Spartans Head To Eastern Michigan
12/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 4, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State wrestling team travels to Ypsilanti, Mich., to take on Eastern Michigan this Friday, Dec. 5. The trip to Ypsilanti will be the Spartans' second of the young season after competing in the EMU Open on Nov. 1.
MSU has won 11 of the teams' 12 all-time meetings, including a 24-6 victory last season at Jenison Field House. The Spartans' only loss to the Eagles came in 1988, when EMU won 23-19. Since then, MSU has gone 9-0.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
EMU is 1-4 on the season, picking up its lone win against Chattanooga, 25-16, at the Boilermaker Challenge on Nov. 15. The Eagles dropped their other two matches at the Boilermaker Challenge to Northwestern (23-13) and Purdue (33-6), both MSU opponents. Since the win over Chattanooga, the Eagles have lost matches to Clarion (21-12) and Buffalo (25-8).
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State senior Rex Kendle took the Mat Town Wrestling Open title in the 165-pound division on Saturday, Nov. 29, marking his second tournament title this season. Six other MSU wrestlers finished in the top four of their weight class to give the Spartans a strong showing.
Kendle went 5-0 on the day, winning four close matches before pinning Jeremy Brooks (Millersville) in 3:27 for the title. Kendle, who is ranked No. 15 in the country by InterMat/NWCA/NWMA, pushed his season record to 15-2 and leads the team in wins.
Junior Kyle Bounds finished second in the 157-pound class, winning his first three matches by a combined 31-15 margin before falling to Steve Fittery (Unattached) in the finals.
Senior Tim Hammer (149 pounds), redshirt freshman Tyler Dickenson (197) and junior Alan O'Donnell (285) finished third in their respective classes, while redshirt freshman Collin Dozier and sophomore Eric Anderson finished fourth at 141 and 184, respectively.
TOURNEY TITLES
Kendle's Mat Town Open title was his second tournament title of the season and the third tournament he has placed in. Kendle won his first title at the MSU Open on Nov. 1, taking the Open division title at 165 pounds.
Kendle also took second place in the Open division at the EMU Open. His tournament record stands at 13-1, with his only loss coming in the title match at the EMU Open.
Kendle joins Franklin Gomez and Anthony Jones as the only Spartans to win tournament titles this season. Gomez took the Open title at 133 pounds at the MSU Open and Jones took the MSU Open Freshman/Sophomore title at 157.
SIGNING DAY
MSU head coach Tom Minkel announced on Nov. 19 the signing of high school wrestlers Josh Harper (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka) and Dan Osterman (St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns) to National Letters of Intent.
Harper enters his senior season with a 141-1 career record, while Osterman carries a 160-7 record after recording a 52-0 junior campaign.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will take three weeks off for the holiday break before heading to Evanston, Ill., to compete in the Midlands Championships on Dec. 28 and 29.
Players Mentioned
