Michael DeAugustino expressed gratitude to Northwestern in April when he announced his intention to enter the transfer portal after five seasons with the Wildcats. 

“I am forever thankful for Northwestern — this place will always be close to my heart,” he wrote on Instagram. 

Three weeks later, the 2022 All-American and four-time NCAA qualifier returned to the social media platform to announce his transfer destination — the University of Michigan.

"I’m seeing blue, time to get wild in Ann Arbor," DeAugustino posted.

Though hampered by a nagging knee injury early this season, the 125-pounder is off to a wild start with the Wolverines, going 8-2. 

What's gone most wild when it comes to DeAugustino, however, is his voluminous, curly head of brown hair and scruffy beard. Neither has been so much as trimmed since at least since early September. The sixth-year senior's facial hair now stretches to the middle of his neck. 

"Two years ago, it all got pretty long, but not like this, and then (the NCAA) put in that facial hair rule last season, so I had to shave it," DeAugustino said. "Once they reversed that rule, though, I was ready to let it go long again. I started letting it all grow out in September and here we are."

Beardless Michigan coach Sean Bormet, who sports a shaved head, has offered his services should DeAugustino decide enough is enough. Teammates have been speculating when that might be. 

"Coach Bormet has offered to be my barber and give us matching hairstyles when I'm ever ready to cut it all off," said DeAugustino, who has no plans to do so anytime soon. "At first, I think my teammates were not sure how serious I was about just letting the hair and beard grow but gradually realized I was very serious. They might be placing bets now on when I'll cut it." 

DeAugustino, currently ranked #15, has proven a safe bet to succeed two-time NCAA qualifier Jack Medley in the lineup. He is 4-1 since returning after missing a month to let his knee heal, including a pair of technical falls.

In his latest outing, DeAugustino hit some hair-raising, lightning-quick moves against #21 Brendan McCrone of Ohio State, forcing a 16-1 technical fall during a dual the Wolverines lost in heartbreaking fashion, 20-19, on a tie-breaker. 

DeAugustino has also knocked off #16 Dean Peterson (Rutgers) and #20 Jordan Tanner (South Dakota State), both two-time NCAA qualifiers, along with #26 Spencer Moore (North Carolina). 

His only losses have been to #2 Braeden Davis (Penn State) and an injury default loss to #18 Brett Ungar (Cornell). 

"It's been exciting to be wrestling again after getting back to full health," he said. "That's been a big relief because the injury was getting a little annoying. I certainly didn't like losing to Davis, but things like that are growth moments. For me, it's all about learning, working hard to improve and being ready to do great things in March."

DeAugustino has upped his career mark to 63-30 and appears poised to recapture his 2021-22 form when he finished 15-6 and placed fourth at the NCAA Championships. He was ranked among the top five nationally during the first half of last season before finishing 10-9. 

DeAugustino placed in the top five at the Big Ten Tournament for the fourth straight year, taking fifth, but went just 1-2 at the NCAA Championships. 

He could face a major test Friday against #4 Drake Ayala when Iowa visits Crisler Arena. Ayala edged DeAugustino, 6-5, during a 2022 dual in their only meeting. 

A clash against #9 Caleb Smith (Nebraska), a three-time NCAA qualifier, looms Feb. 9. DeAugustino took their only meeting with a 5-2 decision during last season's NCAA Championships. 

"Whether I'm going against the top guy in the country or somebody who doesn't have the greatest record, I always approach matches the same way," DeAugustino said. "Friday is going to be fun, the last home dual of my career already, and the atmosphere at Crisler with Iowa coming in is going to be electric. In the end, though, it's another opportunity to focus on what I do well and to better myself."

DeAugustino has done well enough to own at least one victory over four wrestlers currently ranked ahead of him. Besides Smith, he has also bested top-ranked Matt Ramos (Purdue), #6 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin), #10 Brandon Kaylor (Oregon State). 

After graduating from Northwestern with a Bachelor's degree in journalism and Master's in sport management, DeAugustino arrived in Ann Arbor in mid-June and spent the summer working mostly with wrestlers from the Cliff Keen Club's stable of World and Olympic medalists.

"I transferred to Michigan because I felt it covered all the bases as far as what I was looking for in a program and I strongly felt the coaching staff would really help me to become a better wrestler in every way," he said. "I was pretty comfortable with the team and I've always been a team guy. I perform better in a team atmosphere and the atmosphere at Michigan was a big part of why I came here."

DeAugustino did not leave Northwestern entirely behind, of course, because fellow All-Americans Chris Cannon and Lucas Davison transferred with him from Evanston. They share an apartment and All-American teammates Cam Amine, Will Lewan and Shane Griffith are among their neighbors.

"Living with Chris and Lucas has certainly made transferring easier, along with talking to (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club's) Matt Finesilver about his transfer to Michigan (from Duke) last season," said DeAugustino, who is pursuing a Master's in social work. "Getting to know new teammates I'm motivated to perform well in front of has also been great for me."

DeAugustino has also been amazed by all the love the program receives from all around the campus and community. 

"The coolest thing, for me, has been seeing how much support wrestling gets from around town," he said. "Whenever we are out somewhere as a team and so many people are saying 'What's up' to coach Bormet and wishing him well. The excitement the crowd brings to Crisler during duals is amazing. The entire support system that's in place is incredible."

DeAugustino has always enjoyed a strong support system, beginning with his family and its rich wrestling legacy. 

His father, Steve, wrestled at Maryland and coached the Flagler Palm Coast High School team in Florida for 27 seasons, winning more than 300 duals and three state championships. He then served as the school's athletic director from 2007-24 and plans to return to the wrestling program as an assistant coach next season.

Michael will need to make the NCAA Championships podium for a second time this season to match grandfather Stephen, a two-time All-American at Lock Haven before also becoming a successful high school coach for 40 years. He guided three Pennsylvania programs to more than 300 dual wins.

"We have a strong, successful wrestling family, but I was never pushed into wrestling," Michael said. "I did start wrestling at a young age, but I was allowed to go at my own pace. I think it helped that I was not doing things like cutting weight at age 7, for example, and going to Tulsa Nationals and having my dad yelling at me in practices or anything like that."

DeAugustino began wrestling at age 4, inspired by watching brother Steve, who is 11 years older, compete in high school. 

At first, it was very unorganized against unsuspecting opponents.

"Yeah, I was wrestling and tackling kids in my daycare because that's what I watched my brother doing," he said. "My parents were like 'That's not really what you should be doing', and put me in an organized wrestling program. I just wrestled mostly in local tournaments until about my sophomore year of high school."

DeAugustino then began to enjoy some success on the national stage, going 11-0 during appearances in the National High School Duals and finishing third at the Journeyman Classic. He also grew plenty as a wrestler while training at Central Florida Wrestling Academy in Orlando, about 90 minutes from his home in Palm Coast. 

Meanwhile, DeAugustino was a three-time state placer for Flagler Palm Coast, including state runner-up as a sophomore.

Still, he didn't possess the kind of resume that catches the eye of Division I programs. Coaches weren’t coming to DeAugustino, so he went to them, sending emails to nearly 60 Division I coaches. 

He heard back from a few, eventually landing at Northwestern. After redshirting his first season, DeAugustino qualified for the 2020 NCAA Championships and was seeded eighth before the COVID-19 pandemic shut sports down. 

He continued to progress, reaching the round of 12 in 2021 and the podium the next season. 

"For me, it was just matter of finding a Division I program willing to give me a chance," DeAugustino said. "I learned that it does not matter you're background or what you achieved before. Everybody starts over at the college level and I took advantage of that opportunity."

Now, DeAugustino is intent on taking advantage of his final opportunity to compete in the Big Ten and NCAA Championships and, hopefully, bask in team success as well. 

When healthy, Michigan's lineup boasts All-Americans at six weight classes in addition to three-time NCAA qualifier Dylan Ragusin, currently #4 at 133, standout freshman Sergio Lemley (#19 at 141) and Jaden Bullock (#16 at 184), who is enjoying a breakout season.

However, only Davison and Bullock have wrestled all eight duals this season. The Wolverines are 5-3 overall, 3-2 in the Big Ten. 

"Ultimately, I'm working with the goal of a Big Ten and national championship and so is our team," he said. "I plan to be wrestling at my best in March and our team should be at full health by then and ready to thrive in the tournament format, so other teams can enjoy their dual wins over us for now. We have a bunch of talented, veteran guys who continue getting better."