WRESTLEING RICHARDSON Continued from Page 1.B formance in Pennsylvania. Richardson hadn't qualified for states as a wrestler until his junior year, and he placed fourth that year, so he wasn't expecting any wrestling offers from col- leges when he signed with Morehouse. "I was like, man, if I had just held out a little longer, I could be wrestling at any of these schools,' he says. "Wrestling was always my first love, but I was already bound to go to Morehouse to play football." After one semester, he knew Morehouse wasn't a perfect fit. But he had mixed feelings about transferring. He wanted to leave but still liked the } teachers and the small student body. In the end, he decided to leave, because he wanted to wrestle, and he wanted to be closer to home, and chose Michigan over . . .}.:.;Northwestern. :<.:::<::.:::::::::::,:>>,: The move didn't pay off right away. :..:.{:.Richardson lost his first two matches as a Wolverine. JOHN KRAFT/Daily "I was thrown in the fire right away,' D was the only he says. "I was so afraid to lose, I could- n't win. But I learned a lot from those first two matches:' A lesson he learned again this year when he fell to top-ranked Kerry McCoy. In Richardson's only dual meet loss of the season, McCoy beat him 43 creak as the 75th in a 30-second tie-breaker. ration continued. "I learn a lot whenever I lose a match;' s announced and he says. "I would definitely be willing to he wrestling mat as take a loss if I'm going to be able to learn Victors!" from the match for the future:' upset at the break," When first facing McCoy, Richardson had two of our All- had to overcome an uncommon obstacle on the mat, and we - McCoy is one of his heroes. Back free of the last five home, Richardson even has a poster of lity get the win." McCoy hanging on his bedroom wall. peed its final five As a veteran, Richardson no longer pounds, Michigan faces opponents in awe. Now his oppo- n fell to junior Josh nents face him with fear. With a 32-6 The Michigan Daily -- SPORTSMonday - February 17, 1997 --78 dual record this year and more than 90 wins in less than three seasons, Richardson is a major threat on the mat. Anchoring the team at the heavyweight position, he can often win or lose the match for the Wolverines. "He's like money in the bank,' said Michigan wrestling coach Dale Bahr. "He's won so many times in the past cou- ple years when we needed him to. Everyone is confident with Airron out there when it counts." As a leader, Richardson takes his role very seriously. So seriously, that at the beginning of the season, he took courses to improve his leadership skills. Those classes taught him how to be a leader in the community and also with the team. Richarson is an active member in numerous volunteer organizations, including SHARE, an organization founded by six student-athletes includ- ing teammate Bill Lacure. SHARE sends Michigan athletes into local schools to read books to children. "Airron is always the first one to vol- unteer and offer his time to these kids," Lacure says. "When other guys are relaxing, Airron is always making time for others and giving extra to those whi) can't do it themselves. He is always oidt in the community doing something.": Still, Richardson isn't satisfied. He's not satisfied with his grades and not sat- isfied with being an All-American. "I guess I'm past the All-American thing, I don't wear it like a trophy}, he says. "Being _an All-American is just' 4 stepping stone. I won't be satisfied; tea say, I was an All-American in college,' I'l be satisfied to say, I was the natiM~- al champion in college,' but until then, it's something to work for." That, and a 3.5 grade-point averagt4, then medical school in a couple years.: "It's easy to be tired with days like lI have, but you have to keep your eyes on your goals," he says. "I know that I havO to work to get the grades I want and..;. to become the national champion"' The wrestling lockerroom is under~- neath the stands at Crisler Arena. And iii Airron Richardson's locker there is. a small piece of paper. It reads, "Champions Don't Just Happen." So he's going to make it happen. Jdiibr Bill Lacure throws down Minnesota's Chad Craft on his way to a 940 major decision yesterday. Lacure Wolverine to take a match, as the gophers downed Michigan, 28-10. 'M'fails to pas Bahrex i I A III -Jordan Field Daiy~ Sports Writer .On the day Michigan wrestling cele- brated its 75th anniversary, things did- n~t exactly go as planned. In front of nearly 60 alumni, the No. 11 Michigan wrestling team fell to No. 3 Minnesota, 28-10. "This is very disappointing," Michigan coach Dale Bahr said. "We knew Minnesota had a good team, but re could have fought them harder. They ive some very talented wrestlers on that team, and they came out to win:' The loss denied Bahr his 100th Big Ten victory. The Wolverines were handed a 6-0 lead as Minnesota forfeited the opening 118-pound match. But the Golden Gophers were quick td take those points back - and then the lead - with three consecutive wins at the 126- 134- and W2-pound weight classes. Minnesota sophomore Pat Conners dropped Michigan sophomore Chris Viola, who was wrestling up from his regular position at 118. 1nr the 134-pound bracket, Michigan sopho~more Corey Grant battled junior Troy- Marr into overtime. Neither wrbstler scored a point in the overtime pefihd, sending the match into sudden death. Marr scored an escape and took e match, 4-3. W"I think Marr's win at 134 was really a momentum-builder for the team," Minnesota head coach Robinson said. "Conners gave us a good start coming out at 126, and Marr really got some big points on the board for us.' The next match pitted 142-pound .Michigan redshirt freshman Teya Hill agaipst Minnesota junior captain Jason Davids. Davids is the son of former Michigan All-American Bill Davids, who was in attendance as part of the 75th anniversary celebration. "I was rooting for my son the whole way," Bill Davids said. "It's great to be back here, and I certainly have fond memories and friends from Michigan, but in this case, my heart is with my son. Hill, still ailing from a knee injury suffered last week in Indiana, struggled in the first period and Davids held an 8- 2 lead going into the second period. Davids never lost the lead and scored a 13-4 major decision over Hill to give the Gophers their first lead of the meet. "It was basically a decision I made yesterday to let Teya wrestle," Bahr said. "He looked much better in prac- tice near the end of the week, and he is our best wrestler at 142 pounds. Davids is a good wrestler, and even at 100 per- cent, Teya would have had a challenge ahead of him:' The 150-pound match showcased two ranked opponents and was expect- ed to be the best match on the after- noon. Michigan junior tri-captain Bill Lacure put his 23-5 record on the line against Minnesota's junior Chad Craft, who boasted a 20-2 record. The match turned out to be a romp, as Lacure shut out Craft for a 9-0 major decision. Lacure 's win knotted the team score at 10. "I was nervous going out there," Lacure said. "He isn't ranked for noth- ing, and I expected a battle today. I calmed down a little as soon as I got some points, and he seemed real timid. "This is a big win for me, but in real- ity, we lost the meet, and this win means nothing."~ With the match tied at 10, the teams had a 20-minute b anniversary eel ebr Each alumnus way made a trip around ti the crowd sang "The "We weren't too u. Bahr said. "We still]I Americans yet to get felt we could win th matches and possibil But Michigan dro matches. At 158 1 freshman Otto Olson *l0min+20min 611% 1w " %. fIt MA. Holiday, 1 1-9. Holiday was called for stalling twice in the final two periods, giving Olson two points, but it wasn't enough to get the win. Michigan tri-captain Jeff Catrabone, ranked third nationally, was upset byE No. 5 Zac Taylor. The 7-5 win gave Minnesota a 16-10 lead. "After the loss at 167, things really began to fall apart," Bahr said. "The ship was sinking." Michigan freshman Joe DeGain ( 177) lost, 16-9, and at 190 pounds, sophomore Frank Lodeserto was pinned by junior Tim Hartung in the first period. With the score 25-10, the Gophers had already clinched the win going into the heavyweight match. Even Michigan's All-American Airron Richardson couldn't get it together and fell in overtime to junior Shelton Benjamin. 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