Wrestling Beats EMU

The MSU wrestling squad came out at home to defeat the Eastern Michigan Eagles by a score of 24-9 at Jenison Field House in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans gave the Eagles their first loss of the season, and improved their own record to 4-1 on the year.

While the Eagles came out quickly with a 3-0 lead after the first match at 149 lbs, the Spartans responded swiftly with a series of six victories from 157 to heavyweight. Ryan Watts at 157 lbs. squeaked out a victory with a 3-2 win over EMU’s Brandon Zeerip.

Bobby Nash got a 4-3 victory at 165 lbs after falling down 2-0 in the first period, but got the W after an escape with ten seconds left in the match. Bobby’s brother, Kevin Nash, got a win at 174 lbs with an overtime victory.

In one of the most hyped matches of the evening, John Rizqallah netted a 6-2 victory at 184 lbs. over Phillip Joseph. Joseph is rated as high as 16th in the nation in his weight class. The Spartans continued the momentum at 197 lbs. with Nick McDiarmid upsetting Nick Whitenburg of EMU by a score of 6-2.

MSU’s heavyweight Mike McClure extended MSU’s lead to 18-3 with another decision victory over Khoder Hoblallah, the Eagles halted MSU’s win streak at 125 and 133 lbs, but the Spartans capped off their victory with a Brian Gibb’s pin in the last match at 141 lbs.

MSU returns to action at the Northeast Duals in Troy, New York on the November 30.

Nick Carver is a multimedia journalist for Impact Sports.

Photo:  MSU Wrestling