CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Michigan State wrestling won seven matches, including three with bonus points, on Friday night to down No. 26 Illinois for the first time since 2011, 29-10, inside the State Farm Center. It's MSU's second-straight victory over a ranked opponent after defeating then No. 17-ranked Wisconsin last Friday night.
The Spartans improve to 9-3 overall and 2-3 in B1G matches while Illinois drops to 3-6 overall and 0-3 in conference duals.
"This win speaks on the depth of this program," said head Michigan State wrestling coach Roger Chandler. "What I'm most pleased with, is we have upperclassmen leadership, and we have young freshmen who are out there competing and wanting to be a part of that crew. That's just the next line of leadership, that's how you build a great team and we got that going for us right now."
Action began at 141 pounds with No. 29-ranked redshirt senior Jordan Hamdan taking on No. 27-ranked Danny Pucino. Hamdan snapped got on the board first in period two with a quick escape, but Pucino's scored two takedowns en route to an 8-2 decision.
Michigan State took the next three bouts at 149, 157 and 165 pounds. Freshman Clayton Jones got the call at 149 pounds to make his B1G dual debut against Jake Harrier. Jones used a quick takedown to begin the match and a second period takedown extended his lead 6-3 going into the final two minutes. Harrier earned a takedown in the third, but a pair of escapes by Jones secure himself is first B1G victory by decision, 8-6.
"You saw some of the fire power that Clayton possesses," Chandler said. "We were excited to roll him out tonight and he was excited to get his first Big Ten dual win. As a true freshman that is impressive. Obviously he has a lot to develop but we're excited about him."
At 157 pounds, No. 21-ranked senior Chase Saldate gave MSU its first lead of the match, pinning Braeden Scoles at the 6:32 mark. It's Saldate's second consecutive victory by fall and his ninth win by fall this season. Friday night's fall marks a career high for Saldate, who ranks fifth in the country in wins by fall.
In a ranked match-up at 165 pounds, No. 9-ranked senior Caleb Fish gritted his way to a 4-2 victory over No. 30 Chris Moore. Neither wrestler gave up much defensively, but a third period takedown by the Eaton Rapids, Michigan, native proved to be the difference maker.
A tight knit contest at 184 pounds ended in favor of the Spartans as No. 15-ranked graduate Layne Malczewski defeated No. 28-ranked Dylan Connell. Malczewski came out on top, 2-0, with an escape in the beginning of the second and 1:54 of riding time after he controlled Connell for the entirety of the third period.
Redshirt freshman Kael Wisler put on a dominant performance at 197 pounds with an 18-2 tech fall over Chase Waggoner.
Adding to his nation-high win total was redshirt freshman heavyweight Josh Terrill, who pinned Pete Marinopoulos in 17 seconds. It was the quickest pin of the season for a Spartan as Terrill put six points on the board for MSU to secure the victory. Terrill's season victory total improves to 25.
Senior Tristan Lujan earned the final win of the night for Michigan State at 125 pounds, posting a 2-0 victory with an escape and 1:40 of riding time over Justin Cardani.
Illinois also took matches at 174 and 133 pounds. Making his return to Champaign, redshirt senior 174-pounder DJ Shannon was defeated by No. 9-ranked Edmond Ruth in a close battle. Shannon pushed Ruth to the limits in a back-and-forth bout as each wrestler recorded a takedown through seven minutes in a deadlocked 6-6 tie. The Madison, Illinois, native fought hard but a takedown by Ruth in sudden victory closed the match.
Also making his B1G dual debut was freshman 133-pounder Jaden Crumpler who went head-to-head with No. 33-ranked Tony Madrigal but dropped in a 13-2 major decision. Despite the score Chandler took it as a learning experience for the true freshman.
"Crumpler hasn't had much mat time this year due to injuries, but I wanted to let him get a real feel of what Big Ten wrestling is about," said Chandler.
BOUT-BY-BOUT
No. 25/30 Michigan State 29, No. 26 Illinois 10
February 2, 2024 – Champaign, Ill.
141 | No. 27 Danny Pucino (UI) dec. No. 29 Jordan Hamdan (MSU) 8-2 | UI leads 3-0
149 | Clayton Jones (MSU) dec. Jake Harrier (UI) 8-6 | Tied 3-3
157 | No. 21 Chase Saldate (MSU) fall over Braeden Scoles (UI) 6:32 | MSU leads 9-3
165 | No. 9 Caleb Fish (MSU) dec. No. 30 Chris Moore (UI) 4-2 | MSU leads 12-3
174 | No. 9 Edmond Ruth (UI) dec. DJ Shannon (MSU) SV-1 9-6 | MSU leads 12-6
184 | No. 15 Layne Malczewski (MSU) dec. No. 28 Dylan Connell (UI) 2-0 | MSU leads 15-6
197 | No. 29 Kael Wisler (MSU) tech fall over Chase Waggoner (UI) 18-2 | MSU leads 20-6
HWT | Josh Terrill (MSU) fall over Peter Marinopoulos (UI) 0:17 | MSU leads 26-6
125 | Tristan Lujan (MSU) dec. Justin Cardani (UI) 2-0 | MSU leads 29-6
133 | No. 33 Tony Madrigal (UI) major dec. Jaden Crumpler (MSU) 13-2 | MSU wins 29-10
Recap courtesy of MSU Athletics.
The Spartans improve to 9-3 overall and 2-3 in B1G matches while Illinois drops to 3-6 overall and 0-3 in conference duals.
"This win speaks on the depth of this program," said head Michigan State wrestling coach Roger Chandler. "What I'm most pleased with, is we have upperclassmen leadership, and we have young freshmen who are out there competing and wanting to be a part of that crew. That's just the next line of leadership, that's how you build a great team and we got that going for us right now."
Action began at 141 pounds with No. 29-ranked redshirt senior Jordan Hamdan taking on No. 27-ranked Danny Pucino. Hamdan snapped got on the board first in period two with a quick escape, but Pucino's scored two takedowns en route to an 8-2 decision.
Michigan State took the next three bouts at 149, 157 and 165 pounds. Freshman Clayton Jones got the call at 149 pounds to make his B1G dual debut against Jake Harrier. Jones used a quick takedown to begin the match and a second period takedown extended his lead 6-3 going into the final two minutes. Harrier earned a takedown in the third, but a pair of escapes by Jones secure himself is first B1G victory by decision, 8-6.
"You saw some of the fire power that Clayton possesses," Chandler said. "We were excited to roll him out tonight and he was excited to get his first Big Ten dual win. As a true freshman that is impressive. Obviously he has a lot to develop but we're excited about him."
At 157 pounds, No. 21-ranked senior Chase Saldate gave MSU its first lead of the match, pinning Braeden Scoles at the 6:32 mark. It's Saldate's second consecutive victory by fall and his ninth win by fall this season. Friday night's fall marks a career high for Saldate, who ranks fifth in the country in wins by fall.
In a ranked match-up at 165 pounds, No. 9-ranked senior Caleb Fish gritted his way to a 4-2 victory over No. 30 Chris Moore. Neither wrestler gave up much defensively, but a third period takedown by the Eaton Rapids, Michigan, native proved to be the difference maker.
A tight knit contest at 184 pounds ended in favor of the Spartans as No. 15-ranked graduate Layne Malczewski defeated No. 28-ranked Dylan Connell. Malczewski came out on top, 2-0, with an escape in the beginning of the second and 1:54 of riding time after he controlled Connell for the entirety of the third period.
Redshirt freshman Kael Wisler put on a dominant performance at 197 pounds with an 18-2 tech fall over Chase Waggoner.
Adding to his nation-high win total was redshirt freshman heavyweight Josh Terrill, who pinned Pete Marinopoulos in 17 seconds. It was the quickest pin of the season for a Spartan as Terrill put six points on the board for MSU to secure the victory. Terrill's season victory total improves to 25.
Senior Tristan Lujan earned the final win of the night for Michigan State at 125 pounds, posting a 2-0 victory with an escape and 1:40 of riding time over Justin Cardani.
Illinois also took matches at 174 and 133 pounds. Making his return to Champaign, redshirt senior 174-pounder DJ Shannon was defeated by No. 9-ranked Edmond Ruth in a close battle. Shannon pushed Ruth to the limits in a back-and-forth bout as each wrestler recorded a takedown through seven minutes in a deadlocked 6-6 tie. The Madison, Illinois, native fought hard but a takedown by Ruth in sudden victory closed the match.
Also making his B1G dual debut was freshman 133-pounder Jaden Crumpler who went head-to-head with No. 33-ranked Tony Madrigal but dropped in a 13-2 major decision. Despite the score Chandler took it as a learning experience for the true freshman.
"Crumpler hasn't had much mat time this year due to injuries, but I wanted to let him get a real feel of what Big Ten wrestling is about," said Chandler.
BOUT-BY-BOUT
No. 25/30 Michigan State 29, No. 26 Illinois 10
February 2, 2024 – Champaign, Ill.
141 | No. 27 Danny Pucino (UI) dec. No. 29 Jordan Hamdan (MSU) 8-2 | UI leads 3-0
149 | Clayton Jones (MSU) dec. Jake Harrier (UI) 8-6 | Tied 3-3
157 | No. 21 Chase Saldate (MSU) fall over Braeden Scoles (UI) 6:32 | MSU leads 9-3
165 | No. 9 Caleb Fish (MSU) dec. No. 30 Chris Moore (UI) 4-2 | MSU leads 12-3
174 | No. 9 Edmond Ruth (UI) dec. DJ Shannon (MSU) SV-1 9-6 | MSU leads 12-6
184 | No. 15 Layne Malczewski (MSU) dec. No. 28 Dylan Connell (UI) 2-0 | MSU leads 15-6
197 | No. 29 Kael Wisler (MSU) tech fall over Chase Waggoner (UI) 18-2 | MSU leads 20-6
HWT | Josh Terrill (MSU) fall over Peter Marinopoulos (UI) 0:17 | MSU leads 26-6
125 | Tristan Lujan (MSU) dec. Justin Cardani (UI) 2-0 | MSU leads 29-6
133 | No. 33 Tony Madrigal (UI) major dec. Jaden Crumpler (MSU) 13-2 | MSU wins 29-10
Recap courtesy of MSU Athletics.
