By David Murray, Daily Sports Writer
When Ryan Bertin graduated last year, some Michigan fans thought that the 157-pound weight class would never be the same. But hose fans don’t understand. The wrestling team didn’t have to rebuild. They had to reload.
But who knew that there would be little drop-off in performance between a two-time national champion, and Steve Luke, the redshirt freshman now at 157 pounds?
Wrestling coach Joe McFarland knew.
“I have known since (Luke) stepped into our practice room last year as a true freshman how good this guy is going to be,” McFarland said. “He’s a special kid. He has all the tools, mentally, physically, to be a multi-time NCAA champion.”
Alex Tirapelle knows.
Luke defeated Tirapelle ” the top-ranked 157-pounder from Illinois ” this past weekend, claiming first-place honors at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas.
“He really kept his calm throughout the whole thing,” McFarland said. “There were a couple of times when Tirapelle got in on him, but (Luke) wrestles through every position. He never really bails out of a position. I think a lot of that is toughness. That’s just having the grit that you need to win those tough matches. He’s one of those guys that has that, and not everyone has that.”
Steve Luke knows.
“Because I’m a freshman people don’t expect a lot,” Luke said. “But I did just beat (Tirapelle), and he was No. 1. So I know I’m up there with everyone.”
Perry High School knows.
The Massillon, Ohio, native didn’t need the win over Tirapelle for people to realize his potential. Luke won the Ohio high school state championship three times.
Lithuania knows.
Luke has been successful on every level he has wrestled at. He earned respect worldwide by competing in the Junior Freestyle World Championships this past summer in Lithuania. Luke also won the FILA Freestyle Junior Nationals and the 74-kg crown at the U.S. Junior World team trials over the summer.
“He made the Junior World team this past summer and did extremely well over (in Lithuania),” McFarland said. “I think he got a lot of experience and confidence being on the Junior World team.”
Luke wants the team to know.
Even though Luke has had success against world-class competition, he said he realizes he is still just a freshman.
“I remember, entering high school, I was at the bottom of the totem pole, and I had to work my way up,” Luke said. “No one really expects anything of you until you compete with the top guys. So when I came to Michigan, I knew what I was in for. I’m just trying to work my way to the top.”
Luke’s opponents will soon know.
The scariest thing for Luke’s future challengers is that he has room to grow. With a flawless 7-0 start to his season, it is hard to fathom that he is just going to improve.
“He is going to continue to develop as a wrestler,” McFarland said. “He’s capable of even a lot more than what he’s shown so far. Technically, he can get better in certain areas.”
Before long everyone will know.
“You are going to be reading about this Steve Luke kid in the future because he is going to be great,” McFarland said. “It’s hard for me to say that there is one thing that makes him special, but I think that his drive and his toughness really set him apart.”
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