EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State wrestling continues its 2024-25 campaign on the road this weekend traveling to Athens, Ohio for a 1:00 p.m. dual at Ohio University on Sunday, November 17. Sunday's dual will be streamed on ESPN+ ($).
"Ohio is a strong program with a number of ranked guys in their lineup that will be a great early season test for our team," said Michigan State head wrestling coach Roger Chandler. "They're a well coached team that wrestles hard in every position. Our guys will need to be ready to wrestle hard for all seven minutes."
The First Whistle
This is the second consecutive season that MSU has met Ohio for a dual, with MSU winning 20-11 on January 6, 2024. Previously the teams hadn't met since 2015 when Ohio won 34-3. MSU is 11-3-1 all-time against Ohio dating back to 1926-27 when the Spartans won 17-10. MSU has won 23 straight non-conference duals dating back to 2/21/20 at Central Michigan (L, 21-15).
Michigan State opened its dual season with a 20-12 victory over American University as redshirt freshman Remy Cotton secured the dual with a tech fall victory at 197 pounds. The Spartans followed up with strong performances at the MSU Open in week two where they finished with nine placewinners overall and one champion redshirt freshman Caleb Weiand, who took first in the 125-pound freshman/sophomore division.
MSU will be one of the younger teams in the B1G this season, with 10 wrestlers in this week's probables listed as a redshirt sophomore or younger.
Michigan State returns one NCAA qualifier and five other wrestlers that started in 10 or more duals for the Spartans last season. Redshirt senior Tristan Lujan is MSU's returning NCAA qualifer and is joined by redshirt junior Andy Hampton, redshirt sophomore Braden Stauffenberg, redshirt senior DJ Shannon, redshirt sophomore Kael Wisler and redshirt sophomore Josh Terrill as a returning starter. Returning to the lineup is redshirt sophomore Cesar Garza at 174 pounds, who started in 10 duals as a true freshman in 2022-23 before redshirting during the 2023-24 campaign.
| MICHIGAN STATE PROBABLES |
| 125 | Caleb Weiand | R-Fr. |
| 133 | Tristan Lujan | R-Sr. |
| OR | Andy Hampton | R-Jr. |
| 141 | Jaden Crumpler | R-Fr. |
| 149 | Clayton Jones III | R-Fr. |
| OR | Brodie Dominique | Fr. |
| 157 | Braden Stauffenberg | R-So. |
| OR | Jack Conley | R-Fr. |
| 165 | DJ Shannon | R-Sr. |
| 174 | Ceasar Garza | R-So. |
| 184 | Luke Daly | R-Jr. |
| 197 | #29 Remy Cotton | R-Fr. |
| OR | Kael Wisler | R-So. |
| 285 | Max Vanadia | R-Fr. |
First Look: Ohio
Ohio started its season 1-0 with a dual victory over Wisconsin on Nov. 1, 25-14 in the Wisconsin wrestling showcase. The Bobcats were in attendance at the MSU Open last weekend where Jeremy Olszko won the 174 pound freshman/sophomore bracket and Peyten Kellar won the open 157 pound division. Jordan Greer took second at heavyweight and Garrett Thompson placed second at 174.
All three of Kellar, Greer and Thompson were NCAA qualifiers in 2024. Kellar is a two-time NCAA qualifier and took 5th at the championships last season to earn All-American status. Kellar is also slated to participate at the 2024 NWCA All-Star Classic held at Penn State at 7 PM on Saturday, November 16th where he'll wrestle Penn State's Tyler Kasak.
At the MSU Open last weekend, Kellar took out ranked opponents in Chase Saldate (Michigan) and Johnny Lovett (Central Michigan) en route to the title.
| OHIO PROBABLES |
| 125 | Ryan Meek | So. |
| OR | Malachi O'Leary | R-So. |
| 133 | Mason Brugh | R-So. |
| OR | TJ England | R-Sr. |
| 141 | Kaden Jett | R-Fr. |
| OR | Paul Woo | R-So. |
| OR | Pierce Taylor | R-So. |
| 149 | Logan Cravatas | R-So. |
| 157 | #3 Peyten Kellar | R-Jr. |
| 165 | Jack Lledo | R-So. |
| 174 | #22 Garrett Thompson | R-Jr. |
| 184 | Jeremy Olszko | R-Fr. |
| OR | Drew Linciome | R-Fr. |
| 197 | Austin Starr | R-So. |
| 285 | #26 Jordan Greer | R-Sr. |
Last Meeting - Jan. 6, 2024 in East Lansing
Michigan State 30, Ohio 11
125 | Tristan Lujan (MSU) dec. Ryan Meek (OU) 8-3 | MSU 3-0
133 | Mason Brugh (OU) SV-1 Andy Hampton (MSU) 5-2 | Tied 3-3
141 | Jordan Hamdan (MSU) major dec. Aidan Waszak (OU) 12-4 | MSU 7-3
149 | Derek Raike (OU) major dec. Braden Stauffenberg (MSU) 11-3 | Tied 7-7
157 | Chase Saldate (MSU) fall over Dan Segura (OU) 2:33 | MSU 13-7
165 | Caleb Fish (MSU) dec. Garrett Thompson (OU) 7-1 | MSU 16-7
174 | Sal Perrine (OU) major dec. Marty Larkin (MSU) 15-2 | MSU 16-11
184 | Layne Malczewski (MSU) major dec. Zayne Lehman (OU) 8-0 | MSU 20-11
197 | Kael Wisler (MSU) major dec. Austin Starr (OU) 14-3 | MSU 24-11
285 | Josh Terrill (MSU) fall over Jordan Greer (OU) 6:05 | MSU 30-11
MSU Open Wrap Up
Michigan State had three finalists and nine total placewinners at the 2024 MSU Open, which included two wrestlers that battled back for a third-place finish. Weiand was the Spartans lone champion of the day, but was joined as a finalist by redshirt freshman Jack Conley (157) and freshman Cory Thomas (184). Both placed second in their respective freshman/sophomore brackets.
Freshman Mason Stewart fell in the semifinals of the 157-pound freshman/sophomore bracket and later placed fourth. Cotton and redshirt junior Luke Daly took third, with Daly placing in the 184 pound open bracket. Redshirt sophomore Kael Wisler was defeated by Cotton for third at 197 to take fourth. Redshirt sophomore Ceasar Garza (174) and redshirt freshman Max Vanadia (HVY) took fifth.
Remy In The Rankings
Redshirt freshman Remy Cotton worked his way into the rankings this week after a 5-1 start to his season. Cotton ranks #27 in the FloWrestling rankings and is #29 on InterMat as the lone ranked Spartan competitor.
Cotton wrestled back to place third at the MSU Open last weekend, winning two matches by bonus with a pin of Kent State's Blake Schaffer (1:22) and a major decision over Michigan's Hayden Walters (12-3). Cotton earned his first career dual victory in MSU's season opener at American with a tech fall over Liam Volk-Klos (21-6).
Up Next
Michigan State travels to the Black Knight Invitational next weekend in West Point, N.Y. hosted by Army University. The Spartans took 4th at the invite last season where Kael Wisler claimed the individual title at 197 pounds.
Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
