Spartans Set To Host 2003 MSU Open
11/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Weekly Notes (11-3-03) in PDF Format
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Nov. 3, 2003
East Lansing, Mich. -
Spartans Make 2003-04 Home Debut at MSU Open: The Michigan State wrestling program hosts the MSU Open Nov. 8-9 at Jenison Field House. The event is one of the country's largest and most prestigious wrestling tournaments. More than 16 teams and 350 wrestlers are scheduled to compete. All wrestlers on the Spartan roster are slated to wrestle.
The two-day event will feature action on 10 mats throughout Jenison Field House, culminating with the finals and medal matches Sunday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. There will be no team scoring and all wrestlers will compete unattached in the double-elimination event. The matches will be six minutes, including all consolation matches. Tie matches will be decided by a one-minute sudden-death overtime and a 30-second tie-breaker when necessary. Riding time will not be recorded. Full brackets of the tournament will be posted daily at www.msuspartans.com.
Teams scheduled to compete include Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Ohio, Kent State, Northern Illinois, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Findlay, SUNY Brockport, Muskegon Community College and Grand Valley State.
Michigan State begins season at EMU Open: The MSU wrestling team opened the season Sat., Nov. 1, at the Eastern Michigan Open. Several wrestlers competed unattached for the Spartans as five MSU grapplers landed in the top five of their respective weight classes.
Ryan Froese placed fifth at 141, while Mike Escobedo (157), Joe Williams (174) and Spencer Nadolsky (HWT), placed fourth.
Mike Keenan was MSU's best finisher, taking runner-up honors at heavyweight, dropping a 2-1 decision in the championship bout to Michigan's Greg Wagner.
MSU 21st In The Nation: Themat.com released its preseason rankings Oct. 30, placing three individuals in the top 20 in their weight classes and voting the Spartans 21st after an 18th place NCAA finish in 2003.
At 141, Ryan L'Amoreaux is ranked 13th in the preseason by themat.com while Anton Hall is 20th at 174 and Nate Mesyn is 20th at 184.
InterMat Wrestling voted the Spartans 24th. InterMat also picked Andy Simmons as a preseason No. 12 at 141 as Anton Hall is 19th at 174.
No One Said It Would Be Easy: The Spartans again boast one of the nation's toughest schedules. They host defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Oklahoma State on Nov. 15 at Jenison Field House and will face at least 12 teams ranked in the preseason top 25.
