Wrestling

While this change in Northwestern’s lineup set up a battle of stars, Micic took down Rivera twice in the first period to take a 4-1 lead and never looked back. He would go on to log two more takedowns and 3:20 of riding time to earn a convincing 10-4 win.

Parris’ efforts were rewarded with the deciding victory in the meet, earning the Wolverines three team points and a 19-17 win.

Including Micic’s match, the fifth-ranked Wolverines (7-0 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) cruised en route to six consecutive match wins, icing the dual in the process. After sophomore J.T. Correll at the 184-pound weight class was pinned, Michigan responded by squeezing out wins at 197 and heavyweight, finishing the dual with a 30-10 victory over Michigan State (4-5, 1-3).

After watching 2018 graduate Adam Coon compile a 116-15 career record, Michigan fans had astronomical expectations for Parris, their freshman heavyweight wrestler. Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 265 pounds, Coon was more than just a massive physical presence — he served as an the icon of the program. His graduation left first-year coach Sean Bormet scrambling to replace the three-time All-American.

Enter Parris.