from top and bottom positions, I would think. Still a stud and hope to see him unleash his potential.

Are we sure Zepeda is even an option for this season? I keep seeing him penciled in as a starter, but I thought he’s coming off a torn ACL?

I think Botero starts over Aslikyan, but I wouldn’t mind either way whoever wins the wrestle off.

Walters at 197 has huge strides to take to even be a serviceable 197 pounder, let alone a threat in the Big Ten. I don’t see it happening, he looked very uncomfortable last season. But, improvement should definitely show, so let’s hope here.

Sahakian also has not been very active since injuring himself in high school. Would have loved to see him get a full set of matches last season but we will see what he brings to the table.

[MichiganMade3]

21 hours ago, MoveCountermove said:

I think Hilton is a mix of staying healthy and him having not really wrestled folkstyle since his freshman year of HS. Plenty of catching up to do from top and bottom positions, I would think. Still a stud and hope to see him unleash his potential.

Are we sure Zepeda is even an option for this season? I keep seeing him penciled in as a starter, but I thought he’s coming off a torn ACL?

I think Botero starts over Aslikyan, but I wouldn’t mind either way whoever wins the wrestle off.

Walters at 197 has huge strides to take to even be a serviceable 197 pounder, let alone a threat in the Big Ten. I don’t see it happening, he looked very uncomfortable last season. But, improvement should definitely show, so let’s hope here.

Sahakian also has not been very active since injuring himself in high school. Would have loved to see him get a full set of matches last season but we will see what he brings to the table.

Botero and Aslikyan both had great u s open tournaments...Aslikyan just looks a little more swick and quicker out there and I doVn't know but no way we see the same Botero who struggled greatly last year? He's way too talented for that. I don't know if it was culture Shock or he had a nagging injury, they didn't disclose or he wasn't at AA comfortable true weight class, but  For being that in that high of a recruit , he lost almost every match he wrestled... I seen 2 different results in the third place.Match when Botero and Aslikyan wrestled , one said that it was a forfeit in the other said that Botero pinned him...i think Aslikyan has a higher ceiling being a u17 world bronze medalist and his reattacks are insane, and so quick that something we haven't seen from.Many michigan wrestlers over the years for some reason they aren't big on reattacks....

[MoveCountermove]

6 hours ago, MichiganMade3 said:

Botero and Aslikyan both had great u s open tournaments...Aslikyan just looks a little more swick and quicker out there and I doVn't know but no way we see the same Botero who struggled greatly last year? He's way too talented for that. I don't know if it was culture Shock or he had a nagging injury, they didn't disclose or he wasn't at AA comfortable true weight class, but  For being that in that high of a recruit , he lost almost every match he wrestled... I seen 2 different results in the third place.Match when Botero and Aslikyan wrestled , one said that it was a forfeit in the other said that Botero pinned him...i think Aslikyan has a higher ceiling being a u17 world bronze medalist and his reattacks are insane, and so quick that something we haven't seen from.Many michigan wrestlers over the years for some reason they aren't big on reattacks....

Very well thought out post, thank you. I agree, we do not appear to be teaching kids to perform this way. The number of times something is left open for a reattack or a half shot or peak out and we do nothing is frustrating. I’ve been saying for years that we wrestle scared and defensively, which is a bad combination. It looks like the Michigan wrestling ethos is to make every match a slog and hope to win it by a late takedown or scoring a late caution point or something. Watching guys like Lewan and Amine wrestle for 18 seconds in a 7 minute match was grueling and unsettling. And then they would win a lot, which made it that much worse.

On Aslikyan and Botero…Botero was surprisingly bad last season, but not in the same way we ran out Wertanen the year before. Botero looked out classed in nearly every match, I agree with your analysis. I think the moment was too big for him and the hope was that he would cut his teeth nicely while being a little small for the weight, and then the expectation was Ragusin coming back in and being about back to AA form. None of that came to fruition, and I personally think we wasted a year of Botero’s career.

For this season, I think Botero ends up getting the run at 125 and we can see what we actually have there. I’d love to see him come back at the appropriate weight and start torching kids, he has that ability. Time will tell, though. Overall, I think Aslikyan is the 125 guy for the future. I feel like we see Botero at 125 this season while Aslikyan adapts and adjusts and does everything he can to NOT get the Botero treatment of last season. Let Aslikyan spend a year in the room, wrestle a couple tournaments and a dual, and prime himself for next season.

Next year, I think Aslikyan takes over at 125, Botero back to 133 but more prepared and filled out, Mendoza to 141 after 1 year at 133, and then filling all the weights above with the various wrestlers discussed (Sement, Lemley, Wolbert, Hilton, Cosby, Catrabone, Zepeda, Gilcher, Mantanonas, etc).

This all sort of makes sense to me, with changes or additions/subtractions coming from injuries and wrestle-off results. The roster looks very quality going forward, but everyone will need to peak and reach their ceilings if we want to get a trophy and compete with the likes of OSU, Nebraska, OSU, and Iowa.

[TW8]

1 hour ago, MoveCountermove said:

Very well thought out post, thank you. I agree, we do not appear to be teaching kids to perform this way. The number of times something is left open for a reattack or a half shot or peak out and we do nothing is frustrating. I’ve been saying for years that we wrestle scared and defensively, which is a bad combination. It looks like the Michigan wrestling ethos is to make every match a slog and hope to win it by a late takedown or scoring a late caution point or something. Watching guys like Lewan and Amine wrestle for 18 seconds in a 7 minute match was grueling and unsettling. And then they would win a lot, which made it that much worse.

On Aslikyan and Botero…Botero was surprisingly bad last season, but not in the same way we ran out Wertanen the year before. Botero looked out classed in nearly every match, I agree with your analysis. I think the moment was too big for him and the hope was that he would cut his teeth nicely while being a little small for the weight, and then the expectation was Ragusin coming back in and being about back to AA form. None of that came to fruition, and I personally think we wasted a year of Botero’s career.

For this season, I think Botero ends up getting the run at 125 and we can see what we actually have there. I’d love to see him come back at the appropriate weight and start torching kids, he has that ability. Time will tell, though. Overall, I think Aslikyan is the 125 guy for the future. I feel like we see Botero at 125 this season while Aslikyan adapts and adjusts and does everything he can to NOT get the Botero treatment of last season. Let Aslikyan spend a year in the room, wrestle a couple tournaments and a dual, and prime himself for next season.

Next year, I think Aslikyan takes over at 125, Botero back to 133 but more prepared and filled out, Mendoza to 141 after 1 year at 133, and then filling all the weights above with the various wrestlers discussed (Sement, Lemley, Wolbert, Hilton, Cosby, Catrabone, Zepeda, Gilcher, Mantanonas, etc).

This all sort of makes sense to me, with changes or additions/subtractions coming from injuries and wrestle-off results. The roster looks very quality going forward, but everyone will need to peak and reach their ceilings if we want to get a trophy and compete with the likes of OSU, Nebraska, OSU, and Iowa.

Yeah, Botero is not a 133.  He took it to Henry at US Open. 

I think the way Michigan wrestles will be flipped with this 26' class. 

We need a 197!  Walters is not the answer.  Great kid, but unless he improves about 100%, he will continue to struggle. 

The coaching changes coming will assist in the growth of the program. 

Have faith my friends.  Going to be a fun ride the next 5 years!   

[nhs67]

I don’t see Hilton at 141lbs.  If he was a good option there, he would have wrestled it last year.

[MoveCountermove]

8 hours ago, TW8 said:

Yeah, Botero is not a 133.  He took it to Henry at US Open. 

I think the way Michigan wrestles will be flipped with this 26' class. 

We need a 197!  Walters is not the answer.  Great kid, but unless he improves about 100%, he will continue to struggle. 

The coaching changes coming will assist in the growth of the program. 

Have faith my friends.  Going to be a fun ride the next 5 years!   

This is about how I am feeling. Can’t wait to be the next Nebraska! I hear they have about 10-11 NCAA champs next season!