Michigan State University
Indiana
Michigan State Wrestling Defeats Indiana, 19-14
2/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 22, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State upended Indiana on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 22) to register their first Big Ten victory of the season. On Senior Day at Jenison Field House, the Spartans were led by seniors Mike Keenan, Arsen Alexsanyan, and Nate Mesyn, who all picked up victories in their last dual meet for the Green and White. Ninth-ranked Andy Simmons also picked up a huge victory by defeating No. 7 Coyte Cooper.
"It's nice to finish our home-stand with a win," said head coach Tom Minkel. "I know we're making progress and it's great to have it finally show up in the win column for this team."
The Spartans started their final dual match of the season with a victory at 184 pounds. Senior Nate Mesyn amassed nearly three minutes of riding time in the first two periods on his way to a 5-3 victory over Andy Rios. The victory was Mesyn's first since Jan. 30 against Michigan and came in his last dual meet as a Spartan.
At 197 pounds, No. 9 Pat DeGain took a 3-0 lead in the second period and defeated State's Jeff Clemens, 6-3, to tie the meet at 3-3.
In an exciting match at heavyweight, senior Mike Keenan fought for a takedown with a mere 30 seconds left to defeat Josh Buuck, 4-3. After trailing for the majority of the match, Keenan persevered to win his final match at Jenison Field House. Keenan's win also marked MSU's first Big Ten heavyweight victory this season.
"Mike Keenan's match was a thriller," said Minkel. "It's wonderful to see him end his career at Jenison Field House with such a great victory."
At 125 pounds, Craig Trombly suffered an 11-3 major decision defeat at the hands of No. 12 Joe Dubuque. At 133, Indiana's Nick Spatola defeated Tony Greathouse in another major decision, 12-3, to give Indiana an 11-6 lead at the halfway point of the dual meet.
In the afternoon's featured match, No. 9 Andy Simmons faced off against No. 7 Coyte Cooper, with Big Ten and NCAA seeding implications on the line. Simmons accumulated two minutes of riding time in the second period, but the match remained scoreless. In the third period, Simmons scored a huge takedown, including two nearfall points, as he downed Cooper, 6-0. The loss was just the second of the year for Cooper while Simmons claimed his fifth straight decision, dating to Feb. 6. It also marks his second straight shutout and his ninth of the season. The win narrowed the Indiana lead to three points, 11-9, with just four matches remaining.
"I was particularly pleased with Andy today," said Minkel. "Coyte Cooper is one of the Big Ten's toughest wrestlers at 141 and Andy just really pulled through. This is worth more than a win, especially with the Big Ten and NCAA seedings on the horizon."
Darren McKnight made it two straight victories for the Green and White with a 5-3 decision over Indiana's Cameron Sakon. McKnight took an early lead with two quick takedowns in the first period, and defeated Sakon to give State a 12-11 lead with three matches remaining in the dual. For McKnight, it was his first appearance on the mat since a victory against Minnesota on Jan. 23.
Arsen Alexsanyan became the third Spartan senior to win on senior day with his victory at 157 pounds. Alexsanyan, with a late takedown, won the match 9-0, giving MSU a major decision and stretching their lead to 16-11. The win was Alexsanyan's first victory since the Midlands Championships in late December.
At 165, Matt McCarty clinched State's first Big Ten team win of the year with a 2-0 defeat of Mike Sabatello. No points were scored until McCarty notched an escape in the opening seconds of the third period, and with riding time included, registered his second straight shutout victory.
In the final match of the afternoon, No. 13 Brady Richardson defeated senior Anton Hall, 10-6 in the 174-pound bout.
Michigan State now enjoys nearly two weeks away from formal competition as the Spartans prepare for the Big Ten Championships March 6-7 in Columbus, Ohio.
Michigan State vs. IndianaFeb. 22, 2004
184 - Nate Mesyn (MSU) def. Andy Rios (IU), 5-3 MSU, 3-0197 - No. 9 Pat DeGain def. Jeff Clemens (MSU), 6-3 3-3HWT - Mike Keenan (MSU) def. Josh Buuck (IU), 4-3 MSU, 6-3125 - No. 12 Joe Dubuque (IU) def. Craig Trombly (MSU), MD 11-3 IU, 7-6133 - Nick Spatola (IU) def. Tony Greathouse (MSU), MD 12-3 IU, 11-6141 - No. 9 Andy Simmons (MSU) def. No. 7 Coyte Cooper (IU), 6-0 IU, 11-9149 - Darren McKnight (MSU) def. Cameron Sakon (IU), 5-3 MSU, 12-11157 - Arsen Alexsanyan (MSU) def. Matt Cooper (IU), MD 9-0 MSU, 16-11165 - Matt McCarty (MSU) def. Mike Sabatello (IU), 2-0 MSU, 19-11174 - No. 13 Brady Richardson (IU) def. Anton Hall (MSU), 10-6 MSU, 19-14
Attendance- 603
Players Mentioned
