COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — University of Michigan fifth-year senior Kellen Russell received one of the final two freestyle wildcard selections for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, USA Wrestling announced Saturday (April 7). Russell will compete at 60kg/132 pounds at the Olympic Trials, scheduled for April 21-22 in Iowa City, Iowa.
Russell captured his second straight NCAA title three weeks ago, earning a 6-4 sudden-victory win against Iowa’s Montell Marion to successfully defend his 141-pound crown. The performance completed a 33-1 senior season, upping his career mark to 134-12, and netted the Wolverine his third NCAA All-America citation. Russell also claimed four Big Ten Conference titles, becoming the first Michigan wrestler to achieve the feat, and was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
The Wolverine captain excelled in freestyle throughout his prep career, capturing both junior (2006) and cadet (2005) national titles in Fargo, N.D. More recently, he took seventh place at the 2008 FILA Junior National Championships. After graduating later this month, Russell plans to stay in Ann Arbor and train with the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Russell is one of four former Michigan wrestlers qualified for the Olympic Trials. Josh Churella (2005-08) and Tyrel Todd (2006-09) will compete in the 66/145.5-pound and 84kg/185-pound freestyle divisions, respectively, while Joe Warren (1996, ’98-2000) is expected to compete in the 60kg/132-pound Greco-Roman division.
