During the last four years, the month of March has been bittersweet for Joseph Walker. 

While he contributed to the University of Michigan's success in that time, the 174-pounder has never wrestled beyond Feb. 25 in any of first four seasons with the program. 

Instead, Walker has spent the remainder of those years as a dutiful and supportive teammate, watching others pursue podiums and glory at the Big Ten and NCAA Championships all the while wishing he were still competing on the mat.

"March has definitely been tough, especially because I have the confidence in myself, through all my training and preparation, that I can compete with anybody I might face," Walker said. "It was really tough just watching the NCAA Championships in Detroit (2022) and being just a drill partner when (Michigan hosted) the Big Ten Championships (2023), but I've always known my time is coming. So I kept faith in the process because God always has a plan."

This season, Walker's time has finally arrived.

Stepping into the void left by graduated four-time All-American and NCAA champion Shane Griffith at 174 pounds, he is off to a 7-0 start with a pair of pins and three major decision wins.  

In fact, he roared out of the gate, capturing the season-opening Clarion Open title with a 4-0 mark, including three bonus-point wins. Walker defeated past NCAA qualifier John Worthing (Clarion) in the title match. As a result, Walker was named the season's first Big Ten Wrestler of the Week.

He followed that by helping the Wolverines win their first three duals of the season against Columbia, Duke and Virginia by a combined score of 92-32. Walker has won his last five matches in duals dating back to last season after dropping seven of his first nine. 

While Walker has yet to crack the 174-pound rankings, a solid showing at the upcoming Cliff Keen Invitational (Dec. 6-7) should remedy that.

"Just within myself, last season was a big growing season for me mentally and physically, which really helped going into this year," he said. "I was ready to be the guy at 174 pounds for us and I'm that guy now. It's kind of freeing, in a way, because I can just wrestle hard and have fun after putting in so much work the past four years and during the past offseason."

That offseason preparation included the Mishawaka, Indiana, native remaining in Ann Arbor and practicing diligently with the likes of assistant coach Dave Bolyard and the program's recruiting and video coordinator Alex Dieringer, the 2016 Hodge Trophy winner and three-time NCAA champion.

"It was a great summer doing things like working with coach Bolyard on moves one day and Alex the next," Walker said. "(Dieringer) is a heavy hand fighter, so I worked with him on improving that part of my wrestling. They both pushed me beyond my comfort zone as I just honed in on establishing myself to be at my best during my last season here."

An Indiana state champion, Walker has bided his time behind the likes of Griffith, Logan Massa and Max Maylor. The trio combined for seven All-American podiums and 11 NCAA Championship berths during their careers. 

Along the way, Walker fashioned a 27-16 record, including a 5-2 victory against All-American Lennox Wolak (Columbia) during a 2022 dual. Wolak is currently ranked sixth at 174 pounds.

Walker has also beaten three-time NCAA qualifier Donnell Washington (Indiana), who is #20 at 184 pounds, and two-time NCAA qualifier Cael Valencia (Arizona State).

"Of course, I was hoping to become a regular starter earlier because that was always the goal going into every season, but there have been some amazing wrestlers at my weight," Walker said. "In the end, I really benefitted from incredible training partners." 

In all, 18 of his 34 career wins have been via pin, technical fall or major decision. At the same time, none of Walker's opponents have managed to notch a bonus-point victory against him.

Making this season even sweeter for Walker is the fact he is teammates with brother, Zar, for the first time. They missed being high school teammates by a year. Zar, a true freshman, has already wrestled eight matches for the Wolverines, including two duals, and is 3-5. 

"That's been pretty cool to be there for Zar as he goes through his first college season and experiences all the challenges that come with it," Joseph said. "Zar has been going toe-to-toe with training partners like (All-American and four-time NCAA qualifier) Dylan Ragusin and even Real Woods. He's seeing how tough it will be at times, but also how all of that will help him. It just feels more like home with Zar here."

Woods, a four-time All-American, joined the Ann Arbor-based Cliff Keen Wrestling Club earlier this year. 

The Walkers are one of three brother combinations on the Wolverines' roster, along with twins Christian and Wilfried Tanefeu and Brock and Beau Mantanona.

Walker has been encouraged thus far by the Wolverines' new-look lineup which he is elated to be a part of. 

Ragusin (133) and NCAA qualifiers Sergo Lemley (141) and Jaden Bullock (184) are the lone returning starters, but Michigan added two-time All-American Jacob Cardenas (197) and four-time NCAA qualifier Chase Saldate (157) via the transfer portal.

"Our team chemistry and preparation has been great and we're really fitting in with each other," Walker said. "We all take a lot of pride in being Michigan men and have added some great transfers in Jacob and Chase who are really plugged into what we are doing. The coaches have been really pushing us and we are getting better with every competition and every practice."

Brock Mantanona's Hot Start

True freshman Brock Mantanona, who won't celebrate his 18th birthday until Feb. 28, has already made plenty of noise after stepping into a starting role at 165 pounds, which was vacated by the transfer of three-time All-American Cam Amine to Oklahoma State.

The two-time California state champion and 2023 U17 World bronze medalist is 6-1, after placing second at the Clarion Open and helping the Wolverines to dual wins over Columbia and Virginia. 

Against the Cavaliers, Mantanona stunned NCAA qualifier and ACC champion Nick Hamilton, 11-3. Hamilton came into the match ranked #16. Against the Lions, Mantanona knocked off past NCAA qualifier Cesar Alvan, now ranked #31, via technical fall. 

As a result, he shot from #30 to #16 in the latest rankings. Cornell's Simon Ruiz (#11, 174) and Penn's Cross Wasilewski (#15, 149) are the only higher-ranked true freshmen in any weight class.

Staff Expands

Last month, Michigan turned to a man whose extensive resume includes working under national championship-winning college football coach Lloyd Carr and legendary actor/body builder Arnold Schwarzenegger, for the newly created Director of Wrestling Sport Science position.

Former Michigan wrestler Rob Sulaver will provide data-driven and scientifically validated insight to maximize training, development and performance in the sport of wrestling.

His expertise in blending sport science with practical application will play a pivotal role in monitoring workloads, optimizing training protocols and informing weight management strategies. The native of nearby Dearborn is working closely with head strength and conditioning coach Mike Favre and wrestling nutritionist John Fravel.

"I’ve been working closely with Sean Bormet and the powerbrokers of Michigan athletics to plan and develop a Sport Science Initiative for Michigan wrestling," Sulaver posted on his Linkedin page when hired. "Our top line objective is to provide data-driven and scientifically validated approaches that maximize training, development, and performance in the sport of wrestling. Looking forward to ushering in these new, forward-thinking systems and strategies."

Sulaver boasts more than 15 years of experience working with top-tier athletes, including professional fighters, Olympians and collegiate athletes. Among other accomplishments, he founded Bandana Training in 2012 and turned it into a successful athletic training business in New York City and with it became a nationally recognized fitness expert and consultant.

From 2014-18, Sulaver sat on the Board of Advisors for Arnold Schwarzenegger's Schwarzenegger.com site and was co-founder of the group fitness startup Rumble Boxing in 2016.

He holds a master's degree in exercise physiology from Michigan and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Certified Sport Nutritionist. Despite the demands of being a student athlete, Sulaver also earned two undergraduate degrees (English language and Theatre) while attending Michigan from 2002-07.

He was a three-time letterwinner for the Wolverines, breaking into the lineup at 157 pounds as a true freshman following injuries to All-Americans Ryan Bertin and Mike Kulczycki before placing eighth at the 2007 Big Ten Championships.

Sulaver started his training career as an undergraduate strength coach for the Michigan football program during Carr's final season immediately following the conclusion of his college wrestling career.