Michigan State University
No. 1 Penn State
Michigan State Wrestling Stifled By No. 1 Penn State
1/14/2018 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
EAST LANSING, Mich. - In the home opening dual for Michigan State wrestling, the Spartans were stifled by No. 1 Penn State on Saturday afternoon at Jenison Field House. A lively crowd of 1,652 wasn't enough to rally the Spartans as they dropped the third conference dual of the season, 48-3. Michigan State falls to 4-5 overall and 0-3 in Big Ten action.
"I don't think that was the Michigan State wrestling we expect out of our guys," MSU head coach Roger Chandler said. "Penn State's a good team, but I think from a technical standpoint and from a personal drive standpoint from each of the 10 guys that go out there, they can all do better. It's not always about the wins and losses; it's about how you compete. Our guys are capable of much more."
Michigan State's three team points came from freshman Rayvon Foley at 125 pounds, who put the Spartans up 3-0 to start off the match. Foley scored first with a takedown, and didn't let up his lead throughout the bout to finish with a 6-2 decision. Foley is now 7-2 in dual action and posted the first Big Ten dual win of his career.
"Penn State's a benchmark nationally for a lot of programs, but I think we have to look at ourselves and compete within ourselves," Chandler added. "I tell the guys all the time we've got to compete within ourselves, and don't worry about what your opponent is going to do - worry about what you're going to do when you're out on the mat."
MSU splits next weekend on the road and at home, first against Indiana in Bloomington, Indiana at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19. The match will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. On Sunday, Jan. 21, the Spartans return home for a match against Wisconsin at 1 p.m. in Jenison Field House. That match will be streamed live on BTN Plus.
125: Rayvon Foley (MSU) dec. Devin Schnupp (PSU), 6-2
In the first period, Foley got on the board first with a takedown for a 2-0 lead over Schnupp, accumulating riding time. In the second, Foley began down and added an escape point to take a 3-0 lead. Schnupp started down to open the third, and got the escape point. Foley notched a takedown late in the third period and with riding time, finished with a 6-2 decision for his first Big Ten dual victory.
133: Corey Keener (PSU) maj. dec. Matt Santos (MSU), 12-2
In the first period, Keener scored two on a takedown, and Santos got the escape point. Keener got a late takedown to take a 4-1 lead into the second. Keener scored another takedown in the second to lead 6-1. Keener jumped out to a 12-2 lead, and while Santos got that second escape point, it wasn't enough and Keener finished with a major decision.
141: Nick Lee (PSU) tech. fall No. 20 Javier Gasca (MSU), 16-1
Lee got on the board first with a takedown, and Gasca cut into the lead with an escape. Lee finished the first with another six points off a takedown and nearfall. In the second, Lee tacked on six more to take a 14-1 lead. Lee notched a takedown in the third stanza to secure the technical fall, 16-1.
149: No. 1 Zain Retherford (PSU) pinned Jwan Britton (MSU), 4:08
In the first, Retherford jumped out to a 12-1 lead in the first period off two takedowns and nearfalls, though Britton managed an escape, fighting back Retherford's attempts to pin. Midway through the second period, Retherford got the pin, ending the match at 4:08.
157: No. 1 Jason Nolf (PSU) pinned Jake Tucker (MSU), 3:27
Tucker came out aggressive in the first, putting two points on the board with a takedown. Nolf responded with an escape and takedown, though Tucker managed an escape and takedown of his own. Nolf and Tucker battled through the first, ending with Nolf in the lead, 15-6. In the second, Nolf got the pin at 3:27.
165: No. 1 Vincenzo Joseph (PSU) pinned Austin Hiles (MSU), 2:48
Joseph notched the first two points off a takedown, and Hiles got the escape point. Joseph took control with takedown and nearfall, before pinning Hiles with just 12 seconds left in the first.
174: No. 2 Mark Hall (PSU) tech. fall Logan Ritchie (MSU), 19-4
Hall went on a series of takedowns which Ritchie escaped from before ending the first with a nearfall to take a 10-2 lead. In the second, Hall got an escape point after starting down and collected a takedown, leading 13-2 into the third. Ritchie added two points, though Hall tacked on six of his own for the technical fall, 19-4.
184: No. 1 Bo Nickal (PSU) pinned Shwan Shadaia (MSU), 2:02
Nickal took down Shadaia four times, and though Shadaia escaped three times, after the fourth Nickal took control and pinned Shadaia at 2:02.
197: Anthony Cassar (PSU) maj. dec. Nick May (MSU), 16-3
In the first period, Cassar took a 4-1 lead after two takedowns though May escaped from one. In the second, Cassar tacked on five more points while May scored another escape point to close to 9-2. In the third, Cassar got a takedown and nearfall, and with riding time finished with a 16-3 major decision.
HWT: No. 8 Nick Nevills (PSU) pinned Matt Lloyd (MSU), 6:35
In the first, Nevills jumped out to a 6-2 lead with three takedowns. Nevills tacked on eight more points in the second stanza from two takedowns and a nearfall, but Lloyd escaped and cut the lead to 14-3. Nevills got the pin late in the third, at 6:35.
No. 1 Penn State 48, Michigan State 3
125: Rayvon Foley (MSU) dec. Devin Schnupp (PSU), 6-2. MSU leads, 3-0.
133: Corey Keener (PSU) maj. dec. Matt Santos (MSU), 12-2. PSU leads, 4-3.
141: Nick Lee (PSU) tech. fall No. 20 Javier Gasca (MSU), 16-1. PSU leads, 9-3.
149: No. 1 Zain Retherford (PSU) pinned Jwan Britton (MSU), 4:08. PSU leads 15-3.
157: No. 1 Jason Nolf (PSU) pinned Jake Tucker (MSU), 3:27. PSU leads 21-3.
165: No. 1 Vincenzo Joseph (PSU) pinned Austin Hiles (MSU), 2:48. PSU leads 27-3.
174: No. 2 Mark Hall (PSU) tech. fall Logan Ritchie (PSU), 19-4. PSU leads 32-3.
184: No. 1 Bo Nickal (PSU) pinned Shwan Shadaia (MSU), 2:02. PSU leads, 38-3.
197: Anthony Cassar (PSU) maj. dec. Nick May (MSU), 16-2. PSU leads, 42-3.
HWT: No. 8 Nick Nevills (PSU) pinned Matt Lloyd (MSU), 6:35. PSU wins, 48-3.
Attendance: 1,652
Players Mentioned
