Michigan State University
Northwestern
No. 15 Spartan Wrestling Cruises Past Northwestern, 33-7
1/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 24, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - The No. 15 Michigan State wrestling team had no problems in its Big Ten dual opener, blazing past Northwestern, 33-7, Friday night (Jan. 24) at Welsh-Ryan Arena. MSU improves to 3-4 (1-0 Big Ten) for the season, while the Wildcats fall to 5-5 (0-1). With the win, MSU head coach Tom Minkel became just the third coach in Spartan history to record 100 victories.
The Spartans took eight of the 10 matches in the victory, including three major decisions and two falls. No. 12 Nick Simmons (R-Fr., Williamston) began the dual with a 10-4 win over John Velez at 125 pounds followed by a 6-0 Shane Martin (So., DeWitt) triumph over Jon Ott at 133.
The 141-pound match went to the Wildcats, but the Spartans claimed seven of the next eight bouts to pull away for the win. No. 12 Karl Nadolsky (Sr., Holland) scored a major decision (15-4) win at 149 pounds to put MSU up 10-4. In the next match at 157, No. 6 Gray Maynard (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.) extended MSU's lead to 16-4 by pinning Mike Kimberlin in 1:37. The pin was the 25th of Maynard's career, which stands at seventh all-time in Spartan history.
The Spartans continued to dominate as Rashad Evans (Sr., Niagara Falls, N.Y.) recorded his first fall of the season at 174 pounds, pinning Nolan Walther at the 3:19 mark. Jeff Clemens (R-Fr., Bellbrook, Ohio) and No. 7 Nik Fekete (Sr., Cranford, N.J.) each scored major decision victories at 184 and 197 pounds, respectively. Heavyweight John Wechter (Sr., Saginaw) concluded the dual with a 3-1 win over Mike Little.
No. 15 Michigan State returns to action tomorrow night (Saturday, Jan. 25) to face No. 5 Minnesota in Minneapolis at 8 p.m. An internet broadcast of the match will be available at www.gophersports.com.
MATCH SUMMARY:Wt. Outcome Team Score125 No. 12 Nick Simmons (MSU) dec. John Velez (NU), 10-4 MSU, 3-0133 Shane Martin (MSU) dec. Jon Ott (NU), 6-0 MSU, 6-0141 John Giacche (NU) major dec. Eric Keith (MSU), 13-5 MSU, 6-4149 No. 12 Karl Nadolsky (MSU) major dec. Josh Ballard (NU), 15-4 MSU, 10-4157 No. 6 Gray Maynard (MSU) pinned Mike Kimberin (NU), 1:37 MSU, 16-4165 Jason Erwinski (NU) dec. Arsen Aleksanyan (MSU), 7-3 MSU, 16-7174 Rashad Evans (MSU) pinned Nolan Walther (NU), 3:19 MSU, 22-7184 Jeff Clemens (MSU) major dec. Brendan Curran (NU), 16-8 MSU, 26-7197 No. 7 Nik Fekete (MSU) major dec. Matt Delguyd (NU), 17-8 MSU, 30-7285 John Wechter (MSU) dec. Mike Little (NU), 3-1 MSU, 33-7NOTE: Team rankings according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Individual rankings according to TheMat.com coaches poll.
Players Mentioned
