Typically in sports, success takes years to achieve. With players and programs taking time to develop over years of practices and meets, bringing transfers in from other programs is often a huge gamble. It’s a gamble that could hit, and help build a team. But, if done wrong, it could turn into a detrimental tumble.
Luckily for the Michigan wrestling team, that gamble has paid off not once this season, but twice.
The Wolverines’ graduate transfers No. 2 197-pound Josh Cardenas and No. 9 heavyweight Jacob Heindselman are finding their footing quickly. Both achieved decision victories in Michigan’s 22-13 win over No. 24 Indiana, and have been the Wolverines’ most consistent point producers all season.
With Cardenas coming from Cornell, and Heindselman hailing from Oklahoma, neither has wrestled any of the Big Ten opponents Michigan is facing this year in duals. Against the Hoosiers, Cardenas worked all around the mat to earn a decision while Heindselman sealed the victory for the Wolverines with a defensive 2-1 decision over Indiana’s Jacob Bullock.
While some may see the lack of head-to-head experience as a negative, it gives the two a tranquil mindset towards some of the tougher opponents Michigan will face – including the next two duals with Ohio State and Penn State.
“I don’t really have a level of preparation or intimidation by (Ohio State and Penn State) because I never wrestled them before.” Cardenas said. “So, my preparation is pretty much the same.”
The No. 4 and No. 1 ranked programs, respectively, are the toughest teams the Wolverines will face this year. With the graduate pair leading the way, Michigan has a shot at those weight classes against the best in the country, and Cardenas and Heindselman’s wins over Indiana proved that the two have much more to offer besides just their time spent on the mat. Their preparation and work ethic are already leaving an impact on the team.
“It’s really a reflection of how they train, the belief they bring to the mat and the hard work they do from start to finish.” Michigan coach Sean Bormet said. “That’s the key, and that’s what’s got to continue to be contagious.”
Up just three points leading up to his bout, Cardenas called on his work ethic to secure the dual for the Wolverines. Following in his teammates footsteps, Heindselman also dug into his technique and work ethic to put the nail in the coffin against the Hoosiers.
Bormet has good reason to hope that the Heindselman and Cardenas flu gets around, because the duo won the Wolverines’ only points against No. 7 Nebraska on Friday, and have been the team’s biggest point contributors. If the rest of the team can catch the Heindselman and Cardenas cold, there could be a lot of success in Michigan’s near future, boding well for the new teammates, who only have this year with the Wolverines.
Before squaring off with Bullock, Heindselman kept one more message in the back of his mind:
“Enjoy it. Go wrestle.”
And against Indiana, Heindselman got to wrestling. Earning a gritty win against Bullock by getting him called for stalling twice to earn a point, Heindselman also received a point from riding time. He’s off to the best start of his six-year college career and attributes some of his success to wrestling and training with accomplished teammates.
“When you wrestle with a guy like (Cardenas) that’s really talented, you grow so much.” Heindselman said. “ … When you wrestle and train with the best guys you become the best, so it’s been amazing.”
Cardenas picked up where he left off at Cornell with success at 197, and has earned the number two spot through a flawless campaign. Using a multitude of fall techniques, he secured the 8-4 decision, and ultimately the match, against the Hoosiers Gabe Sollars.
Amid a very up and down season for Michigan, with hard lessons learned against Maryland and Minnesota, Cardenas and Heindselman have been the bright spots. But, if the other Wolverines can take a page out of Heindselman and Cardenas’ book, it should be the consistency and point production shown against Indiana.
The post Cardenas and Heindselman continue to produce against Indiana appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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