Michigan's reloaded, revamped lineup will face serious tests in the new year as eight of the Wolverines' next 10 duals will be against teams that appear in the latest FlowrestlingTop 25 dual rankings.

After a Jan. 6 dual against Cal Poly, Michigan takes on #21 Michigan State (Jan. 13), #8 Wisconsin (Jan. 15), #1 Penn State (Jan. 20), #19 Rutgers (Jan. 22), #9 Ohio State (Jan. 27), #16 Maryland (Jan. 29), #15 Oklahoma State (Feb. 3) and #2 Iowa (Feb. 10). 

The Wolverines are ranked seventh despite losing six starters and another NCAA qualifier from last season's team which captured its first Big Ten Championship in 49 years and placed second in the NCAA  Championships.

In all, departing wrestlers accounted for two NCAA championships, 15 All-American finishes and 28 NCAA tournament appearances during their careers.

Still, this season's lineup features wrestlers who have earned a combined five All-American showings and 15 NCAA Championships appearances. Overall, seven of 10 starters appear in the latest NCAA rankings, including three who did not start the entire 2021-22 season for the Wolverines.

By comparison, all 10 Iowa starters are ranked 19th or higher while all but one of Penn State's starters appear in the rankings, but Michigan coach Sean Bormet likes the consistent improvement he is seeing from his lineup with challenges on the horizon.

 "This is a really hard-working group, very coachable, and their will to win is high," Bormet said. "After an extremely veteran team last year, this is a younger group, so it's really a matter of being as consistent as possible week to week and continuing to improve and make gains throughout the season. That's a big point of emphasis among the coaching staff."

The Wolverines' MVP thus far is easily heavyweight Mason Parris, a two-time All-American off to a 13-0 start with six pins, two major decisions and a technical fall. 

The four-time NCAA qualifier has already surpassed his pins total of last season (four) and recently became the latest member of Michigan's 100-victory club and his career mark now stands at 105-18 with 40 pins. He is currently tied for seventh on Michigan's all-time career pins list, but is just six pins away from the #3 spot.

This season, Parris, #2 in the latest NCAA rankings, has already beaten All-American Lucas Davison (Northwestern), who is ranked #5, and two-time NCAA qualifiers Wyatt Hendrickson (#6, Air Force) and Taye Ghadiali (#21, Campbell). He has also knocked off #11 Owen Trephan (North Carolina State) and #22 Josh Heindselman (Oklahoma).

Parris, fifth at last year's NCAA Championships, is behind only top-ranked Greg Kerkvleit (Penn State), a two-time All-American, in the rankings. Parris has lost his last three meetings Kerkvleit, but did beat him during the 2021 Big Ten Championships and the two will likely clash at least twice more this season. 

He has also defeated third-ranked Anthony Cassioppi (Iowa), a two-time All-American, three times and lost his only meeting with #4 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) by a point last season. 

"Last season, Mason had some injuries and health limitations, but he's back at full health and full strength," Bormet said. "We're excited for him. Continual development and improvement tactically is a major focus with Mason and that's what we've been seeing from him so far this season."

Will Lewan, fifth at last season's NCAA Championships, is 7-2, including a pair of major decisions. The three-time NCAA qualifier is ranked #4 and third among Big Ten wrestlers. 

Lewan's signature win thus far this season came against #5 Bryce Andonian (Virginia Tech), an All-American and three-time NCAA qualifier. 

In past seasons, he has beaten #2 Peyton Robb (Nebraska), an All-American and three-time NCAA qualifier, twice, but has yet to defeat #3 Kendall Coleman (Purdue), a three-time NCAA qualifier. He dropped a 9-5 decision to Coleman at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. 

Lewan's next chance at a top 15 foe will come against #15 Garrett Model (Wisconsin).  

"Will's body of work as far as training and intensity of training is a continuation of where he left off last March," Bormet said. "I think it was his best spring, summer and fall of training, and he has started off this season at a higher level and I like that he's increased his offense. I believe Will can beat anybody in the country at his weight. He's one of our veterans and I know he has high expectations for himself as well."

This will likely be the first season Cole Mattin (#21 at 141) starts every dual for the Wolverines after rebounding from a season-ending ankle injury. He is 9-2 with two pins and two major decisions and a lock to compete in his first NCAA Championships.

Mattin's best wins this season have come against two-time NCAA qualifiers Dylan D'Emilio (#20, Ohio State) and Mosha Schwartz (#24, Oklahoma).

His next chance to test himself against a top-15 opponent comes against Wisconsin and #14 Joseph Zargo, an NCAA qualifier last season. 

"Cole is a guy who loves to compete, and so through that experience last year, he doesn't take it for granted and he's excited to be out there," Bormet said. "He's been tested this year and has done a great job. Cole challenges himself in all the right ways. So, we're very excited for him to be healthy and competing the way he is."

Among those getting their first career dual starts this season has been Chance Lamer, ranked #24 at 149. He is 7-2, including two pins, two technical falls and a major decision.

Lamer's most noteworthy win thus far has been over #15 Colin Realbuto (Northern Iowa), an NCAA qualifier, by technical fall. He has also knocked off two-time NCAA qualifier Kody Komara (Kent State). 

"I think Chance is having the kind of season so far that we expected," Bormet said. "He's a great wrestler, and we have a lot of confidence in him. He has a lot of scoring potential in all three positions, so the key for him is continuing to improve and develop positionally and situationally and just become more consistent in those moments. A lot of that comes with more experience, more minutes and more specific minutes in those key areas under tough conditions." 

Tough conditions are indeed coming for Lamer via a potential series of challenging matches, to say the least, beginning against #20 Dom Demas of Cal Poly. After that, the hits could keep coming against #2 Austin Gomez (Wisconsin), #4 Sammy Sasso (Ohio State), #8 Max Murin (Iowa) and #13 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State). 

Bormet and the Wolverines welcomed two-time All-American Cam Amine (#6 at165) back to the lineup earlier this month at the Cleveland Open, where he went 3-1. Amine was upset by unranked Bryce Hepner, 6-4, in the title match. 

However, Hepner did beat All-American Carson Kharchla (currently ranked #7) at Ohio State's wrestle-offs, but did not make his season debut until the Cleveland Open. 

Still, Amine is ranked behind only Wisconsin All-American Dean Hamiti (#5) in the Big Ten, but decisioned him at last year's NCAA Championships. Amine also bested Kharchla last season.

"We're just getting Cam started because now he's healthy and has been working hard," Bormet said. "Now it's just a matter of getting him back in the flow of competing consistently. I know it was really hard for him to be out of our lineup because he's a competitor and expects a lot out of himself. It's a big spark for the team to have him back."

Picking up where he left off last season has been two-time NCAA qualifier Dylan Ragusin, ranked #6 at 133, who appears poised for his first NCAA Championships podium after reaching the round of 12 a year ago. He has beaten several All-Americans, including Northwestern's Chris Cannon, seventh at the past two NCAA Championships, who is ranked #10. 

Ragusin is 7-2 with three technical falls and a major decision, including a win over All-American and two-time NCAA qualifier Sam Latona (Virginia Tech), who is #9. Ragusin has also bested #20 Chance Rich (CSU-Bakersfield), a two-time NCAA qualifier. 

Among the new starters, transfer Matt Finesilver has made the most impact. A three-time NCAA qualifier at Duke, Finesilver is off a 10-3 start with the Wolverines, including three technical falls and three major decisions, and ranked #10 at 184 pounds. He trails only Parris in total wins and bonus point victories. 

Finesilver's best wins so far this season have come against #13 Gavin Kane (North Carolina) and Caleb Hopkins (Campbell), a two-time NCAA qualifier. 

Some major tests loom for Finesilver, including top-ranked, two-time defending NCAA Champion Aaron Brooks (Penn State), #5 Kaleb Romero (Ohio State), #8 Abe Assad (Iowa), #12 Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State), #14 Brian Soldano (Rutgers) and #15 Layne Malczewski (Michigan State).

They have all combined for four All-American finishes and 12 NCAA Championships appearances. 

"We're continuing to work hard with a lot of quality minutes in the individual and team areas that we saw over the first six weeks of the season," Bormet said. "I like the fact that we've had long training blocks after Las Vegas (Cliff Keen tourney) and again before our California trip (next week) to work hard in key areas and help make sure these guys are starting the second half of the season as healthy and fresh as possible."