The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com 
Sports
Wednesday, February 16, 2022 — 15 

SportsMonday: Michigan women’s basketball is 
a title contender, so start treating them like one

There’s something we try very 

hard not to do here at The Daily, and 
that’s write about the fans. 

For the three years I’ve cov-

ered the Michigan women’s 
basketball team, not talking 
about the crowd has been easy. 
It’s a sea of gray-haired retir-
ees that show up on a Sunday 
afternoon, politely applauding 
when a basket is scored and 
rarely rising into a raucous. 
It’s middle school basketball 
teams and church groups who 
come for a bonding activity. It’s less 
than a quarter of the total who come 
to men’s basketball games.

The curtains covering the upper 

bowl have only come up twice, both 
in the 2019-20 season: once for a dou-
ble-header where the women played 
after the men on a Saturday, and the 
other to host Michigan State. The 
stadium felt hollow in the double-
header, and the game against the 
Spartans is the only time I’ve seen 
the Crisler Center resemble capac-
ity — 11,068 fans attended that game. 

For 
reference, 
12,445 
fans 

watched the men’s basketball team 
play Southern Utah this past fall.

“(In men’s games) you see the 

student section’s all the way up in 
the rafters so it would be awesome 
to have that, it does make a differ-
ence,” senior wing Leigha Brown 
said on Jan. 9. “Obviously the fans 

are great but having the student sec-
tion there and bringing the energy 

would be huge.”

As you might expect, 

the disparity between 
men’s and women’s atten-
dance isn’t a phenomenon 
exclusive to basketball. 
Both soccer and lacrosse 
see atten-
dance dif-
ferences 
in 
the 

regular 

season, though not 
on the same scale. 
Of the four main 
sports that Michi-
gan has a men’s 
and 
women’s 

team 
competing 

at different times 
(soccer, 
basket-

ball, lacrosse and 
gymnastics), only 
women’s gymnas-
tics 
outperforms 

the men’s squad, 
and that’s because 
they mostly com-
pete in difference 
arenas with differ-
ent capicities. 

The 
disparity 

between these pro-
grams’ attendance 
can’t be explained 

by a difference in performance — 
the women’s soccer team made it 
to the Elite Eight this past season 
before falling to eventual champion 
Florida State and the women’s bas-
ketball team has been ranked in the 
top 10 for weeks.

It’s not because women’s sports 

aren’t as interesting, either. Television 

audiences for the women’s gymnas-
tics championship (which Michigan 
won, by the way), had a 510% increase 
in viewership from 2019 to 2021. Last 
year’s Women’s College World Series 
viewership increased by 10% over 
2019, leading to “numbers compa-
rable to those from the men’s College 
World Series in 2019.”

No, the difference in attendance 

is because the women’s teams don’t 
get enough attention, enough hype 
and, in reality, enough of anything. 
It’s the same reason the NCAA 
neglected women’s teams in the 
NCAA Tournament and continu-
ally treats women’s sports as less-
than. 

The hike in gym-

nastics 
viewership 

was so stark because 
ESPN 
and 
Disney 

gave it the attention it 
deserved and put it on 
ABC, instead of hid-
ing it on ESPNU. The 
women’s 
basketball 

team is in the middle 
of a Big Ten Title race 
in part because the 
student section finally 
started to give it atten-
tion, showing up to 
ranked games. 

Instead of 20-30 

students in groups 
of three or five sit-
ting 
down, 
relax-

ing, there’s constant 
noise. Loud applause 
that rouses the nor-
mal attendees and 
turns the energy into 
something greater. It 
spurs on senior Dani-
elle Rauch to make 

behind-the-back passes and senior 
forward Naz Hillmon to put defend-
ers into a spin cycle.

“We see it at the men’s games all 

the time,” women’s basketball coach 
Kim Barnes Arico said. “So I think 
they truly are difference makers 
and I also think when our student 
athletes see their peers there it’s 
really special and means a lot to 
have them there.”

In women’s basketball, far more 

than men’s, crowds can impact the 
play because most teams aren’t used 
to playing in such hostile environ-
ments. In three of the Wolverines’ 
four losses, they played in arenas 
with larger-than-average crowds, 
including their loss to Michigan 
State on Thursday.

But now, as Michigan stares 

down a fight to host the first and 
second rounds of the NCAA Tourna-
ment, its attendance average (when 
fans have been allowed) is the low-
est since 2016-17 at 2,910. While the 
Wolverines are second in the Big Ten 
standings, that attendance average is 
10th in the conference.

There’s no reason for that to be the case 

except that people aren’t paying enough 
attention to the women’s basketball team. 
And they’ve missed out on two top-5 
wins, an All-American candidate and a 
team that’s avenged losses all season. 

So start paying attention and 

start going to games.

 ANNA FUDER/Daily 

Women’s sports at Michigan deserve more attention.

KENT 

SCHWARTZ

Michigan’s upperclassmen shine 

against Michigan State on Senior Day

If there’s one word that charac-

terizes Michigan’s senior class, it’s 
special.

In front of a sellout crowd on 

Senior Day, the Wolverines’ upper-
classmen showed just why they fit 
that description, securing dominant 
victories over the rival Spartans in 
five out of six bouts.

No. 1 graduate student Nick Suri-

ano started Sunday’s meet off strong 
with a major decision victory over 
Tristan Lujan. Competing at 125 lbs, 
Suriano was in control of the match 
from start to finish, a position he has 
become accustomed to throughout 
his college wrestling career. A for-
mer NCAA 133 lb champion, Suriano 
posted a 70-7 record over his first 
three seasons at Rutgers and is 7-0 
for the Wolverines; Sunday just con-
tinued that dominance.

“Nick Suriano is a special talent,” 

graduate student Kanen Storr said. 
“He always sets the pace and sets the 
tone for not only himself but for the 

Michigan wrestling team. He’s fear-
less, he knows how hard he works 
and every time he steps out on the 
mat, he wants to show that and prove 
it.”

Not only has Suriano been suc-

cessful individually, but he has con-
tributed significantly to the success 
of Michigan as a whole, leading by 
example.

“Nick has been just a tremendous 

addition to the team,” Michigan 
coach Sean Bormet said. “He lives a 
super regimented, disciplined life-
style. It’s a champion’s lifestyle, day 
in day out, and he’s a warrior on the 
mat. He brings a lot of intensity and a 
lot of fire to his wrestling, and that’s 
contagious.”

That intensity showed against 

Lujan, as Suriano wrestled at a con-
stant rapid pace and scored take-
down after takedown.

Suriano wasn’t the only senior 

Wolverine who impacted Sunday’s 
match and has led by example this 
season. No. 5 graduate student 
Logan Massa, who defeated Nathan 
Jimenez in dominant fashion with a 
tech fall, has used his own toughness 

to challenge his teammates and push 
them to greater success all season.

“(Massa is) somebody who’s 

gonna wrestle you really tough and 
push you to the limits,” graduate 
student Myles Amine said. “(It’s) 
not always the prettiest way, but he’s 
been a great impact, just that energy 
and that meanness is something that 
if you know wrestling, you know that 
that’s good for the sport and it’s good 
for our team.”

Massa — along with Amine and 

graduate student Stevan Micic, who 
secured a victory over Matt Santos 
with an emphatic takedown to end 
the match — decided to return to 
Michigan for a final year of eligibil-
ity. All three have played key roles in 
Michigan’s success all season.

“It was more of a team decision 

for their passion for Michigan wres-
tling,” Bormet said. “Individually, 
obviously they want to have success 
and they have their goals, but this is 
the reason they came back. I know 
today was really special for them.”

But not all of Sunday’s competi-

tors have found consistent collegiate 
dominance. Sunday’s match was 
especially significant for Storr, who 
returned from injury to defeat Pey-
ton Omania by a score of 5-2. 

“It was huge,” Storr said. “It was 

a lot of emotion, this last time wres-
tling here in Cliff Keen Arena. And 
not only that, I had a lot to prove, that 
I’m gonna step back in this lineup 
and I’m gonna score points for this 
team.”

All five seniors who secured vic-

tories on Sunday have been critical 
in shaping Michigan’s overall suc-
cess, through both their own indi-
vidual accomplishments and their 
contributions as team leaders. And 
as the postseason nears, the upper-
classmen hope to add another word 
to their description:

Champions.

LYS GOLDMAN
For The Daily

 BECCA MAHON/Daily 

The Michigan wrestling team’s upperclassmen continued their dominant 
seasons against Michigan State. 

Michigan tops Michigan State, 

24-13, in final home dual

As Michigan gears up for the upcom-

ing NCAA Championships, the Wolver-
ines’ final home dual meet of the year 
served as another test for the squad. 

They passed with flying colors. 
The No. 3-ranked Michigan wres-

tling team (10-1 overall, 5-1 Big Ten) 
extended its five match winning streak 
against No. 14 Michigan State (9-3, 4-3), 
winning seven of the first eight matches. 
Sunday’s 24-13 victory sent off a lengthy 
class of seniors and graduate students in 
their final regular season contest in Cliff 
Keen Arena

It’s hard to find a wrestler more con-

sistent than No. 1 graduate student Nick 
Suriano. At 125 lbs, Suriano asserted his 
dominance against Tristan Lujan from 
start to finish, earning a 14-3 major deci-
sion to put the Wolverines up 4-0. 

“Nick Suriano, he’s special,” Michi-

gan coach Sean Bormet said. “The 
guys have connected with him quickly 
because of the intensity, the work ethic 
and the way he competes.”

But the Spartans bounced right back 

from Suriano’s display.

After No. 7 Dylan Ragusin’s loss to 

Spartans’ No. 11 Rayvon Foley, No. 17 
graduate student Stevan Micic hoped 
to prevent consecutive Michigan State 
match wins.

Micic’s season has been filled with 

difficult injuries and inconsistent train-
ing, but following a win against Indiana 
on Friday, he had an opportunity to 
come out of his last home match on a 
good note. Micic came out prosperous, 
winning a 10-3 decision.

Following Micic’s win, 149-pounder 

Kanen Storr – another injury-ridden 
senior – displayed resilience in a final 
home win of his own.

“I made a decision to believe in myself 

and work hard,” Storr said. “I knew once 
I stepped back in this lineup that I was 
going to prove that I’m here to stay, and 
I’m here to do a job for this team.” 

A takedown late in the second period 

gave Storr a narrow 4-2 lead, and a rela-
tively stagnant third period cemented 
the win. The 5-2 decision validated 
Storr’s hard work.

In a low scoring match where nei-

ther of the 157 lb wrestlers took control, 
No. 9 redshirt junior Will Lewan came 
out victorious over No. 17 ranked Chase 
Saldate. His takedown with 30 seconds 
remaining to secure a 3-1 advantage led 
to a 3-2 victory by decision.

Going into intermission, the Wol-

verines held a 13-3 lead. Coming out of 
the break, the Michigan upperweights 
extended it.

Although a 5-1 decision may not seem 

like a dominant win, 165 lb redshirt 
sophomore Cameron Amine imposed 
his will on his Spartan opponent. From 
the very beginning, Amine displayed 
his strength, lifting Nathan Jimenez off 
the mat multiple times throughout the 
match. 

“He’s just an incredible gamer,” 

graduate student Myles Amine said of 
his younger brother. “Come a few weeks 
from now he’s gonna surprise a lot of 

people, but he’s not going to surprise 
me.”

Also dominant was No. 5 Logan 

Massa. Massa’s early takedown and 
two consecutive nearfalls gave the 174 
lb graduate student a 12-0 lead. Two 
takedowns and a Michigan State stall 
finalized a technical fall, increasing 
Michigan’s lead to 21-3. 

Myles has proven his importance 

throughout the season, and Sunday 
showed no different. Despite strug-
gling to find his rhythm in the first two 
periods, a ferocious intensity in the final 
period secured Myles a 8-4 decision 
over Spartans’ No. 19 Layne Malcze-
wski at 184 lbs.

In Sunday’s victory, Michigan’s 

seniors rose to the occasion, but it is clear 
that these seniors are waiting for some-
thing bigger to celebrate this season.

“We’re hosting NCAAs,” Myles said. 

“So technically, my senior day is going to 
be on March 19, the NCAA finals.”

And if the Wolverines perform the 

way they did against the Spartans, 
they’ll have plenty to celebrate.

LINDSAY BUDIN

For The Daily

 BECCA MAHON/Daily 

The No. 3 Michigan wrestling team dominated Michigan State on Senior 
Day, 24-13.

Michigan dominates in singles, finds path to victory over Illinois

On Friday night, the No. 20 

Michigan men’s tennis team 
showed up looking for a come-
back after a loss against then-No. 
19 Harvard the week prior.

It succeeded. 
With the Wolverines’ second 

and third doubles teams both 
losing both 4-6, Michigan strug-
gled to make room against an 
unranked Illinois. The Fighting 
Illini won the doubles point over 
the Wolverines, spelling an early 

end for the first doubles match.

For Michigan, losing the dou-

bles point was concerning; they 
rely on their strength as a doubles 
team, and losing the point was an 
early blow.

That outcome only fueled 

the Wolverines’ path to victory. 
Though they struggled in their 
doubles matchups, there was 
no such issue with their singles 
matches. After giving up the dou-
bles point, Michigan (4-2 overall) 
swept Illinois (1-5) in the singles 
and claimed a 4-1 overall win. 

“We had a big chip on our 

shoulder coming out for the sin-

gles,” Michigan senior Patrick 
Maloney said. “We weren’t happy 
with the doubles result, but it 
really helped us.” 

That optimism was almost tan-

gible on the court, each side build-
ing off of each other’s victories to 
create a momentum that went 
unmatched by the Fighting Illini. 
When senior Andrew Fenty won 
his first set, 6-0, it was the boost 
both Maloney and sophomore 
Jacob Bickersteth the drive they 
needed to claim their respective 
first sets 7-5 and 7-6. 

On the other side of the court, 

junior Ondrej Styler led in a simi-

lar manner, commanding a 6-1 
first set followed by a quick sec-
ond set, which he claimed 6-4.

Sophomore Gavin Young won 

the final point needed to secure 
a Michigan victory, battling out a 
tough win to take his second set. 
Young ended the night 6-3 and 
7-5, giving the Wolverines a much-
needed success to boost morale. 

“We view our doubles as one 

of our biggest strengths in our 
team,” Maloney said. “So, to have 
a dominant win over a team like 
Illinois… huge confidence boost-
er. We could’ve had six points on 
the board right there.”

With the loss of a point they 

expected to win, the Wolverines 
used the loss to bolster their con-
fidence in the singles matches.

With 
the 
win, 
Michigan 

snapped a seven game losing 
streak against Illinois. However, 
even after coming away with a 
victory, it seems that there is a lot 
to build on.

“We have to play better,” 

Michigan coach Adam Steinberg 
said. “If we’re going to be a con-
tender to win championships… to 
lose the doubles point is tough. 
That’s the biggest focus now – 
has to be.”

KELSEY RUFF
For The Daily

 JENNA HICKEY/Daily 

On the back of its prowess in the 
singles matches, Michigan domi-
nated Illinois.

