How Does Austin Gomez Impact the Michigan Lineup?

Last night, 2022 NCAA All-American and Big Ten champion Austin Gomez put the final pieces together in a puzzle that has been steadily developing for the past couple of months. Gomez used social media to post a picture of him in a University of Michigan singlet set to Eminem’s hit “Without Me.” The chorus of the song repeats the lyrics “Guess who’s back, back again.” 

Gomez had one of the most memorable moments of the 2022-23 season when he defeated then-three-time national champion Yianni Diakomihalis to halt the Cornell star’s 75-match winning streak. That bout occurred in mid-November and Gomez had his postseason disrupted by injuries. He had to default out of the Big Ten Championships before going 2-2 at nationals. 

After the 2023 NCAA Championships, Gomez moved on to the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club, based out of the University of Michigan. He said his focus was on freestyle wrestling despite having a year of eligibility remaining. With 2023’s 149 lb starter Chance Lamer transferring to Cal Poly, it left a potential hole at the weight. Later, Gomez would enter the transfer portal. 

More puzzle pieces fit into place this week as Gomez posted a document from the NCAA confirming he has a year of eligibility to use. Then yesterday’s posting. 

So that leads us to the question, what can Gomez bring to the Michigan lineup?

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