Michigan State University
Eastern Michigan Open
Michigan State Wrestling Opens Season With Eastern Michigan Open
11/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 1, 2003
Ypsilanti, Mich. - The Michigan State wrestling team opened its season Saturday, Nov. 1, in Ypsilanti, Mich., at the Eastern Michigan Open. With several top teams from around the nation in attendance and a variety of unattached wrestlers competing, it allowed the Spartans to see how they fare in the national picture.
At 125 pounds, redshirt freshman Zach Frutiger (Petersburg, Mich./Ida) went 1-2 to open the year, losing to Chris Pruden in the consolation bracket, 4-5 in overtime.
Brandon Hallifield (Clinton Twp., Mich./Notre Dame Prep) went 0-2 in the first open of the season, losing by technical fall to Cleveland State's Nathan Browning in the championship bracket and by pin to Findlay's Jack Scott. Tony Greathouse (Mason, Mich./Mason) went 3-2, also eliminated by Scott.
Freshman John Hughes (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Notre Dame Prep) went 2-2 at 141, MSU's lone competitor at 141 pounds. He dropped to the consolation bracket after an 11-9, sudden victory by Edinboro's Tony Dipietro.
At the 149-pound weight class, Darren McKnight (Hixson, Tenn./Red Bank) and Shane Martin (DeWitt, Mich./DeWitt) faced stiff competition as both wrestlers put together solid performances. McKnight went 3-2 for the open while Martin was 0-2 overall.
At 157 and 165 the battle for the starting spot is heated. The EMU Open gave the Spartan coaching staff a clear evaluation of the athletes, but it does not leave the decision entirely clear. Mike Escobedo (Crown Point, Ind./Lake Central) went 3-2 on the day, dropping the third place match by medical forfeit to Edinboro's Ryan Yates to finish fourth at 157. Freshman Quinn Guernsey (Horton, Mich./Columbia Central) went 2-2, eliminated in the consolation bracket when Central Michigan's Josh Mester got the pin. Junior Matt McCarty (Clarksville, Tenn./Clarksville) rounded out Michigan State competition at 157, going 3-2 overall.
True freshmen Bryan Harney (Chicago, Ill./Mt. Carmel) and Greg Goidosik (St. Charles, Mich./St. Charles) wrestled unattached for MSU wrestling as the two newcomers opened their collegiate wrestling careers at 165 pounds. Harney dropped his first match, heading to the consolation bracket while Goidosik defeated Muskegon C.C.'s Tom Jonseck before losing by major decision, 15-1, to fall to the consolation bracket where the teammates would face off. Harney went on to collect the win by pin in 3:39. Harney went 2-1 on the day, exiting competition with a loss to Omar Maktabi of U-M. Goidsoik was 1-2 in his first collegiate open.
Senior Anton Hall (Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Northern) went 4-2 on the afternoon at 174, with two wins by fall and one win by major decision to take fifth place at 174 pounds.
At 197 pounds, Jeff Clemens (Bellbrook, Ohio/Carroll) went 2-2 to take sixth place in the open competition. In the championship round he dropped a 5-3, sudden victory match to eventual third-place finisher Brad Ahern of Central Michigan.
At heavyweight, senior Mike Keenan (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) went 4-1, taking runner-up honors to Michigan's Greg Wagner. Spencer Nadolsky (Holland, Mich./West Ottawa) took fourth place with a 3-2 overall record while Max Lossen (Winona, Minn./Winona) finished 3-2 on the day.
Michigan State returns to East Lansing, Mich., to host the MSU Open Nov. 8-9 at Jenison Field House.
