Stevan Micic made waves this week when it was announced he would be transferring out of Northwestern.  Micic had a fantastic Redshirt season for the Wildcats and made a Junior World Team in June.

Once the news broke the questions became "Why leave?" and "Where to?" I was able to catch up with Stevan this weekend about his decision to leave Northwestern and what he's looking for in a potential school for the future.

When asked about what lead him to decide to leave Northwestern, Stevan had this to offer:

"I just don’t think it was the ideal training environment for me to get to the next level for my collegiate goals and my international goals to become a World/Olympic Champion one day. I don’t think it was the place for me to reach my goals."

Stevan is considering schools both inside and outside the Big 10.  Transferring within the Big 10 has additional potential complications for Stevan.

"With a Big 10 school, no matter what even with a full release I have to serve a year of residence and not compete. But I’m not really opposed to that for the Olympic training.  I’ll be able to train freestyle at their RTC and be able to go to all those senior tournaments and compete. And then next year I’d wrestle in college and have 3 years left."

The conversation with Stevan bounced around to several different directions, but it always landed on a common theme: Freestyle wrestling and the Olympic team.  

"I’m looking for a really good freestyle program. Sitting a year or not is not really a huge factor. It’s an Olympic year."

Despite being young, Micic doesn't feel it is unrealistic to have Olympic aspirations for next year: 

"If I can get to a place with an awesome RTC room and an awesome college room, I feel I can make the team. I really feel that. I’m not trying to BS anybody or myself. I’m trying to make realistic goals here. If I think I can do something, I can. I had a close match with Ramos at the OTC. I had some wins over Senior level guys there too. Everybody that’s at that weight class is really close.  There’s no Burroughs at 57.  Even at Worlds there’s not a Burroughs or Sadulaev type either."

Stevan makes it clear throughout the discussion that quality training partners, a strong RTC program and a good freestyle situation are paramount factors in his decision.

So what schools are in the running?  Stevan mentioned Michigan, Illinois, Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State and Arizona State as potential destinations.  There was a time ASU was the front runner, but that has since changed.

"At first I thought that was the best option. I’m really cool with the Valencias. I like Zeke Jones. They have JO over there, they have Ed Ruth. That’s sweet. I just don’t think they’re going to have the money for me. It’s kind of a stretch from home for me too. I’m lookin to stay in the Midwest near my family."

So who's the leader at this point in the Stevan Micic sweepstakes?

"The favorite right now that I’m looking at is Michigan. The RTC there is phenomenal, there’s awesome partners. I get along with Bormet really well and Andrew (Howe) really had good things to say about his time there. They’re getting more guys at the CKWC and I really enjoy going out there to train. And then you get a call from Iowa. It’s like man, this is rough!”

It's not just Michigan that is hot on the Micic trail.  Illinois is in the mix as well:

"Illinois is an option too. I'm real close to Mark Perry. He is just a great dude in general. He’s been cool with me, I can talk with him just as a wrestler. He didn't take things personally that I didn't choose Illinois in the first place. He knows what he’s doing with wrestling." 

Stevan gave a tentative outline on when he will potentially make a final decision.

"I’m trying to make the decision before camp August 2nd. I’d rather not make the decision when I’m there. When I get home from Junior Worlds, school will begin right after." 

The more I talked with Stevan the more apparent it became that he was very comfortable with the idea of only having three years of college eligibility.

"Metcalf is one of the best college wrestlers and made a legacy and he didn't even have 4 years of eligibility. Does that really matter to him now? I don’t think so."

 Junior Worlds is a huge tournament for Stevan, not only in what winning a medal there would mean as an accomplishment on its own.  It's also a key piece for Stevan to be able to earn an Olympic Redshirt year.  Stevan left little doubt where his focus was moving forward:

"I gotta medal at Junior Worlds to get an Olympic Redshirt.  I plan on winning it."