Michigan State University
Midlands Championships
Wrestling Advances Two to Midlands Quarterfinals
12/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 29, 2007
Complete Midlands Championships Results
EVANSTON, Ill. - Michigan State wrestling kicked off action at the Midlands Championships Saturday in Northwestern University's Welsh-Ryan Arena. Senior Joe Williams and sophomore Franklin Gomez picked up two wins each to advance to Sunday's quarterfinal rounds in the 197- and 133-pound weight classes. The Spartans are currently tied for 10th with Northwestern and Pittsburgh in the team standings with 25.5 points.
Fourth-ranked Gomez started off the tournament with two major decision wins, his second and third of the season. First, Gomez defeated Jacob Pederson 17-6, then took down Pittsburg's Jim Couroy 12-4. With the wins, Gomez remains undefeated on the season with an 11-0 record.
Williams, who ranked 18th nationally entering the weekend, extends his season mark to 16-4 with early round victories. In round one, Williams pinned Iowa's Brodie Ambrose in 3:25, then picked up an 11-5 second-round decision over Brian Fritchman from Montana State University-Northern. In last year's tournament, Williams finished second in the 197-pound bracket.
Eight Michigan State wrestlers will continue action tomorrow in wrestleback rounds, including Micah Carter at 141 pounds, Eddie Skowneski, Tim Hammer and Anthony Jones Jr. at 149 pounds, John Fulger at 157 pounds, Rex Kendle at 165 pounds, John Murphy and Blake Mesyn at 174.
Complete tournament updates and results can be found at Northwestern's athletic website, www.nusports.com.
Players Mentioned
