Michigan State University
Eastern Michigan Open
Eight Spartans Place In Eastern Michigan Wrestling Open
11/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 3, 2002
YPSILANTI, Mich. - Eight Spartans placed in the Eastern Michigan Wrestling Open Nov. 2 in Ypsilanti, Mich. All wrestlers for Michigan State competed unattached in the event, and there was no team scoring. The event was the first of the year for No. 11 Michigan State.
John Wechter (Sr., Saginaw), in his first career appearance in the heavyweight division, took first place by defeating teammate Mike Keenan (Jr., Columbus, Ohio) in the championship bout, 3-2. Wechter went a perfect 5-0 in the tournament.
Karl Nadolsky (Sr., Holland), ranked ninth in the nation, took home second place at 149 pounds after going 3-1 in the open. Nadolsky, who won his first three matches by a combined score of 32-11, lost in the finals to Ohio's Jake Percival, 4-2.
In his first collegiate wrestling action, Andy Simmons (Fr., Williamston) posted a 4-2 mark and placed fourth at 141 pounds. Simmons pinned his first two opponents and won his next match 6-2 over Kevin Kennedy of Indiana. Simmons lost in the semifinals to Kory Ace of Edinboro, 8-6 in a tiebreaker, but he bounced back to beat Jon Spires of Ohio in the consolation bracket. The freshman ended his run by losing to Josh Wiles of Eastern Michigan, 8-6, in the third-place match.
Four other Spartans placed at the open. Jeff Clemens (Fr., Bellbrook, Ohio) took home fourth place at 184 pounds after posting four consecutive wins in the consolation bracket. He fell to Alex Clemsen of Edinboro in the fifth-place match, 8-4. Anton Hall (Jr., Ada) also went 4-2 in the 174-pound division to earn fifth-place. Two veterans - Charlie Sageman (Sr., Saginaw) and Arsen Aleksanyan (Sr., Santa Ana, Calif.) - placed sixth in the 141-pound and 165-pound divisions, respectively.
The No. 11 Michigan State wrestling team returns to action next weekend, Nov. 9-10, as it hosts the MSU Open at Jenison Field House.
Players Mentioned
