Wrestlers to Open Big Ten Season at Michigan

December 10, 1998

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan Preview-

Michigan State will open its dual meet and Big Ten seasons at Michigan this Friday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. in Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Spartans, currently ranked 13th by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, will be tested by the 15th-ranked Wolverines, who boast four ranked individuals ranked, according to InterMat Wrestling. The premiere match of the night will be at 133 pounds where MSU's Pat McNamara (#2) will battle UM's Joe Warren (#9). Ranked opponents will also square off at 174 when MSU's Will Hill (#18) faces UM's Otto Olson (#15). Olson captured first place at the 1998 MSU Open. Last year, Michigan State defeated Michigan, 18-16, in East Lansing. The two squads will meet later this year in East Lansing on February 5.

All-America Repeat-

If early season success is any indication, sophomore Pat McNamara appears to be on his way to earning All-America honors for the second consecutive year. McNamara is currently ranked No. 2 at 133 by InterMat Wrestling and undefeated after winning titles at the MSU Open, Eagle Open and UNI Open. At the UNI Open this past weekend, McNamara solidified his ranking by defeating Iowa's Eric Juergens, who is ranked third in the country.

Senior Leadership-

Issac Miller (141 pounds) and Greg DeGrand are the lone seniors on the MSU squad. The 1998 NCAA qualifiers are expected to provide the young Spartans with some much needed leadership. So far, Miller's season is off to a successful start. He has placed in the top six of three early season tournaments, including second-place finishes at the MSU Open and Eagle Open. DeGrand has also experienced early season success. He placed first at the MSU Open and sixth at the Penn State Open.

SPARTANS IN THE POLLS

National Wrestling Coaches
Association Top 20 (Dec. 10)
1. Oklahoma State
2. Minnesota
3. Iowa
4. Penn State
5T. Oklahoma
5T. Iowa State
7. Illinois
8. Central Michigan
9. Arizona State
10. Oregon State
11. Northwestern
12. West Virginia
13. Michigan State
14. Nebraska
15. Michigan
16. Purdue
17. Pennsylvania
18. Lehigh
19. Bakersfield
20. Rider

Individual Rankings

Pat McNamara - 133 pounds Intermat Wrestling - No. 2 Amateur Wrestling News - No. 2

Greg DeGrand - 165 pounds Amateur Wrestling News - No. 15

Will Hill - 174 pounds Intermat Wrestling - No. 18 Amateur Wrestling News - No. 15

Nick Muzashvili - 197 pounds Intermat Wrestling - No. 8 Amateur Wrestling News - No. 8

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