EAST LANSING, Mich. – The No. 19 Michigan State wrestling team split its dual meet with the three-time defending national champion Oklahoma State Cowboys, but lost 21-15, Sunday, Nov. 27, at Jenison Field House.
“To take five matches from the team that is clearly No. 1 in the nation is outstanding for our squad, “head coach Tom Minkel said. “I am really proud of our team. This is a great way to start out the season.”
The Spartans season kicked off with a victory by No. 18 Joe Williams over Jack Jensen at 184 pounds. After an uneventful first two minutes of the match, Williams scored on a single-leg takedown late in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Williams gave up one point in the second period, then poured it on in the third, outscoring Jensen 6-2, adding a riding-time point for a 9-4 decision. Williams’ season record improves to 3-1.
Senior Jeff Clemens gave defending national champion Jake Rosholt a run for his money early, but dropped the decision to the wrestler ranked No. 1 at 197 pounds, 8-4, tying the meet score at three apiece.
The Cowboys took a 7-3 lead in the meet behind two-time national champion Steve Mocco. Mocco scored a technical fall against senior Max Lossen at the 5:55 mark of their 285-pound match up, winning 24-8.
No. 4 Nick Simmons got the Green and White back on the winning track at 125 pounds, dominating his match with No. 5 Coleman Scott, 6-0. Simmons scored an early takedown and tallied three near-fall points in the first period, and accumulated over four minutes of riding time to improve his record to 11-0 on the season. The shutout was Simmons’ team-leading sixth of the year.
Wrestling in his first-career dual meet, Jeff Wimberley dropped the 133-pound match to No. 7 Nathan Morgan by major decision, 20-8. Morgan notched nine takedowns to remain perfect on the season at 5-0.
The most anticipated match of the day came at 141 pounds, where No. 4 Andy Simmons gained revenge on No. 13 Daniel Frishkorn after injury defaulting to him in last March’s NCAA Championships. Simmons notched the 7-1 victory, tallying takedowns in the second and third periods, and adding two near-fall points after Frishkorn took the down position in the second frame. Simmons improves to 9-1 on the season with the victory.
Oklahoma extended its lead to 16-9 behind a technical-fall victory by defending national champion Zack Esposito at 149 pounds. Esposito scored eight takedowns against senior-captain Darren McKnight in the 20-8 win.
Tony Greathouse notched a thrilling, come-from-behind win at 157 pounds to upset No. 8 Kevin Ward. Greathouse trailed 3-0 after two periods, but scored two takedowns, including one inside one minute, that included two near-fall points. Improving his record to 5-2 on the season, a pumped-up crowd gave Greathouse a standing ovation as he left the mat
Oklahoma State secured the dual-meet victory at 165 pounds, where defending national champion Johny Hendricks defeated sophomore Bryan Harney by technical fall in 6:48, 20-5. Hendricks, currently ranked first in the nation, outscored Harney by four in the first, six in the second and five in the third.
R.J. Boudro wrapped up the meet with a victory for State, defeating Brandon Mason at 184 pounds, 3-1. Boudro tallied an early takedown against the talented redshirt freshman, and wrestled a smart remainder of the seven minutes to get his fourth victory of the season.
The Spartans will return to action next Sunday, Dec. 4 at the Penn State Open in State College, Pa., before continuing their dual-meet campaign at Central Michigan on Dec. 7
184 lbs. – Joe Williams dec. Jack Jensen 9-4 MSU, 3-0
197 lbs. – Jake Rosholt dec. Jeff Clemens 8-4 3-3
285 lbs. – Steve Mocco tech. fall Max Lossen 24-8, 5:55 OSU, 7-3
125 lbs. – Nick Simmons dec. Coleman Scott 6-0 OSU, 7-6
133 lbs. – Nathan Morgan maj. dec. Jeff Wimberley 20-8 OSU, 11-6
141 lbs. – Andy Simmons dec. Daniel Frishkorn 7-1 OSU, 11-9
149 lbs. – Zack Esposito tech. fall Darren McKnight 20-6, 7:00 OSU, 16-9
157 lbs. – Tony Greathouse dec. Kevin Ward 6-4 OSU, 16-12
165 lbs. – Johny Hendricks tech. fall Bryan Harney 20-5, 6:47 OSU, 21-12
174 lbs. – R.J. Boudro dec. Brandon Mason 3-1 OSU, 21-15
Wrestling Gear
