EAST LANSING, Mich. – In what will be another loaded competition field, the Michigan State wrestling program heads to West Point, New York this weekend for Sunday's 2024 Black Knight Invitational. First whistle is scheduled for 10:00 AM and will be streamed live on FloWrestling.
"This week will be another step up in competition for our guys," said Michigan State head coach Roger Chandler. "Every weight class will have multiple ranked opponents that will force our guys to step up to the challenge when they take the mat. As always, it's an honor to compete at one of our service academies and it's a great experience for our team."
Joining Michigan State in the competition field are wrestlers from Army, Binghamton, Bloomsburg, Columbia, Gardner-Webb, Long Island, Penn State and Rutgers. A total of 22 ranked wrestlers are set to compete over the 10 weight classes on Sunday, including No. 25-ranked Spartan 197-pounder Remy Cotton.
Also competing for Michigan State will be Caleb Weiand (125), Andy Hampton (133), Tristan Lujan (133), Jaden Crumpler (141), Sean Larkin (141), Braden Stauffenberg (157), Jack Conley (157), Mason Stewart (157), Cam Adams (165), DJ Shannon (165), Ceasar Garza (174), Marty Larkin (174), Ryan Boucher (174), Cory Thomas (184), Luke Daly (184), Kael Wisler (197) and Max Vanadia (HVY).
Last season Michigan State placed fourth at the Black Knight Invitational scoring 85 team points. Wisler was the tournament champion at 197 pounds to claim his first individual tournament title. Five other Spartan competitors placed in the top three including Lujan who took third at 125 pounds and Shannon who placed third at 174. Daly was the second-place finisher at 197 where he battled with Wisler.
Sunday marks the sixth consecutive traditional wrestling season in which the Spartans have competed at one of our nation's service academies, wrestling at the Navy Classic four times and the Black Knight Invitational last season before returning to West Point this weekend.
LAST WEEK IN SPARTAN WRESTLING
MSU secured its second dual victory of the season last weekend in Athens, Ohio taking down Ohio University, 22-19. It marked the 24th consecutive non-conference dual victory for the Spartans dating back to 2020.
Bonus points were the difference in the dual despite both teams winning by bonus in four matches. The extra bonus points from Lujan's fall and Crumpler's tech fall helped MSU turn the tide in the dual. It was Lujan's season-debut for MSU as he enters his fifth and final year as a Spartan.
Michigan State 22, Ohio 19
November 17, 2024 – Athens, Ohio – Convocation Center
125: Caleb Weiand (MSU) major dec. Malachi O'Leary (Ohio), 12-0 | MSU 4-0
133: Tristan Lujan (MSU) fall (1:15) Mason Brugh (Ohio) | MSU 10-0
141: Jaden Crumpler (MSU) tech fall Paul Woo (Ohio), 17-0 | MSU 15-0
149: Logan Cravatas (Ohio) major dec. Brodie Dominique (MSU), 14-5 | MSU 15-4
157: #3 Peyten Kellar (Ohio) major dec. Braden Stauffenberg (MSU), 13-0 | MSU 15-8
165: DJ Shannon (MSU) major dec. Jack Lledo (Ohio), 16-3 | MSU 19-8
174: #22 Garrett Thompson (Ohio) major dec. Ceasar Garza (MSU), 13-2 | MSU 19-12
184: Jeremy Olszko (Ohio) dec. Luke Daly (MSU), 4-2 | MSU 19-15
197: #29 Remy Cotton (MSU) dec. Austin Starr (Ohio), 5-1 | MSU 22-15
HVY: #26 Jordan Greer (Ohio) major dec. Max Vanadia (MSU), 8-0 | MSU 22-19
UP NEXT
Michigan State wrestling is off competition until Sunday, December 15 when it heads west to face CSU Bakersfield for a 1:00 PM ET dual. It'll be the final dual of the 2024 calendar year for MSU, who resumes dual action in the New Year against No. 1-ranked Penn State on January 10.
Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
