MSU Wrestling Set To Host Defending National Champion Oklahoma State
11/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 13, 2003
East Lansing, Mich. - The Michigan State wrestling team opens the dual meet portion of its season Sunday, Nov. 16, when it hosts the preseason No. 1 and defending national champion Oklahoma State Cowboys. MSU's first dual meet of the 2003-04 season will begin at 1 p.m., at Jenison Field House.
The Spartans are coming off a No. 18 finish at the NCAA Championships in 2003, while the Cowboys claimed the championship trophy in Kansas City, Mo., last year. Since then, the Spartan lineup has changed dramatically while the Cowboys return many familiar faces, including two of the nation's top-ranked wrestlers in Johnny Thompson at 133 pounds and Jake Rosholt at 184. Eight of ten Cowboy grapplers are ranked in the top 20 in InterMat's preseason individual rankings.
Michigan State solidified its starting lineup after wrestle-offs Wednesday evening. Losing All-American Gray Maynard (157) to graduation and 125-pound All-American Nick Simmons to an Olympic redshirt, the Spartans of 2003-04 are considerably younger than last year's team. At 125, junior Craig Trombly makes his dual meet debut against the Cowboys. He is 2-2 in open competition this season. Redshirt freshman Tony Greathouse also makes his first appearance in dual competition for MSU. He is 4-4 on the season in open competition. Redshirt freshman Andy Simmons rounds out the group of first-time collegiate dual meet competitors. Simmons makes his debut at 141 pounds and is 5-2 on the season with two pins. He garnered a fifth-place finish at the MSU Open Nov. 9.
News & Notes
The Other John Smith: Oklahoma State head coach John Smith was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year last season, after leading the Cowboys to their 31st national championship. He coached OSU to an undefeated 17-0 season and a 5-0 mark against conference foes. The Pokes become the first Big 12 team to claim top honors in the league's seven-year tenure, and OSU was the last team to win (1994) before the organization was formed (1996).
Smith directed his team to its fifth Big 12 championship (1997-98, 2000-01 and 2003), more than any other league team. Oklahoma has won the other two titles.
OSU Defending National Champions: In addition to the Cowboys team national championship, Johnny Thompson (133) and Jake Rosholt (184) both captured individual titles for Oklahoma State. The title was Thompson's second consecutive national crown.
The Stiffest Competition: On Wednesday (Nov. 12) several starting spots were up for grabs and MSU wrestlers at 157, 165, 197 and heavyweight wrestled off for the top spot. Matt McCarty and Arsen Alexsanyan wrestled off at 157. McCarty's win gave him starting honors at that weight, while Alexsanyan moved to the 165-pound weight class. At 197, sophomores Jeff Clemens and Conan Williams battled for the start against Oklahoma State. Clemens will make the start for the Spartans.
Three grapplers competed for the start at heavyweight, as redshirt freshman Spencer Nadolsky, sophomore Max Lossen and senior Mike Keenan squared off. Keenan's experience paid dividends as he earned the start.
Players Mentioned
