Michigan State University
Minnesota
No. 18 Wrestling Upsets No. 7 Minnesota, 28-14
1/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 28, 2005
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Led by No. 19 Darren McKnight's upset of No. 11 C.P. Schlatter at 149 pounds, the No. 18 Michigan State wrestling team (6-2 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) defeated No. 7 Minnesota at the UM Sports Pavilion on Jan. 28. MSU won four of the first five matches, and seven out of 10 matches overall to remain undefeated in the Big Ten.
The victory gives the Spartans a 3-0 record in the conference, their best start to the Big Ten season since the 1984-85 campaign.
"This was yet another tremendous victory for our team as a whole," said head coach Tom Minkel. "Nick (Simmons) got the ball rolling for us with his big victory, and Darren (McKnight) gave us a boost with his upset victory at 149 pounds. We are going to enjoy this victory tonight, then get back to work tomorrow."
The meet started with the highly anticipated match-up between No. 3 Nick Simmons and No. 5 Bobbe Lowe at 125 lbs. Simmons easily took the match, 9-0, to give State a 4-0 lead in the meet, and improve his record on the season to a perfect 21-0. The shutout was Simmons' eighth of the season, and seventh major decision of the 2004-05 campaign.
The Golden Gophers tied the score at 4-4 at 133 lbs., as No. 3 Mack Reiter notched a major decision over redshirt freshman Ryan Froese, 12-1.
No. 3 Andy Simmons got MSU back on the winning track, taking out Quincy Osborn in shutout fashion, 4-0, at 141 lbs. Simmons is now 26-1 on the season and 7-0 in dual meet competition. Like his brother Nick, Andy Simmons has eight shutout wins after Friday night's victory.
The only other time this season that both Simmons brothers notched shutout victories in the same dual meet was against Penn State on Jan. 15.
MSU received a huge spark from their junior captain McKnight with his upset victory, 10-9, giving the Green and White a 10-4 dual meet lead through four matches. McKnight took Schlatter down with less than 10 second remaining for the decision. With the win, McKnight kept pace with Andy Simmons for the team lead in victories as he notched his 25th win of the season. With the win, McKnight remained undefeated in Big Ten dual meets, improving to 3-0.
Matt Mccarty gave State their third-straight win, as the senior captured a 6-0 decision over Nik Lentz at 157 lbs. McCarty moved over .500 with the win, improving his record to 12-11. His sixth shutout of the season also proved to be his first Big Ten victory of the year.
UM got back on the board at 165 lbs., as No. 10 Matt Nagel pinned Bryan Harney at the 1:31 mark of the first period, narrowing the MSU lead to 13-10.
But, No. 19 R.J. Boudro got six points right back for the Spartans, as he notched the fall over Jeremy Larson at 3:56 of the match. The pin was Boudro's second of the season, as he improved his record to 12-4.
No. 17 Joe Williams made it two-straight pins, as he notched the fall at 4:28, beating Jason Waidzulis in the 184-pound bout. Williams, who is 22-4 on the season and 6-1 in dual meets, tallied his fifth pin of the season. Williams was originally slated to wrestle No. 7 Roger Kish, who wasn't able to compete because of a skin infection.
Jeff Clemens picked up his first Big Ten victory of the season as well, as he defeated Jon Duncombe, 11-7, at 197 lbs. Clemens moves to 12-11 overall and 4-4 in dual meets. UM's No. 2 Cole Konrad ended the meet with a major decision over Max Lossen, 14-2.
The Spartans return to action Sunday, Jan. 30, as they take on No. 14 Wisconsin, in Madison, at 2 p.m.
125 - Nick Simmons (MSU) def. Bobbe Lowe MD 9-0
133 - Mack Reiter (MN) def. Ryan Froese MD 12-1
141 - Andy Simmons (MSU) def. Quincy Osborn 4-0
149 - Darren McKnight (MSU) def. C.P. Schlatter 10-9
157 - Matt Mccarty (MSU) def. Nik Lentz 6-0
165 - Matt Nagel (MN) pinned Bryan Harney Fall, 1:31
174 - R.J. Boudro (MSU) pinned Jeremy Larson Fall, 3:56
184 - Joe Williams (MSU) pinned Jason Waidzulis Fall, 4:28
197 - Jeff Clemens (MSU) def. Jon Duncombe 11-7
285 - Cole Konrad (MN) def. Max Lossen MD 14-2
Players Mentioned
