EAST LANSING – In a showdown with the number one team in the country, the Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team came into East Lansing on Sunday afternoon to face off against the Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans were hoping to end a two-match losing streak. Penn State entered the match undefeated this season, riding a 49-match winning streak. Penn State was the dominant opponent on Sunday afternoon, winning 35-0.Penn State improves to 6-0 on the season and 3-0 in the Big Ten, while Michigan State falls to 7-3 and 0-3 in the Big Ten.
In the first match of the night, Michigan State’s 125 pound Tristan Lujan went up against Penn State’s Braeden Davis. Davis dominated from the start, recording a takedown in the first period, and after the first period, David led 3-1. In the second period, Lujan escaped early, and the two sides couldn’t find any other opportunities to score. In the third period, David escaped and quickly took Lujan down. After the takedown, David took control of the fight, earning a 7-3 win and giving Penn State a quick 3-0 lead over the Spartans.
On the 133 level, it was Penn State’s Aaron Nagao going up against Michigan State’s Andy Hampton. Nagao quickly scored early, taking Hampton down, and didn’t look back. Nagao took a commanding 12-3 lead after the first period. In the second period, Nagao didn’t hold back, taking Hampton down and winning 16-3 after the second period. The third period ended early with a tech fall, with Nagao winning 18-3, and Penn State winning 8-0.
Moving on to the 149th level, Michigan State’s Braden Stauffenberg went up against Penn State’s David Evans. Evans quickly took down Stauffenberg and took control over the rest of the fight. Going behind 3-1 early, Stauffenberg tried to create any scoring opportunities but couldn’t. Evans took the victory 4-2 with a 14-point lead over the Spartans.
On the 157 level, it was the match of the afternoon. Michigan’s Chase Saldate went up against Penn State’s Levi Haines, who currently ranks as the No. 1 ranked wrestler in that division. Saldate took an early 3-1 lead in the first with a takedown. In the second half, Haines escaped Saldate, and there wasn’t any scoring after that. Trailing by one, Haines worked to escape, but Saldate kept control as the period wound down. Haines continued to work and scrambled his way to a reversal and a 7-6 for Penn State and a 17-0 against the Spartans.
“Chase had wrestled that guy before, and that guy was in the national finals last year,” MSU head coach Roger Chandler said. “It cemented in Chase’s mind that he can win a national title this year.”
Michigan State’s Caleb Fish went up against Mitchell Mesenbrink from Penn State. Mesenbrink took down Fish early. Fish quickly escaped, but Mesenbrink reversed it. After the first, Mesenbrin had a 7-6 lead. Mesenbrink defeated Fish 18-9 and took a 21-0 lead over the Spartans.
At the 174 level, Penn State’s Terrell Barraclough went up against Michigan’s DJ Shannon. During the first, both were trying to score, but neither could. In the second, Barraclough had full control, escaping Shannon and a takedown right after making it a 4-0 lead after the second. In the third, Barraclough got a takedown and didn’t look back, winning 7-1 with a 24-0 lead over the Spartans.
On the 184 level, Michigan State’s Layne Malczewski went up against Penn State’s Bernie Truax. Truax had a quick takedown and was in full control of the match, winning 4-2 and a 27-0 lead against the Spartans.
At the 197th level, Aaron Brooks from Penn State went up against Kael Wisler from Michigan State. Brooks just dominated the fight, taking down Wisler multiple times and earning a tech win with a 21-6 victory and a 32-0 overall lead over the Spartans.
“As a program, we need to fight for seven minutes for all ten guys,” Chandler said. “On Friday night, our guys did that, but today we didn’t. I know they will step forward on Friday.”
Michigan State will host Wisconsin this Friday night at 7 p.m. at Jenison Fieldhouse.
