SPORTS

Nick Suriano wins National title, becomes Michigan’s first champion in a decade

CHARLIE PAPPALARDO Daily Sports Writer

DETROIT — On Saturday night, Nick Suriano trotted out from the underbelly of the Little Caesars Arena and entered wrestling’s biggest stage for the final time of his career to face Princeton’s Pat Glory in the NCAA finals.

Lights shone, music blared and around him, the crowd greeted the 125 lb graduate student with a mixture of applause and animosity.

This moment was everything that Suriano had dedicated his lifestyle to. The relentless training, the dieting, and the intense focus on mindset was all in preparation for this, a chance at his second individual title three years after his first.

And amid the commotion, even with the immense psychological pressure Suriano had placed upon himself, he looked unperturbed, robotic even.

The music quieted, the whistle blew, and seven minutes later, Suriano’s hand was being raised. Once again, his surroundings were in pandemonium, but Suriano remained calm. There was no explosion of emotion; he didn’t flex or scream like he had earlier in the tournament. Instead, he slowly shook Glory’s hand, walked over to the side of the mat and pointed to his mother before turning back to the crowd and soaking the moment in.

Suriano had done it. He’d reached the pinnacle of collegiate wrestling once again, and in the process became the Michigan wrestling team’s first individual champion in over a decade.

“He did a really good job of finding a way to make sure he stayed in front and got his hand raised at the end of that match,” Michigan coach Sean Bormet said. “He’s a really really gritty, tough, fierce competitor.”

Suriano started the bout on the front foot, testing Glory defensively with single legs and snapdowns, which he fended off each time. Late in the first period, Suriano fired for Glory’s lead leg, and spun behind him for a takedown before running the clock out on top.

Suriano then chose bottom to start the second period, but quickly hit a switch, slipping his hips away from Glory’s pressure and turning into him while grabbing his legs to take him to the mat for two points. He rode Glory for the remainder of the period and entered the final two minutes with a commanding 4-0 lead

In the third period, though, Suriano’s tight grip on the match faltered.

Given the choice of starting position a second time due to Glory’s use of injury time, Suriano once again started the period on bottom. But this time, he couldn’t get up, and minor mistakes made earlier in the match compounded and started to cause problems.

Twice in the period, Suriano false started. This made for his third caution, and Glory was given a point. And Midway through, Suriano became complacent; three straight stalling warnings gave Glory another two points.

Suriano was now up just one, technicalities threatening his dream.

It wouldn’t be enough. Suriano prevailed 5-3, and finished his career as a two-time champion.

But unlike his earlier championship, this title wasn’t just about victory or about conquering Glory, or anyone in the bracket for that matter. It was about conquering fear.

“It was a little different this time. I kind of reinvented myself and I came back to the circle and it was a whole new me,” Suriano said. “ … You know, this tournament for me was facing fears more than winning any wrestling match, more than any wrestling match I could ever dream of.”

Luckily for Suriano, he didn’t have to dream of a world in which he could attain both victory and internal calm. Because under the lights in Detroit, he went out and found both.

“You have a choice to break through,” Suriano said. “I could have got turned. I could have packed it in. I said no way. No way. He can’t beat me. I’ve come too far.”

Suriano wanted to conquer his fears that external factors could affect or change him, that the lights, media and crowd could shift him away from what he calls his purpose. And on Saturday as the match wound down and the crowd booed, screamed and applauded all at once, Suriano remained calm and looked to his family. He would bask in the moment later, but he wouldn’t let it distract him from who he wants to become, even at his peak.

“I’m just so proud for my mom,” Suriano said. “They’ve been a part of it. There’s been ups and downs and a lot of adversity. And that’s life. It took me to my knees. I just had to put it into perspective and decide if this is the type of man I want to become.

“Again.”

And on Saturday, Suriano became that man. Again.

KATE HUA/Daily Using everything he’s learned, Nick Suriano became a national champion.

A tri-team athlete: Raleigh Loughman’s storied career.

REMI WILLIAMSON Daily Sports Writer

As all athletes know, one’s time as a competitive player must come to an end at one point or another.

For Raleigh Loughman, a senior midfielder on the Michigan women’s soccer team, that time has come. After an illustrious collegiate career with 50 games and 2,812 minutes played as a Wolverine, she is hanging up her cleats to join Nike’s HR Department.

However, Loughman’s career wasn’t limited to just her time in a Michigan uniform. Loughman played for the US Youth Futsal Team and the U20 Argentina National Team. She found that playing on different types of teams gave her more insight into the sport and increased her technical ability.

And a player with such a nuanced perspective of soccer stands out on the turf.

During her time in high school in Texas, she yearned for something outside of her twice-a-week practice. Then she was introduced to City Futsal.

Futsal is a variation of soccer on a small, hard-floor and indoor court with a weighted ball. These restrictions require players to be more concise with their passing and footwork. To be successful in futsal, you have to think quicker on your feet.

“I wanted something a little more technical and a little less kind of socceroriented,” Loughman said. “Futsal gives you a different lens through soccer, which I utilized here in my career with Michigan.”

Loughman was the captain of the United States U16 and U18 Youth Futsal National Teams and traveled to Spain to compete in the IFA Women’s futsal World Cup, leading her team to a win.

But that was not her only commitment.

During her senior year of high school, Loughman joined Argentina’s National team, accomplishing her lifelong dream of playing on the international stage. She got the opportunity to practice on the same grass that renowned superstar Lionel Messi plays on. Most of all she got to experience Argentina’s fervent soccer culture.

Argentina has over 3,000 club teams and 300,000 registered players. Argentinians play soccer from when they take their first steps to their last.

“The Argentine culture surrounding soccer is just so amazing,” Loughman said. “They live, eat and breathe the sport.”

Argentina also had a style of play that differed from America’s — one that shaped Loughman’s career with the Wolverines.

“It is a lot more physical and scrappier,” Loughman said. “Not as clean as the U.S. plays.”

Argentinian soccer is based on grinta, a more physical and offensive type of play. Getting practice in a more aggressive environment helped Loughman stay on her feet and fight for every 50/50 ball on the field.

Although Loughman’s career in maize and blue is packed with accolades and awards — first team All-Big Ten, two-time second team All-Big Ten and offensive player of the Big Ten Tournament — it wasn’t always easy going.

Her freshman year got off to a rocky start with only three starts, four goals and two assists all season, but Michigan coach Jennifer Klein’s faith in Loughman never dwindled.

“She really brought out the confidence I needed to succeed at the next level”, Loughman said. “I would thank her for believing in me because I got off to a really rough start my freshmen year.”

During her sophomore year things started to turn around. She played a team-high 1,895 minutes with 22 starts. By its end she had racked up six goals and eight assists and earned Big Ten offensive player of the week honors during the season.

Going into an altered junior year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Loughman was named team captain and was one of only six players to start all 11 games.

Finally, in her senior year she tied for the team lead in goals and led in assists. Additionally, Michigan took a run at the NCAA tournament falling short in overtime against Florida State in the Elite Eight. Nonetheless, it left the season with a Big Ten Tournament win for the first time since 1999, a moment Loughman will forever remember as one of her last acts on the team.

And with her playing career ending, one field with the national team and futsal, she has plenty to look back on with pride and joy.

“This has been my whole life for 18 years,” Loughman said. “(now) I’m excited for a new chapter.”

JEREMY WEINE/Daily From international futsal games to the Argentinian national team, Raleigh Loughman’s experiences prepared her for success with the Michigan women’s soccer team.

Leadership and experience from Caitlin Muir is the difference maker for this team

KATE HUA/Daily Caitlin Muir’s return for a fifth season has brought Michigan to new heights.

LINDSAY BUDIN Daily Sports Writer

Six straight losses to conclude the 2021 season for the Michigan women’s lacrosse team left then-senior attacker Caitlin Muir feeling unfulfilled. At the end of the year, Muir was left with a choice: graduate or return for a fifth year.

She chose the latter.

“With not finishing out… on my own terms, it was really kind of a done deal,” Muir said. “I also feel like this team is so special so I wanted to end on my own terms but also get another chance to play (with this group).”

Michigan finished 3-9 last year with a deplorable end. This season, led by captain Muir, the team didn’t dwell on the previous year’s shortcomings. Seven straight wins to begin the season substantiates that.

Muir has wasted no time this season, scoring multiple points in all but one game — yielding 26 goals and assists combined to lead the team. As impactful as she has been on the field though, her off-field contributions extend past the numbers.

The leadership and dedication of Muir has undoubtedly factored into the ongoing team success.

“Everyone looks at the stat sheet and sees goals and assists,” Michigan coach Hannah Nielsen said. “Well, there’s a lot more to playing lacrosse than that, and I think that Caitlin factors that in by causing turnovers in the ride and by just raising the overall level of the players around her.”

Strong leadership extends past personal performance, and Muir understands that. The team captain is off to an exceptional start this season on the field, but the true greatness she displays is in her captaincy.

A good player dedicates time to their own game, but a great one recognizes all the components off the field that play essential roles in generating success — something Muir has implemented into her own game.

“My approach in the beginning was mostly building relationships,” Muir said. “I feel like in order to lead, your team has to trust you.”

Muir will never be the loudest player, but her ‘lead by example’ approach supplemented by her priority to attain trust and communication is equally effective in her leadership pursuit.

As a freshman, Muir was considered shy and soft spoken, and her development over the course of the last five years has been drastic. Now in her fifth year, her focus extends past her own play and towards building relationships with her teammates, setting a standard of effort and embedding trust.

“I think this year specifically she’s come back … with a goal to improve her leadership and be the person that people turn to and be the person that is directive,” Nielsen said.

So far, her endeavors have resulted in success. Not only has she bolstered strong connections, but she has seen her hard work translate in games.

For a team with lots of young talent, a mentor like Muir is incredibly impactful. Having someone with a relentless work ethic instills good habits and heightens the expectations of everyone.

“You don’t come back for your fifth year just because,” Nielsen said. “So she’s coming back for the love of the game, the love of this program and a love of this university.”

This additional year of eligibility is a silver lining of the COVID impacted years, and Muir is not taking that for granted. As she seeks to end her collegiate career on a high note, she has an opportunity to rewrite the narrative from last season.

The only question: Where will their story end?

Erik Portillo cements conference tournament MVP status against Minnesota

PAUL NASR Daily Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS — When sophomore goaltender Erik Portillo stood up to leave the press conference podium after fielding questions following the No. 4 Michigan hockey team’s Big Ten Championship victory over No. 2 Minnesota, Michigan coach Mel Pearson — sitting beside him and next in line to answer questions — got to his feet as well.

“I’m gonna give my big guy a hug,” Pearson said, his clothes drenched from the post-game celebration, embracing Portillo.

It was a hug an entire season in the making.

After starting every game for the Wolverines and performing consistently throughout the season, Michigan needed its goaltender to elevate his game for the Big Ten Tournament and in anticipation of NCAA Regionals beginning next week. Throughout the first three games of the conference tournament, Portillo delivered, allowing only two goals in that span.

But just over thirty seconds into the the conference championship, Portillo’s looked like he wouldn’t be able to emulate his past performances in the season’s biggest game thus far.

After getting beat on a breakaway goal by forward Jaxon Nelson to open the affair, he locked down the game. Portillo built off a series of stellar postseason showings to acrobatically travel from post to post, establishing a restricted area in the crease and allowing the Wolverines’ skaters to build a three goal lead by the second period.

His performance not only lifted Michigan towards its first Big Ten Tournament Championship since 2016, it earned Portillo Most Outstanding Player and all-tournament honors.

“We’ve seen that all year,” Pearson said of Portillo’s latest gem. “… He’s been our team MVP. … We gave him too many out-numbered rushes, too many opportunities and Eric kept us in the game when we needed to.”

Besides two last-minute goals coming from a combination of penalties and a pulled goalie — giving the Golden Gophers multi-men advantages in the game’s waning minutes — Portillo lived up to his billing of the team’s MVP.

After getting beat on the game’s initial breakaway attempt, the odd-man rushes kept coming from Minnesota with speed throughout the first period. And unlike the first opportunity, Portillo had an answer.

Every. Single. Time.

Whether it was multiple saves from the splits or managing physicality around the net, Portillo’s performance following the first goal stymied the Golden Gophers’ potent offense, buying the Wolverines’ attack time to bury Minnesota’s early lead.

“He’s the best goalie in college hockey for a reason,” freshman forward Dylan Duke said. “And he showed that tonight, he was unbelievable.”

Once Portillo found his groove after handling the series of dangerous breakaways early, he couldn’t be stopped. All he could do was stop pucks.

Midway through the second period and with Michigan building a 4-1 lead behind Portillo’s play, the jumbotron in 3M Arena at Mariucci presented a message of hope amid the Golden Gophers’ deficit. It played a montage of comeback scenes from sports movies, leading the crowd towards a synchronized and rhythmic clap with the video’s music, and culminating with a coach saying: ‘It isn’t over till I say it is.’

Portillo, however, decided the game was — in fact — over, extending his flurry of game-defining saves late into the contest.

“I think he should have been the Big Ten goalie of the year,” Pearson said. “… We see him every day, we see him every game … he should be in the Richter conversation.”

By the third period, it was clear that the Golden Gophers had no answer to Portillo’s prowess. Foreshadowing the game’s shambolic end, a Minnesota skater shoved senior defenseman Nick Blankenburg into Portillo following a save, leading to a scuffle in front of the net as the Golden Gophers searched desperately for a spark.

When that spark finally came for Minnesota via late penalties, it was too little, too late.

The Golden Gophers’ late goals became a distant memory, replaced by the memory of Portillo’s 25-save performance. The night finished with Portillo hoisting the Big Ten Championship trophy into the air, skating towards a contingent of Michigan fans near the boards as his teammates surrounded him in elation.

LEADERS

Michigan’s success in March goes beyond the men’s basketball team

KENT SCHWARTZ Daily Sports Writer

March is, as you may have noticed, a busy month.

The madness of the men’s basketball postseason arrives and steals the headlines. This year is no exception — a bubble team, Michigan wasn’t even certain to get into the NCAA Tournament and made headlines for doing just that.

But beyond the men’s basketball team, March heralds postseason runs for some of Michigan’s best programs — teams that get swept under the rug by the popularity of men’s basketball. This weekend was no exception, and those who missed out by only paying attention to men’s basketball are worse for it.

Take the most recent program to bring home a national championship, the women’s gymnastics team. After winning it all last season, the Wolverines may be even better this year. Saturday’s Big Ten Championship proved that, returning the Big Ten crown back to Michigan before it enters the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 3 in the country.

“This one definitely meant a little bit more to us, to me and my team,” senior Abby Heiskell said. “Because last year we didn’t win, and, you know, we ended up winning the national championship, but there’s always a little bit of bitter taste in our mouth from not being able to take home the championship title, so this one definitely meant a lot to us.”

There were two more Big Ten championships won this weekend, though. The men’s gymnastics team clinched a share of the regular season title with a victory over Penn State before a two week break and a chance at its second-straight Big Ten meet championship.

The No. 4 hockey team traveled to Minneapolis and won the Big Ten Tournament,

quieting a record crowd baying for Minnesota’s first tournament championship since 2015. The win secured the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament this coming weekend.

Oh, and a Michigan athlete won a national championship this week. Graduate student Nick Suriano won the 125-pound wrestling national championship in Detroit. As a whole, the Wolverines, which won the Big

Ten Championships last week, came second in the country this week.

There are countless sports where Michigan dominates. Time after time, fans of the Wolverines are missing out purely because they don’t broaden their horizons, choosing to focus specifically on men’s basketball and football.

Perhaps it’s just a byproduct of my former position as Managing Sports Editor — when I read stories and paid attention to teams outside the spotlight on a daily basis — that I feel there’s a disconnect between the average Michigan fan and the athletic programs in Ann Arbor. Perhaps I just don’t understand how people aren’t fans of sports in general, but fans of specific sports and specific genders playing that sport.

It’s frustrating when, hosting the NCAA Tournament for the first time in its history, on a Saturday in the middle of the afternoon, the women’s basketball team drew a crowd of just over half the Crisler Center’s capacity.

The difference in attention that men’s basketball and football get compared to other programs at Michigan only hurts those who are fans of the school.

As March crawls along, the madness isn’t reserved specifically for men’s basketball, regardless of what the trademark said up until the NCAA came to grips with institutional sexism. The championship tournaments for various sports will unfold, only the elite moving on.

Throughout those tournaments, the Wolverines will be among them. The women’s gymnastics team will almost surely outperform the men’s basketball team. Same with men’s gymnastics and hockey.

Take some time off from watching men’s basketball to pay attention to the other sports. You won’t regret it.

Take some time off from watching men’s basketball to pay attention to the other sports. You won’t regret it.

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