Q&A with Stevan

Olympian Stevan Micic has announced his return to the Michigan Wolverines for a final season. The 25-year-old on his opportunity to win a national title and on his goals in freestyle wrestling.

Stevan, you have only competed in 3 college seasons. What does this last season as a Michigan Wolverine mean to you?

Stevan Micic: "It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine and fight for our common goal, the NCAA Championship. I've only competed in 3 college seasons and finished 4th, 2nd and 3rd at 133 lbs for Michigan University. Needless to say that it would be a dream coming true to win that trophy on March 19, 2022 in Detroit."

You said, there was no place you would rather compete for and call home. So when was the decision taken and on the bases of which criteria?

Stevan Micic: "Looking at what I have in Michigan it was an easy decision. My coaches, Sean Bormet and Sergey Beloglazov, my teammates and my fans have always supported me and now I have the chance to achieve a lasting legacy that I can leave at Michigan forever. Being an NCAA champion is something I have one last shot of doing and I'm not going to leave any stones unturned."

It's no secret that your main focus as Serbia's first Freestyler is on becoming an Olympic Champion and World Champion respectively...

Stevan Micic: "As I said before, Michigan is the place where I can accomplish my freestyle and college goals together simultaneously. I am planning to move up a weight class to 61 kg and, God willing, to fight for gold at 65 kg in Paris 2024. The fight for glory in the Big Ten National Championships 2022 will have a positive impact on my Freestyle career. I am excited to take the upcoming challenges and enhance my wrestling, both in freestyle and folkstyle."

You have launched a new website and have an active presence on Instagram. Is interacting on the internet with fans something you enjoy?

Stevan Micic: "Yes, absolutely. I have great fans here in Michigan but also in Serbia and I also want to interact more with friends and partners who want to take this path together with us."

NCAA has finally started allowing athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness, that's good news for successful wrestlers with Division I wrestling setting national viewership records throughout the '20-21 season...

Stevan Micic: "These are exciting times for our sport that has definitely gained some mainstream popularity given that wrestling is UFC's dominant mixed martial art. At the same time we also have to give credit to UWW president Nenad Lalovic and his team for bringing back our great sport into the limelights. The international wrestling family is growing and I am very happy to be part of it."

Thanks and good Luck for the ucpoming season!

Photo Credit: Michigan University