Michigan freshman Brock Mantanona was deadlocked with Nebraska’s Silas Allred after two wild periods during their 184-pound clash at the National Duals Invitational sponsored by Paycom. 

With an 84-second riding time advantage in an 8-8 bout, Mantanona was determined not to allow the more seasoned Allred, a 2025 All-American and three-time NCAA qualifier, to inflict any further damage.

Was that even possible after the 2023 Big Ten champion had just erased Mantanona's 8-4 advantage with an escape and takedown during final 40 seconds of the second period?

Yes, answered Mantanona, who spent last season down at 165 pounds.

Starting the final period down, he escaped within seconds for a 9-8 advantage. Mantanona then spent the remainder of the match artfully dodging Allred's scoring attempts, constantly scrambling, squirming and wrestling his way out of trouble to complete the 10-8 upset over the sixth-ranked Husker.  

"I was going to continue to wrestle hard from every position because I was concerned that if I slowed down too much to try and just hang on to the lead, it would be easier for him to get a hold on me," Mantanona said. "I was going to keep rolling, grabbing, kicking and anything else I could to make things a mess for him when he tried to score."

The marquee win over Allred is part of a stellar 5-1 start for Mantanona, which has vaulted him from #15 in the rankings when the season began up to #7. He has also edged #15 Aaron Ayzerov (Columbia), a 2024 NCAA qualifier. Mantanona's other wins include two technical falls and a major decision. 

His only loss has been a 21-4 technical fall at the hands of second-ranked Aeoden Sinclair (Missouri). Even so, the relentless Mantanona has outscored opponents, 83-57. 

"It's been a good start so far, but I'm certainly not satisfied and that technical fall loss woke me up a bit as far as what I still need to focus on," he said. "I'm happy with my effort and how I've been going after points. Now, I'm hoping to build off this start."

Though he is wrestling nearly 20 pounds above where he was last season, Mantanona feels much more comfortable at 184. 

"To not be constantly cutting weight has been huge because I'm not going to be wrestling at my best when I'm doing that," he said. "I've had the energy to push longer and harder late in matches."

Another reason for Mantanona's increased stamina is Michigan's unforgiving summer training regimen, which includes long runs, dashing up the stairs at Michigan Stadium and one-on-one drills in sometimes stifling indoor conditions. 

"Summer training was brutal, not going to lie, but I can see now how much it helped make me a better and tougher wrestler and a better person too," he said. "Every day we hit it hard and were lifting three times a week. Cardio Saturdays were a six-mile run or running stadium steps which became real tests of what we are made of." 

Mantanona also sharpened his skills through offseason competition, reaching the 79-kilogram, U20 final at the U.S. Open and the U20 World Team Trials final. He lost both times to eventual U20 World silver medalist William Henckel, now a Penn State freshman.

"I'd say I came out of those competitions mentally stronger and a key takeaway was not letting myself get caught up in an opponent's game," he said. "For example, those matches showed me I'm better off not staying with handfighting long, moving more and being more technical. That's when I'm wrestling at my best."

Growing up in a household dominated by combat sports, Mantanona embraced wrestling from an early age, just as his three older brothers had. His father, Anthony, also a third-degree black belt in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo, coached his children at home and at the club and high school levels. 

Oldest brothers Anthony, a three-time NCAA qualifier, and Troy both wrestled for Oklahoma and were teammates for two seasons.

Beau, just 17 months older than Brock, is the Wolverines' starting 174-pounder this season and ranked #11. 

"Anthony and Troy were big role models for me, and I wanted to be just like them since I was like five or six years old," Brock said. "I also tried soccer, Jiu-Jitsu and football, but did not love those sports as much as wrestling and was never as good at them."

The oldest Mantanona brothers now run the Mantanona Training Center in Temecula, California, providing training and instruction to wrestlers of all ages and ability levels.

"It's huge that I can call them at any time for advice because they have been in the same position I am now, being part of a college wrestling program and handling the challenges that come with that," Brock said. 

Brock knew he wanted to be part of Michigan's program when Beau committed to the Wolverines during his junior year of high school. He just had to wait for the right moment to announce his intentions.

"With the right offer, I was going to Michigan and was more than ready to commit after an in-home visit by (assistant coach) Josh Churella went very well," Brock said. "A coach from another school visited the next day, but the experience was not the same at all. My parents asked me to wait, but I couldn't."

Early the next morning, he contacted the Michigan coaching staff and committed just prior to the start of his junior year. 

"Then I told my parents what I had done," he said. "I just didn't want to waste any more time with the recruiting process. I knew where I wanted to be."

Mantanona arrived on campus during the summer of 2024 following a youth career, which included a bronze medal at the 2023 U17 World Championships, a U16 Fargo freestyle title and two California state championships.

With Beau injured during the first part of last season, true freshman Brock started Michigan's first two duals at 165 pounds and competed in the Clarion Open, Cliff Keen Invitational and a dual against Central Michigan while still preserving his redshirt.

Mantanona went 12-3 last season and was named Big Ten Freshman Wrestler of the Week following a major decision win over two-time NCAA qualifier Nick Hamilton (Virginia). He also knocked off Alvan, three-time national qualifier Alex Cramer (Central Michigan), two-time NCAA qualifier Jack Thomas (Northern Iowa) and national qualifiers Kyle Mosher (Hofstra) and Mac Church (Virginia Tech). 

All but three of Mantanona's wins came via technical fall (five), pin (two) or major decision (two). 

"That was great experience last season to set up what I'm doing this season," he said. "Wrestling some really talented guys, traveling to every match and weighing in helped me feel more comfortable with the whole college wrestling process." 

Having weighed in at 180 pounds prior to the Penn State dual in February, Mantanona also realized this season would not be spent at 165. With Beau moving to 174, that left only 184, where there was a vacancy created by the transfer of two-time NCAA qualifier Jaden Bullock to Virginia Tech. 

"The coaches put me on a rigid lifting and eating program, so I could grow into the weight the right way," Mantanona said. "They were going to be sure I was following the plan. Sometimes, all four of them (head coach Sean Bormet and assistants Churella, Kevin Jackson and David Bolyard) would be watching me do the weight training."

Those coaches also hope to witness Mantanona capture a national championship one day.

"The coaches believe I have the ability and potential to be a national champion," Mantanona said. "That's what we will all be working towards — that goal during my time here. I know I will only get better."

More Fast Starts

Mantanona is hardly the only Wolverine who has begun the season with a bang.

Heavyweight Taye Ghadiali, Dylan Gilcher (165), Lachlan McNeil (149) and Diego Sotelo (125) are also 5-1.

All of Ghadiali’s wins have come via technical fall (three), pin (one) or major decision (one) as the graduate transfer from Campbell steps into the shoes of five-time NCAA qualifier and 2025 All-American Josh Heindselman. He is ranked #5 and tops the Wolverines in dual points with 25 on the strength of those bonus-point victories.

Ghadiali’s resume nearly equals Heindselman’s. He is a four-time national qualifier and 2024 All-American and has shown little rust coming off a redshirt season during which he wrestled only six matches.

Returning to his home state, the Warren Fitzgerald graduate and 2019 Michigan state champion owns a technical fall over NCAA qualifier David Szuba (Arizona State). His lone loss has been to two-time All-American and 2021 NCAA champion A.J. Ferrari (Nebraska), currently ranked #3.

Gilcher went 9-12 last season but was an NCAA qualifier. The sophomore has handled bumping up from 149 to 165 well. Beau and Brock Montanona started most duals at 165 last season before moving to higher weight classes this year.

Gilcher began the season unranked, but is now #18 after knocking off #14 Maxx Mayfield (Missouri), a three-time NCAA qualifier, and national qualifier Nicco Ruiz (Arizona State), ranked #16. His only loss has been a close, 5-4, decision to two-time NCAA qualifier and #31 Cesar Alvan (Columbia).

McNeil, a three-time All-American who transferred from North Carolina, has replaced Gilcher and Cam Catrabone at 149 after both bumped to higher weight classes.

He has climbed to #3 in the rankings after decisioning #16 Josh Edmond (Missouri), a three-time national qualifier, and pinning NCAA qualifier Wynton Denkins (Virginia), who is #29. McNeil has also beaten NCAA qualifier Richard Fedalen (Columbia).  

Arizona State’s Kaleb Larkin, ranked second, has handed McNeil his lone loss.

Soleto, a graduate transfer from Harvard, has taken over at 125 from NCAA qualifier Nolan Wertanen and Christian Tanefu.

Ranked #23, he was a national qualifier in 2023 and 2024 before falling short last season. Soleto’s best win thus far in a Michigan singlet is a decision over NCAA qualifier Keyveon Roller (#24, Virginia). 

His only loss has been to #17 Mack Mauger (Missouri).