EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State wrestling opens its 2024-25 campaign this weekend traveling to the nation's capital for a 1:00 p.m. dual at American University on Saturday, November 2. Saturday's dual will be streamed on ESPN+ ($).
"Looking forward to watching this team get into their first dual of the year and seeing how they have grown in competition since last season," said Michigan State head coach Roger Chandler. "There are a lot of new young faces this season and I look forward to watching them make their mark on Spartan Wrestling."
Michigan State opens its season with a dual for the first time since 2015-16, with Saturday marking the third time in the last three seasons that the Spartans have met American for a non-conference dual. MSU is 2-0 all-time against American, winning 33-0 on Nov. 18, 2022 and 28-12 on Jan. 5, 2024.
| 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. |
| 157 | Braden Stauffenberg | R-So. |
| 165 | DJ Shannon | R-Sr. |
| 174 | Ceasar Garza | R-So. |
| OR | Marty Larkin | R-Sr. |
| 184 | Luke Daly | R-Jr. |
| 197 | #26 Kael Wisler | R-So. |
| OR | Remy Cotton | R-Fr. |
| 285 | Josh Terrill | R-So. |
| OR | Max Vanadia | R-Fr. |
The First Whistle
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 qualifier 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. Redshirt sophomores Wisler and Terrill aim to earn their first NCAA Tournament qualifications this season after coming up just short a year ago. Terrill was 25-15 in his first season as a starter and Wisler finished 26-14 as a redshirt freshman.
Michigan State will be one of the younger teams in the B1G this season, with nine wrestlers in the opening weekend probables listed as a redshirt sophomore or younger.
MSU went 8-0 against non-conference opponents in 2023 and was won 22 straight non-con duals dating back to 2/21/20 at Central Michigan (L, 21-15).
First Look: American
American University has strong leadership headed by fourth-year head coach Jason Borrelli, the 2021 Dan Gable National Coach of the Year. AU won eight duals for the second straight season a year ago, matching the most dual wins in the past 13 years for the program.
Maximilian Leete placed fifth at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships at 133 pounds to earn an automatic big to the NCAA Tournament. Jack Maida, Jack Nies and Will Jarrell are also former EIWA placewinners. Maida took fifth at 133 in 2023 and Nies placed sixth at 157. Jarrell was the ninth-place finisher at 285 in 2024.
Maida qualified for the NCAA Tournament at 133 in 2023 to mark Borelli's first qualifier at American. Maida, who competed at 125 in 2024, will bump back up this season but to 141 pounds. At 125, Maida pulled an upset over Virginia Techís 2023 All-American Eddie Ventresca.
| AMERICAN PROBABLES |
| 125 | JJ Peace | Fr. |
| OR | Coen Bainey | R-Fr. |
| 133 | Maximilian Leete | Sr. |
| OR | Shamil Kalamatov | Sr. |
| 141 | Jack Maida | Sr. |
| OR | Cael McIntyre | So. |
| 149 | Gage Owen | So. |
| 157 | Jack Nies | Grad. |
| 165 | Austin Craft | Fr. |
| OR | Kaden Milheim | So. |
| 174 | Caleb Campos | R-So. |
| 184 | Lucas White | Sr. |
| 197 | Liam Volk-Klos | R-So. |
| 285 | #26 Will Jarrell | Grad. |
| OR | Emmanuel Ulrich | R-Fr. |
Last Meeting - Jan. 5, 2024 in East Lansing
Michigan State 28, American 12
133 | Maximillian Leete (AU) fall over Andy Hampton (MSU) 1:50 | AU 6-0
141 | Jordan Hamdan (MSU) dec. Raymond Lopez (AU) 8-4 | AU 6-3
149 | Braden Stauffenberg (MSU) dec. Ethan Szerencsits (AU) 5-2 | Tied 6-6
157 | Chase Saldate (MSU) fall over Devon Capatao (AU) 6:08 | MSU 12-6
165 | Caleb Fish (MSU) major dec. Breon Phifer (AU) 8-0 | MSU 16-6
174 | Lucas White (AU) dec. Marty Larkin (MSU) 3-2 | MSU 16-9
184 | Layne Malczewski (MSU) major dec. Connor Bourne (AU) | MSU 20-9
197 | Kael Wisler (MSU) tech fall over Liam Volk-Klos (AU) 17-2 | MSU 25-9
285 | Josh Terrill (MSU) sudden victory – 1 Will Jarrell (AU) 6-3 | MSU 28-9
125 | Jack Maida (AU) dec. Tristan Lujan (MSU) 2-1 | 28-12
Up Next
MSU returns to East Lansing next weekend for the annual Michigan State Open hosted inside historic Jenison Field House. The MSU Open has been a staple at Michigan State for decades, with action getting underway at 9:30 a.m.
Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
On a personal side note, my spouse works for AU and attends law school there part-time as well.
