When COVID-19 hit, Massa’s goal was put on hold, but he didn’t remain idle during the break. Even while being locked down at home, he did track workouts and lifted weights in his basement, anything he could to be ready when the time came to compete again.
In sports, your team is a family.
Now in his sophomore year, Amine is ready to take on more of a vocal and active role within the team. He’s always been extremely competitive since a young kid with his brothers and cousins, and now he’s ready to show it against tougher opponents. He wants to display to his teammates, and the rest of the conference, all of the work he put in during the offseason.
First, COVID-19 canceled the NCAA Championships. Then, it pushed the Olympics back to 2021. Now, Bormet and the Michigan wrestling team must adapt again.
Fifth-year seniors Myles Amine, Logan Massa and Stevan Micic, all of whom took Olympic redshirts last year, plan to return to the Wolverines for the 2021 season while simultaneously training for Tokyo. According to Amine, the Wolverines haven’t received official word from the NCAA on whether they will be able to take a second Olympic redshirt. But all three are already sold on coming back.
In the chaos amongst the multiple mats and crowds of people on the gym floor at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, redshirt junior Tyler Meisinger — wrestling at 165 pounds — ran amongst the crowd to his coaches and embraced them, with a grin stretching from ear to ear.
The No. 21 Michigan wrestling team (7-6) had come out of a tough stretch of Big Ten dual meets, losing three matches in a row against three of the top-12 ranked schools. With the Big Ten tournament coming up, a trip to Edinboro (10-8) could have caused some trouble. But the Wolverines did not overlook the Scots, dominating in a 33-6 win on Friday.
After losing three top athletes to the Olympics, Michigan wrestling coach Sean Bormet and the Wolverines are looking to keep moving forward, despite their depleted roster.
Despite No. 2 heavyweight sophomore Mason Parris’ pin over No. 3 redshirt freshman Tony Cassioppi, the No. 22 Michigan wrestling team (6-4 overall, 5-2 Big Ten) fell to No. 1 Iowa (11-0, 8-0), 27-9, on Senior Night.
On a night at Crisler Center that didn’t provide Wolverines fans with much to cheer for, Parris’ closing act was spectacular. In the course of dazzling those in attendance, the ever-improving Parris staked his claim to be considered the best heavyweight in the nation.
It happened in a flash.
Everyone saw it coming, but it still stunned the masses at Madison Square Garden.