No. 7 Spartan Wrestling Stumbles Against Purdue, 18-14

Feb. 4, 2001

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Michigan State wrestling squad capped off its weekend tour with a tough loss to the unranked Purdue Boilermakers, 18-14.

The Spartans took three of the first four weight classes before stumbling in the middle weights. Nik Fekete, who scored a huge win for the Spartans at Ohio State Friday, brought the team within one point going into the heavyweight bout. Matt Lamb took Purdue's Jake Vercelli the distance, sending the match into double overtime, where Vercelli was awarded the match on a questionable caution point, 2-1. The loss dropped the Spartans' dual record to 5-4 overall, 1-3 in the Big Ten.

The match began at 125 pounds where No. 9 Chris Williams looked to get back on the winning track against No. 15 Jason Silverstein. After two scoreless periods, Williams scored an escape but was countered by a shot and takedown by Silverstein with less than 30 seconds to go in the match. Williams could not score the escape and dropped the decision, 2-1.

The Spartans then won the next three matches, starting with No. 6 Pat McNamara's 8-4 decision over No. 8 Evan Robinson at 133. The win was McNamara's 102nd career victory and his sixth consecutive triumph.

MSU's victory at 133 tied up the score at 3 with No. 16 Mike Castillo taking on unranked Paul Sacquitne in the 141-pound match. Castillo held a 4-1 lead after the first period and continued the offensive onslaught, allowing Sacquitne to score only on escapes. Castillo won the major decision, 17-6.

With the Spartans up 7-3, No. 17 Karl Nadolsky limited Purdue's Brian Harper offense at 149 pounds to only two escapes. Nadolsky scored on three takedowns and was hit with a stalling point late in the third to give Harper his only other point. Nadolsky won the decision, 7-3.

"I have to increase my offensive output and score more off my attacks," Nadolsky said. "As a team, I hope that we start picking up the pace and get back to where we were. We have the potential to do really well at the Big Ten Championships and I my goal is to really be able to contribute and help with the success."

Charlie Sageman again stepped in at 157 for the injured Gray Maynard, but unfortunately lost a tough overtime decision to Oscar Santiago, 3-2.

Cory Posey dropped a tough 4-3 decision to Kirk Moore at 165. Posey had 10 seconds left in the third to ride out and send the match into overtime with the score tied at 3-3, but he was unable to hold on as Moore scored the escape and took the victory with one second on the clock.

"There are things in life that make you who you are," coach MSU coach Tom Minkel said. "It's how you want to react to the tough defeats that will prove who you are. This weekend is one of those tests."

Nate Mesyn struggled through his match at 174 pounds, unable to get any offense going and dropped the decision to Purdue's Ryan Lange, 10-3.

The win put the Boilermakers up 12-10 in the match and they added to their lead as Jared Williams claimed a hard-fought decision, 7-6, over MSU's John Wechter at 184.

With Purdue taking what seemed like a commanding 15-10 lead, No. 11 Nik Fekete scored his second big victory of the weekend at 197, upending Purdue's Jon Bush, 17-6.

The Spartans were within one point going into the heavyweight bout that featured Matt Lamb against No. 20 Jake Vercelli. In typical heavyweight fashion, the only two points of the match were scored on escapes, with Lamb picking up a point in the second and Vercelli tying the match in the third. The titans battled through the first overtime and went into the second extra period with Lamb choosing the down position and needing only the escape for the win. Lamb shot up hard three times, but was unable to shake free on each attempt. With 18 seconds left, the official ended the match with a controversial double-caution call on Lamb, giving Vercelli the point and the Boilermakers the dual match.

The Spartans face a tough road schedule ahead as they travel to No. 2 Minnesota on Feb. 9 and No. 4 Iowa on Feb. 11.

125-Jason Silverstein (PUR) dec. Chris Williams (MSU), 2-1133-Pat McNamara (MSU) dec. Evan Robinson (PUR), 8-4141-Mike Castillo (MSU) maj dec. Paul Sacquitne (PUR), 17-6149-Karl Nadolsky (MSU) dec. Brad Harper (PUR), 7-3157-Oscar Santiago (PUR) dec. Charlie Sageman (MSU), 4-2, OT165-Kirk Moore (PUR) dec. Cory Posey (MSU), 4-3 OT174-Ryan Lange (PUR) dec. Nate Mesyn (MSU), 10-3184-Jared Williams (PUR) dec. John Wechter (MSU), 7-6197-Nik Fekete (MSU) dec. Jon Bush (PUR), 1-6Hwt.-Jake Vercelli (PUR) dec. Matt Lamb (MSU), 2-1 2OT

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