WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Michigan State wrestling team was one of 10 teams to partake in the Black Knight Invite that saw a 4th place team finish with 85 total points, while six wrestlers earned top-three finishes on Sunday.
Redshirt-freshman and 197 pounder Kael Wisler went 4-0 on the day to claim his first collegiate individual tournament title. It was a battle for Wisler with each match resulting in a decision, starting with a 9-7 victory over Northern Colorado's Franklin Cruz. In the quarterfinal's matchup against Army's Wolfgang Frable, Wisler took the early lead with an escape in the second period and controlled the ground game to pick-up the riding time point advancing to the semifinals. In the semifinals, Wisler needed less than two minutes to roll his way into the finals, pinning Danny Lawerence 1:47 in the first round. It was a Spartan versus Spartans final, as Wisler faced off against Luke Daly with Wisler cruising through winning 8-1.
Senior and 2023 National Qualifier No. 11 Chase Saldate made his 2023-24 debut going 3-1 on the day with a second-place finish. Steam rolling with two major decisions beating Drew Pepin (Gardner-Webb) 14-3, Al Desantis (Rutgers) 9-0, and had a 7-1 decision over Blake Saito (Brown). In the finals Saldate faced off against No. 14-ranked Vincent Zerban (Northern Colorado) where he fell 9-5 after a back-and-forth battle in the finals.
Junior 197 pounder Luke Daly also took home silver on Sunday. Daly started the day 3-0, all three victories came by decision. Daly opened the day with a 9-4 victory over Northern Colorado's Franklin Cruz, in the quarterfinals against Binghamton's Cayden Bevis, Daly worked back from a 2-0 deficit with an escape, a takedown, and riding time to win 5-3, earning his ticket to the semifinals. In the semifinals against Brown's James Araneo, it was an even 5-5 in the remaining seconds before Daly earned a much-needed takedown with five seconds left to pull out the 8-5 victory. In the finals, Daly ran into fellow Spartan Wisler. It was Daly second time placing in tournaments this season (placed fourth in the Clarion Open on Nov. 5).
Three Spartans took third place – 125 pounder and No. 31 Tristan Lujan opened with back-to-back commanding 8-2 decisions over Matthew Rowland (Gardner-Webb) and Brandon Chletsos (Rutgers). Lujan fell to the eventual winner Braeden Davis (Penn State) by a narrow 4-2 decision, then captured third with a medical forfeit.
No. 9-ranked and 165 pounder Caleb Fish started with a 17-7 major over Andrew Christie (Army) and a third round fall at the 5:55 mark against Baylor Fernandes (Northern Colorado). In the semifinals, Fish was in a 1-1 battle with Terrell Barraclough (Penn State) that went into sudden victory, after 1:40 a takedown from Barraclough led Fish to face Anthony White (Rutgers) and locking up his second-straight top-three finish to begin the season (placed second at the MSU open on Nov. 11).
Senior and 174 pounder DJ Shannon recorded his first top-three finish of the season with a strong performance in West Point. Following a first-round bye, Shannon faced Brown's Johnothan Conrad in the quarterfinals, with a strong second period where he recorded an escape then followed with a takedown was just enough to get the 4-3 decision victory. In the semifinals Shannon wrestled hard but fell to runner up Dillon Sheehy (Army) 5-3, before winning his third-place match by medical forfeit.
The Spartans begin dual action as they travel to Lancaster, Pa. to face a trio of teams in Bloomsburg, Franklin & Marshall, and Presbyterian on Sunday, Dec. 3.
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
125 Division:
Nick Corday
Round of 16 | Nick Corday (Michigan State) tech fall over Jared Chuquilin (Long Island University) 15-0
Quarterfinals | Ethan Berginc (Army) major dec Nick Corday (Michigan State) 14-2
Cons. of Eight #2 | Nick Corday (Michigan State) fall over Matthew Rowland (Gardner-Webb) 6:40
Cons. of Four | Gary Steen (Penn State) tech fall over Nick Corday (Michigan State) 19-4
Tristan Lujan – 3rd
Round of 16 | Tristan Lujan (Michigan State) dec Matthew Rowland (Gardner-Webb) 8-2
Quarterfinals | Tristan Lujan (Michigan State) dec Brandon Chletsos (Rutgers) 8-2
Semifinals | Braden Davis (Penn State) dec Tristan Lujan (Michigan State) 4-2
Third Place Match | Tristan Lujan (Michigan State) M FOR Robert Howard (Penn State)
133 Division:
Andy Hampton
Round of 16 | Andy Hampton (Michigan State) dec Cole French (Buffalo) 5-0
Quarterfinals | Aaron Nagao (Penn State) major dec Andy Hampton (Michigan State) 14-1
Cons. of Eight #2 | Baylor Shunk (Penn State) major dec Andy Hampton (Michigan State) 11-1
141 Division:
Jordan Hamdan
Round of 16 | Jordan Hamdan (Michigan State) tech fall over Bo DiJulius (Long Island) 22-1
Quarterfinals | Todd Carter (Gardner-Webb) major dec Jordan Hamdan (Michigan State) 13-5
Cons. of Eight #2 | Jordan Hamdan (Michigan State) dec Ian Oswalt (Brown) 5-2
Cons. of Four | David Evans (Penn State) dec Jordan Hamdan (Michigan State) 12-6
149 Division:
Braden Stauffenberg
Round of 16 | Zach Price (Gardner-Webb) dec Braden Stauffenberg (Michigan State) 9-7
Cons. of Eight #1 | Michael Cetta (Gardner-Webb) fall over Braden Stauffenberg (Michigan State) :20
157 Division:
Chase Saldate – 2nd
Round of 16 | Chase Saldate (Michigan State) major dec Drew Pepin (Gardner-Webb) 14-3
Quarterfinals | Chase Saldate (Michigan State) dec Blake Saito (Brown) 7-1
Semifinals | Chase Saldate (Michigan State) major dec Al Desantis (Rutgers) 9-0
Finals | Vincent Zerban (Northern Colorado) dec Chase Saldate (Michigan State) 9-5
165 Division:
Caleb Fish – 3rd
Round of 16 | Caleb Fish (Michigan State) major dec. Andrew Christie (Army) 17-7
Quarterfinals | Caleb Fish (Michigan State) fall over Baylor Fernandes (Northern Colorado) 5:55
Semifinals | Terrell Barraclough (Penn State) dec Caleb Fish (Michigan State) 4-1 SV
Third Place Match | Caleb Fish (Michigan State) dec Anthony White (Rutgers) 5-3
174 Division:
DJ Shannon – 3rd Quarterfinals | DJ Shannon (Michigan State) dec. Johnothan Conrad (Brown) 4-1
Semifinals | Dillon Sheehy (Army) dec DJ Shannon (Michigan State) 5-3
Third Place Match | DJ Shannon (Michigan State) M FOR Marcus Petite (Buffalo)
Ryan Boucher
Round of 16 | Ryan Boucher (Michigan State) dec Gunner Filipowicz (Army) 4-1.
Quarterfinals | Shane Cartegena-Walsh (Rutgers) major dec Ryan Boucher (Michigan State) 12-2
Cons. of Eight #2 | Dylan Schell (Buffalo) dec Ryan Boucher (Michigan State) 12-9
184 Division:
Layne Malczewski
Quarterfinals | Chase Kranitz (Buffalo) M FOR Layne Malczewski (Michigan State)
Luke Vanadia
Round of 16 | Luke Vanadia (Michigan State) major dec Nick Olivieri (Brown) 14-2
Quarterfinals | Josh Barr (Penn State) dec Luke Vanadia (Michigan State) 9-5
Cons. of Eight #2 | Luke Vanadia (Michigan State) tech fall over Jack Kelly (Penn State) 21-5
Cons. of Four | Branson Britten (Northern Colorado) dec Luke Vanadia (Michigan State) 5-2
197 Division:
Luke Daly – 2nd
Round of 16 | Luke Daly (Michigan State) dec. Franklin Cruz (Northern Colorado) 9-4
Quarterfinals | Luke Daly (Michigan State) dec Cayden Bevis (Binghamton) 5-3
Semifinals | Luke Daly (Michigan State) dec James Araneo (Brown) 8-5
Finals | Kael Wisler (Michigan State) dec Luke Daly (Michigan State) 8-1
Kael Wisler – 1st
Round of 16 | Kael Wisler (Michigan State) dec Lonell Owens-Pabon (Buffalo) 9-7
Quarterfinals | Kael Wisler (Michigan State) dec Wolfgang Frable (Army) 2-0
Semifinals | Kael Wisler (Michigan State) fall over Danny Lawerence (Army) 1:47
Finals | Kael Wisler (Michigan State) dec Luke Daly (Michigan State) 8-1
285 Division:
Josh Terrill
Round of 16 | Alex Semenenko (Brown) dec Josh Terrill (Michigan State) 9-7
Cons. of Eight #1 | Josh Terrill (Michigan State) tech fall over Peyton McComas (Gardner-Webb) 19-4
Cons. of Eight #2 | Josh Terrill (Michigan State) dec Charles Tibbitts (Binghamton) 4-2
Cons. of Four | John Odonnell (Rutgers) dec Josh Terrill (Michigan State) 2-0
Nick West
Round of 16 | Xavier Doolin (Northern Colorado) major dec Nick West (Michigan State) 12-0
Cons. of Eight #1 | Tristen Hitchcock (Army) dec Nick West (Michigan State) 6-0
Max Vanadia
Round of 16 | Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) fall over Max Vanadia (Michigan State) 4:33
Cons. of Eight #1 | Max Vanadia (Michigan State) major dec Alex Hamrick (Brown) 11-1
Cons. of Eight #2 | Alex Semenenko (Brown) dec Max Vanadia (Michigan State) 4-1
Recap courtesy of MSU Athletics.
Redshirt-freshman and 197 pounder Kael Wisler went 4-0 on the day to claim his first collegiate individual tournament title. It was a battle for Wisler with each match resulting in a decision, starting with a 9-7 victory over Northern Colorado's Franklin Cruz. In the quarterfinal's matchup against Army's Wolfgang Frable, Wisler took the early lead with an escape in the second period and controlled the ground game to pick-up the riding time point advancing to the semifinals. In the semifinals, Wisler needed less than two minutes to roll his way into the finals, pinning Danny Lawerence 1:47 in the first round. It was a Spartan versus Spartans final, as Wisler faced off against Luke Daly with Wisler cruising through winning 8-1.
Senior and 2023 National Qualifier No. 11 Chase Saldate made his 2023-24 debut going 3-1 on the day with a second-place finish. Steam rolling with two major decisions beating Drew Pepin (Gardner-Webb) 14-3, Al Desantis (Rutgers) 9-0, and had a 7-1 decision over Blake Saito (Brown). In the finals Saldate faced off against No. 14-ranked Vincent Zerban (Northern Colorado) where he fell 9-5 after a back-and-forth battle in the finals.
Junior 197 pounder Luke Daly also took home silver on Sunday. Daly started the day 3-0, all three victories came by decision. Daly opened the day with a 9-4 victory over Northern Colorado's Franklin Cruz, in the quarterfinals against Binghamton's Cayden Bevis, Daly worked back from a 2-0 deficit with an escape, a takedown, and riding time to win 5-3, earning his ticket to the semifinals. In the semifinals against Brown's James Araneo, it was an even 5-5 in the remaining seconds before Daly earned a much-needed takedown with five seconds left to pull out the 8-5 victory. In the finals, Daly ran into fellow Spartan Wisler. It was Daly second time placing in tournaments this season (placed fourth in the Clarion Open on Nov. 5).
Three Spartans took third place – 125 pounder and No. 31 Tristan Lujan opened with back-to-back commanding 8-2 decisions over Matthew Rowland (Gardner-Webb) and Brandon Chletsos (Rutgers). Lujan fell to the eventual winner Braeden Davis (Penn State) by a narrow 4-2 decision, then captured third with a medical forfeit.
No. 9-ranked and 165 pounder Caleb Fish started with a 17-7 major over Andrew Christie (Army) and a third round fall at the 5:55 mark against Baylor Fernandes (Northern Colorado). In the semifinals, Fish was in a 1-1 battle with Terrell Barraclough (Penn State) that went into sudden victory, after 1:40 a takedown from Barraclough led Fish to face Anthony White (Rutgers) and locking up his second-straight top-three finish to begin the season (placed second at the MSU open on Nov. 11).
Senior and 174 pounder DJ Shannon recorded his first top-three finish of the season with a strong performance in West Point. Following a first-round bye, Shannon faced Brown's Johnothan Conrad in the quarterfinals, with a strong second period where he recorded an escape then followed with a takedown was just enough to get the 4-3 decision victory. In the semifinals Shannon wrestled hard but fell to runner up Dillon Sheehy (Army) 5-3, before winning his third-place match by medical forfeit.
The Spartans begin dual action as they travel to Lancaster, Pa. to face a trio of teams in Bloomsburg, Franklin & Marshall, and Presbyterian on Sunday, Dec. 3.
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
125 Division:
Nick Corday
Round of 16 | Nick Corday (Michigan State) tech fall over Jared Chuquilin (Long Island University) 15-0
Quarterfinals | Ethan Berginc (Army) major dec Nick Corday (Michigan State) 14-2
Cons. of Eight #2 | Nick Corday (Michigan State) fall over Matthew Rowland (Gardner-Webb) 6:40
Cons. of Four | Gary Steen (Penn State) tech fall over Nick Corday (Michigan State) 19-4
Tristan Lujan – 3rd
Round of 16 | Tristan Lujan (Michigan State) dec Matthew Rowland (Gardner-Webb) 8-2
Quarterfinals | Tristan Lujan (Michigan State) dec Brandon Chletsos (Rutgers) 8-2
Semifinals | Braden Davis (Penn State) dec Tristan Lujan (Michigan State) 4-2
Third Place Match | Tristan Lujan (Michigan State) M FOR Robert Howard (Penn State)
133 Division:
Andy Hampton
Round of 16 | Andy Hampton (Michigan State) dec Cole French (Buffalo) 5-0
Quarterfinals | Aaron Nagao (Penn State) major dec Andy Hampton (Michigan State) 14-1
Cons. of Eight #2 | Baylor Shunk (Penn State) major dec Andy Hampton (Michigan State) 11-1
141 Division:
Jordan Hamdan
Round of 16 | Jordan Hamdan (Michigan State) tech fall over Bo DiJulius (Long Island) 22-1
Quarterfinals | Todd Carter (Gardner-Webb) major dec Jordan Hamdan (Michigan State) 13-5
Cons. of Eight #2 | Jordan Hamdan (Michigan State) dec Ian Oswalt (Brown) 5-2
Cons. of Four | David Evans (Penn State) dec Jordan Hamdan (Michigan State) 12-6
149 Division:
Braden Stauffenberg
Round of 16 | Zach Price (Gardner-Webb) dec Braden Stauffenberg (Michigan State) 9-7
Cons. of Eight #1 | Michael Cetta (Gardner-Webb) fall over Braden Stauffenberg (Michigan State) :20
157 Division:
Chase Saldate – 2nd
Round of 16 | Chase Saldate (Michigan State) major dec Drew Pepin (Gardner-Webb) 14-3
Quarterfinals | Chase Saldate (Michigan State) dec Blake Saito (Brown) 7-1
Semifinals | Chase Saldate (Michigan State) major dec Al Desantis (Rutgers) 9-0
Finals | Vincent Zerban (Northern Colorado) dec Chase Saldate (Michigan State) 9-5
165 Division:
Caleb Fish – 3rd
Round of 16 | Caleb Fish (Michigan State) major dec. Andrew Christie (Army) 17-7
Quarterfinals | Caleb Fish (Michigan State) fall over Baylor Fernandes (Northern Colorado) 5:55
Semifinals | Terrell Barraclough (Penn State) dec Caleb Fish (Michigan State) 4-1 SV
Third Place Match | Caleb Fish (Michigan State) dec Anthony White (Rutgers) 5-3
174 Division:
DJ Shannon – 3rd Quarterfinals | DJ Shannon (Michigan State) dec. Johnothan Conrad (Brown) 4-1
Semifinals | Dillon Sheehy (Army) dec DJ Shannon (Michigan State) 5-3
Third Place Match | DJ Shannon (Michigan State) M FOR Marcus Petite (Buffalo)
Ryan Boucher
Round of 16 | Ryan Boucher (Michigan State) dec Gunner Filipowicz (Army) 4-1.
Quarterfinals | Shane Cartegena-Walsh (Rutgers) major dec Ryan Boucher (Michigan State) 12-2
Cons. of Eight #2 | Dylan Schell (Buffalo) dec Ryan Boucher (Michigan State) 12-9
184 Division:
Layne Malczewski
Quarterfinals | Chase Kranitz (Buffalo) M FOR Layne Malczewski (Michigan State)
Luke Vanadia
Round of 16 | Luke Vanadia (Michigan State) major dec Nick Olivieri (Brown) 14-2
Quarterfinals | Josh Barr (Penn State) dec Luke Vanadia (Michigan State) 9-5
Cons. of Eight #2 | Luke Vanadia (Michigan State) tech fall over Jack Kelly (Penn State) 21-5
Cons. of Four | Branson Britten (Northern Colorado) dec Luke Vanadia (Michigan State) 5-2
197 Division:
Luke Daly – 2nd
Round of 16 | Luke Daly (Michigan State) dec. Franklin Cruz (Northern Colorado) 9-4
Quarterfinals | Luke Daly (Michigan State) dec Cayden Bevis (Binghamton) 5-3
Semifinals | Luke Daly (Michigan State) dec James Araneo (Brown) 8-5
Finals | Kael Wisler (Michigan State) dec Luke Daly (Michigan State) 8-1
Kael Wisler – 1st
Round of 16 | Kael Wisler (Michigan State) dec Lonell Owens-Pabon (Buffalo) 9-7
Quarterfinals | Kael Wisler (Michigan State) dec Wolfgang Frable (Army) 2-0
Semifinals | Kael Wisler (Michigan State) fall over Danny Lawerence (Army) 1:47
Finals | Kael Wisler (Michigan State) dec Luke Daly (Michigan State) 8-1
285 Division:
Josh Terrill
Round of 16 | Alex Semenenko (Brown) dec Josh Terrill (Michigan State) 9-7
Cons. of Eight #1 | Josh Terrill (Michigan State) tech fall over Peyton McComas (Gardner-Webb) 19-4
Cons. of Eight #2 | Josh Terrill (Michigan State) dec Charles Tibbitts (Binghamton) 4-2
Cons. of Four | John Odonnell (Rutgers) dec Josh Terrill (Michigan State) 2-0
Nick West
Round of 16 | Xavier Doolin (Northern Colorado) major dec Nick West (Michigan State) 12-0
Cons. of Eight #1 | Tristen Hitchcock (Army) dec Nick West (Michigan State) 6-0
Max Vanadia
Round of 16 | Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) fall over Max Vanadia (Michigan State) 4:33
Cons. of Eight #1 | Max Vanadia (Michigan State) major dec Alex Hamrick (Brown) 11-1
Cons. of Eight #2 | Alex Semenenko (Brown) dec Max Vanadia (Michigan State) 4-1
Recap courtesy of MSU Athletics.
