Here's some advice to any Penn State wrestler that might cross paths with Michigan's 133-pound star Foley Dowd before the Nittany Lions and Wolverines throw down on Sunday at 1. Avoid ladders, black cats, broken mirrors and the random open umbrellas hanging around inside Rec Hall.
They don't need any more bad luck, superstition or otherwise, because Dowd himself is curse enough.
When Dowd was wrestling current Lion Marat Tomaev in high school in New Jersey, Tomaev broke his ankle. In 2002, when Dowd was wrestling Josh Moore in a dual meet in Rec Hall, Moore tore his ACL, thus ending a promising season. And just last month, when Moore and Dowd were about to face off again in the third-place match at the National Duals, Moore was stricken with the flu and ended up losing an overtime decision.
Now, Moore may face his final chance to exact revenge for both himself and Tomaev, who will not be in the lineup after losing a wrestle-off with DeWitt Driscoll this week, when No. 10 Penn State (9-4, 2-2 Big Ten) and No. 5 Michigan (13-2, 3-0) square off in what should be a hotly contested dual meet.
The Lions will also face Northwestern (9-5, 0-4) tonight at 6 in Rec Hall and Lock Haven (3-5) 6 on Sunday night at Thomas Field House.
"Josh has wrestled Dowd a lot in the past," Penn State wrestling coach Troy Sunderland said. "It's always an exciting match. The last time they wrestled, Josh was sick, but he has to compete even when he's not 100 percent."
When the two teams met in January, Michigan earned a tough 21-17 victory. Had a few things gone Penn State's way though, the outcome might have been much different.
At 125, the Lions' No. 10 Adam Smith was wrestling No. 4 Mark Moos tough before getting thrown to his back and gave up the fall.
Also, Penn State lost two overtime decisions. Moore lost to Dowd at 133 and freshman Matt Storniolo fell to Ryan Churella. Some quick addition and subtraction to the team scores and Penn State wins. But still, it may take Penn State's best effort of the season to come away with the win.
"Michigan is tough top to bottom," Sunderland said. "They just have a real solid program. They've been outstanding this year."
No one has been more outstanding at Michigan this year than Ryan Bertin, the defending 157-pound national champion who will face off with James Woodall on Sunday.
"Ryan is one of the hardest working wrestlers in the country," Michigan wrestling coach Joe McFarland said. "He expects so much of himself. He pushes himself to meet those expectations."
The Michigan meet is the definite highlight of the tripleheader weekend, but there is some intrigue surrounding the other two meets.
Northwestern has some talent in its lineup and a trip to Lock Haven is always a tough assignment.
"Lock Haven always wrestles us tough," Sunderland said. "Their kids are always up for the match and so is the crowd."
Asked if it was more special beating Lock Haven on the road rather than in the friendly confines of Rec Hall, Sunderland simply said: "I don't like to lose anywhere."
