Michigan Changes Wrestling Landscape in Magical Big 10 Performance

In one of the absolute most stunning performances I've seen in my half of century wrestling life, the Michigan collective, featuring, Head Coach and all-star alum, and now, apparent "magician", Sean Bormet, performed one of the most spectacular team magic tricks, ever.

As if followed by a unique pack of loyal and extraordinarily hungry like wolves, Bormet and company came out in true, blue, mascot fashion, immediately stole center stage, proudly howled at the moon, flipped the script on its cauliflowered, wrestling ear, and performed an “appearing” act that would cause David Copperfield to fall off his most entrusted elephant.

Furthermore, as consummate professionals do, they made it all appear so effortless AND saved their best trick for last, giving all of us a truly grand, grand finale. One that for this old wrestling enthusiast was one for the magic books.

Bormet, a Frankfort, IL native, in his fourth year at the helm and 11th year all-told, showed all sorts of reasons and rhyme why his team is now positioned, poised, and primed to do the unspeakable and impose the impossible a few days from now in downtown, Detroit.

For all-day Saturday and Sunday, seemed as if someone had given the former, 2X Big Ten Champion a magic wand allowing him to conjure up points for his pups whenever necessary, seemingly, right out of thin air.

Ironically, the only trick Bormet was unable to pull off was keeping the secret of the spectacular work that he and Coach Jackson are doing in Ann Arbor.

Clearly, a difficult feat to achieve from the wrestling world, Coach Bormet couldn’t help but gain the attention of the entire wrestling arena, including his peers, as he was kindly awarded the 2022, Big 10 Coach of the Year.

This newly acquired potent and perhaps one-day, patented, magic wand spelled out bad breaks for the other 13 willful, high-powered teams, enabling the Wolverines to orchestrate a concerted effort that would make Beethoven roll over and strike a harmonic chord.

This mind-bendingly vibrant performance was more than enough mojo to empower the Wolves to their 12th Big Ten Title, first, since 1973, and outpace the original favorites, Penn State, and of U of Iowa by 1.5 and 13.5, respectively.

Like both magic and high-level wrestling, in the end, it was a matter of simple misdirection, slight of feet, and a little "abracadabra" - meaning, just the right magic words - from just the right magical people.

Given all that misdirection and confusion, while every wrestling fan in the land was looking for gold to the East and West of Ann Arbor, Michigan shot true North, propelled right up between them, and began to pull one rabbit after another, straight out of their arse – ahem… I mean magical hat - to secure one of the more surprising Big Ten Titles, perhaps ever?

Of course, magic, is only a pretty word in this here story, means broom closets full of blood, sweat and tears – and wrestling code for, “digging deep.”

I must admit, the whole deal was a bit mesmerizing, almost overwhelming, and if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes, I may not have believed it.

At one point, and am sure I must have heard this wrong, but swear to Gable that radio announcer Steve Gracie on KXIC said that the Wolves had won 15 or 16 matches, in a row.

Am I hearing things now too?

Let’s be honest, Coach Bormet is no stranger to success, the 2019, Rookie Coach of the Year, has guided back-to-back, 5th place NCAA team finishes with the covid year sandwiched in the middle. But Lord, this was a whole nother level of manifesting. I’ve seen plenty of fine tournaments over the years, however, this amazing team effort to me across the board, a total different animal.

Something is brewing in Ann Arbor, and it ain’t Folgers, coffee.

With the world’s most over-qualified, assistant wrestling coach, Michigan native, Olympic and 2X World Champion, 4X NCAA All-American, former USA Freestyle Coach, and current, World-Class “Motivating Machine”, Kevin Jackson - the two legends synergized to engineer and execute a come from ahead victory - unlike anything I've had the pleasure of seeing before, Bahr none.

Not saying the men in blue were slouches by any stretch, neither before this season, or this last tournament.

However, I don't think many, including me, saw them stealing the spotlight, right out from under the nose, and respective mouth and cracked beak of the prowling Lion, and the flying Hawk.

I challenge you to show me one person you know that spoke Michigan #1, and not # 3 or #2.

Or for that matter, Iowa #3, and not #1 or #2. If you can produce even one soul who said this, I will be both surprised and impressed.

No matter the aficionado you follow, seemed to me the tournament was a two-dog, fight - demonstrated by the fact that the bookies had the odds a 2500-1, Michigan winning.

Least that's what thought I heard Big Ben say on the show.

To give you a good idea of how well the two-day magic trick went, listen to this; in without a doubt the toughest conference in all of college wrestling, the pack of hungry Wolves only had two wrestlers NOT place higher than their seed given by the NCAA committee.

Moreover, of the two grapplers that didn’t, one missed because it was mathematically impossible for him to do so, and the other, Massa, was seeded #2 and outcomed at #2.

So, if you add the “4”, and carry the “1”, soon you see that all 100% of Michigan's entries placed at or above their seeds. If you get a minute, try and wrap your magic wand around that one.

Can you say "peeking at the right time?” or “found my inspiration??”

See, in wrestling and sports world, 100% - at or above your seed - is a darn, good, sign.

Like B. Springfield said, there's definitely... somethin' happenin' here... and the here, is in Ann Arbor.

By the end of the show, the proud ten performed a total of 44 tricks for their highly entertained and appreciative, Pinnacle Bank Arena, audience.

Of the 44, 35 went flawlessly according to plan.

The paltry, nine in which the cat got out of the bag, so to speak - only added to the evidence and interest to their awe-inspiring story concluding in the fact that a good number of those losses did not miss the mark by much.

Furthermore, if you’re wondering if a win percentage of roughly 75% is a good thing, I would say, yes, a 35-9 record at the Big 10’s is something to be proud of, Rusty.

How far can they go? You guessed it, "50 yards."

All levity aside, now that I’ve had a few days to fully take it all in, if you want me to get technical, I’ve come to the thoughtful conclusion that the Wolves performed truly one of the most impressive performances I’ve ever seen in my wrestling life.

And for my .02, if I may say, it felt good, if felt right.

Seems to me having another contender in the mix is a good look and feel for wrestling, as a whole. And having a team race with many players makes for a much more exciting and dramatic tournament for the average human being, like it or not.

But seriously, never in my life, have I seen a team transform not only themselves, but to also reshape the entire landscape of the whole, national scene, all in a weekend at the office.

Performances like the one we all had the pleasure to witness in Lincoln are in my humble opinion, rare gems, meant to be remembered, regaled, and cherished.

Lord, I hope not over doing it, but if there was ever a reason to give a Coach and Team a standing “O”, I believe this was it.

Am I alone in seeing so much splendor in this inspiring performance?

Am I the only one who feels that this was something totally out of the ordinary and something to behold?

For whatever reason, at least for me, this unique effort felt to be more of a work of art, than just a wrestling tournament.

I have no idea what you were feeling when you were watching, but I got the feeling almost immediately, that Michigan was packing some new kind of paint and brushes in duffels, and had big plans, right out of the gate to create a big, huge, blue and maize, Masterpiece.

For, as you know well, perfect team performances don’t happen by accident.

Hence, this performance was no accident.

Moreover, if it were, I hope this Michigan wrestling team keeps on making the accident. Because I could watch that accident, all day. Every day.

I believe Michigan’s performance was as close to perfect that I’ve seen a team get.

Michigan’s performance seems to be cut from the same cloth as my good friend, former employer, and legendary Coach, J Robinson up there is the great white north.

You remember that awe inspiring performance the golden Gophers put on display and put a perfect, 10 All-Americans on the stand in route to 2001, National Team Title.

Again, above and beyond.

Not to be overly dramatic here, but I saw thought that was perhaps the best Big Ten Title Story to ever unfold.

This beauty had all the main ingredients with an storybook ending you couldn’t write better if you tried.

In addition, for what it is worth, at this late stage in my career, tournaments such as this one make me proud to be a fan and follower of the wonderful sport of college wrestling.

Yes, to me, it was that good.

In closing, now that the wrestling landscape has dramatically changed and the old narrative has been completely discarded, what does the old, magic 8 ball see in the road ahead?

Where’s this all going?

Since the levitation in Lincoln, the ‘rise to the occasion’ performance we saw from the Wolverines, I feel that the entire table has been turned to its back, chips fell to the floor, and all bets are off in Detroit.

Not saying if this is only a two-team race, but to me if Michigan can wrestle in Detroit as well as they did in Lincoln, I believe they can walk away with the precious 2022, NCAA, Team Trophy.

With their perfect blend of balance, depth and experience Michigan is in prime position to pull off something that pretty much no one in the world of wrestling predicted, with the lone exception of my good friend, “D.H.”, saw coming.

The only caveat is that pesky old saying, A magician should never do the same trick, twice.

So the new narrative becomes, can the magic man himself, (meaning Cael, not Coach Bormet, nor, David Taylor) did he happen to see the red hanky sticking out between the magicians’ two fingers, 10 days ago?

Is Coach Cael’s eye of the Lion quicker than the Wolverine’s paw. so to speak?

The last thing you want to give Coach Cael is wrestling information about your team and individuals. You don’t get to where he is without knowing exactly what to do with solid knowledge.

The question then becomes, did the master get a long enough glimpse behind the curtain in the show in Lincoln? Did he see enough to be able to go back stage now and make a difference?

Cael and company are perhaps the very best in the US at analyzing, designing, and executing a strategic match game plan. Especially, if they’ve seen you once. At this, no team is better.

Eierman vs. Lee, Kemerer vs Starocci, etc., etc., etc.

And as luck would have it for wrestling fans like you and me, we are about to see just how good Coach Cael and company are at this “turn-around” business. Furthermore, it’s perfect in all respects as all the cards are on the table Saturday night.

Now, I don’t own a crystal ball, but like a plump dove, I won’t go too far out on the limb and predict an Amine – Brooks 184 lb. final.

This is one of the most anticipated matchups among the wrestling folks with whom I roll, including yours truly.

Their match in the Big 10 finals was epic. Two warriors going at it with great might and skill. Not to mention good old, respectful handshake at the end that included eye contact, that again, made me proud to be a wrestler.

If you missed it, I’m sorry, but you might note there was more high-level wrestling and techniques in that 7 and half minutes than you could possibly shake a whizzer at. I felt that match was chalk full of great exampling and pretty much encapsulated the weekend.

So, the new and perhaps only question begs, did the Master gain enough knowledge to go back to the war room and design a plan that can derail the Michigan train that’s now barreling across the wrestling, USA, destination, Detroit?

As an optimist and wishful thinker, I am hoping that the entire tournament comes down to the Amine vs Brooks match. It’s a wonderful storyline and would be the perfect climax to this truly amazing season, especially the last couple of weeks.

Can perhaps the world’s greatest wrestling coach, perform a little magic of his own in order to help protect and maintain his almost decade of dominance?

Can Coach Cael, without a net, and with both feet in sneakers, change the cliched lemon match, into much preferred, lemonade?

Can the former, National, World and Olympic Champion magically transform one low valued “L” into a uniquely beautiful, highly elusive and much coveted “W”, right before our wide-open eyes?

I personally can’t wait to see it.

In conclusion, if I had to take a swing at it, based on what I’ve seen all year, even though I just witnessed one the best performances ever, from Michigan, at the end of the show, I cannot bet against Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions.

Based on much research, PSU seem to have the most effective and efficient system of them all, whereas some colleges don’t appear to have much of a system, at all.

And that just might be the difference that makes the difference.

Michigan has been truly extraordinary, but after all is said and done, the magic show has been in Happy Valley for a long time now, and that consistency is something that needs to be given the proper respect.

The good thing is, no matter who takes the last trick, the 2022 NCAA tournament is going to be flooded with high quality wrestling from the first whistle to the last, giving us all a magical experience to remember.

Thanks for reading.

Just my .02.