Sunday, January 12
East Lansing, Mich.
1 p.m.
Michigan State University
12
vs
25
Rutgers
Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
Early Hole Too Much For Spartans to Overcome Against No. 24 Rutgers
1/12/2020 5:27:00 PM | Wrestling
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State wrestling couldn't overcome an early hole Sunday afternoon in Jenison Field House, dropping a 25-12 decision to No. 24 Rutgers in its Big Ten home opener.
"It was kind of a tale of two halves, kind of like it was Friday night (at Michigan)," said MSU wrestling head coach Roger Chandler. "We have to figure out a way to get started earlier and faster in dual meets. Whether it's 184 pounds starting for us or it's 125 pounds, we have to go out and strike first blood and look to score the first points. In the first five weight classes we didn't look to do it, and the second five we did look to do that from the first to the third period. The effort was there the second five, but we need 10 guys doing that."
The Spartans continued to stay strong at the top, collecting wins at 157, 165 and 174 pounds. Redsirt junior Jake Tucker tallied his 18th win of the season on a defensive fall over Michael Van Brill at 4:04 in the match at 157 pounds. Redshirt junior Drew Hughes reeled off his second-straight win, posting a 10-6 decision over Brett Donner at 165 pounds. Redshirt freshman ended the day with an action-packed 11-10 win over No. 19 Joe Grello at 174 pounds.
The bout started at 184 pounds with MSU's redshirt sophomore Cam Caffey taking on Billy Janzer of Rutgers. Janzer raced out to a 3-0 lead over Caffey after an escape and takedown in the period two. Caffey scored a late takedown in the third period, but it wasn't enough, falling, 6-4.
Redshirt junior Nick May took the mat against No. 17-ranked Jordan Pagano at 197 pounds. Pagano scored a takedown at the end of the first period to take a 2-0 advantage into the second. May earned an escape point seven seconds into the second frame to cut the lead to one. Pagano closed out the 3-1 win with an escape to push the Rutgers lead to 6-0. Redshirt junior Christian Rebottaro scored an early takedown in the opening minute against Alex Esposito, but Esposito answered with one of his own on the way to a 5-2 win and a 9-0 Scarlet Knight advantage.
Redshirt junior Julian Saldana, who stepped onto the mat for his third dual match of the season, took on No. 14 Nicolas Aguilar at 125 pounds. Saldana battled through an early rib injury in the first, trailing 5-1. After no scoring in the second, Aguilar tallied an escape and riding time to claim the 7-1 win.
Redshirt senior Garrett Pepple took on No. 11 Sammy Alvarez for the second time this season, after Pepple came away a 6-2 winner of Alvarez at the Navy Classic on Nov. 23. Pepple took control early over Alvarez, landing a takedown at 2:22 in the first period. The Spartan added an escape and took a 3-0 lead into the third. Alvarez, who entered the match on a nine-match winning streak, tallied a takedown with riding time to force an overtime period. Alvarez shot in for a takedown to secure a 5-3 sudden victory win. Redshirt sophomore Jaden Enriquez competed in his second dual of the season where he took on JoJo Aragona at 141 pounds. Tied at one with 41 seconds left in the third, Enriquez landed wrong on a takedown, giving Aragona a medical forfeit win at 6:19 and a 21-0 advantage in the dual.
At 149 pounds, redshirt junior Alex Hrisopoulos faced off with Gerard Angelo. Hrisopoulos landed an early takedown, but Angelo answered with one of his own and two four-point near falls to take a 10-3 lead into the second frame. Hrisopoulos couldn't overcome the early deficit, falling by major decision, 16-5.
Tucker earned the first of three-straight victories for the Spartans at 157 pounds. The Lowell, Indiana, native took control of the match early against Van Brill, leading 4-1 after one. Tucker landed his first fall of the season, on a defensive fall, at 4:04. Hughes continued to excel at 165 pounds for the Spartans, claiming a 10-6 win with two four-point near falls in the second period, and his second-straight match with a riding time point.
Malcewski ended the day on a high note for the Spartans, pushing his win total to 16 wins, which ranks second-best on the team, after a narrow 11-10 decision over No. 19 Joe Grello.
The Spartans return home this weekend for a pair of B1G duals. MSU takes on Minnesota on Friday, Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. (BTN+) and follow with a 3 p.m. matchup with Maryland on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. on BTN.
No. 24 Rutgers 25, Michigan State 12
184 - Billy Janzer (RU) dec. over #18 Cameron Caffey (MSU), 6-4 - Rutgers leads, 3-0
197 - #19 Jordan Pagano (RU) dec. over Nick May (MSU), 3-1 - Rutgers leads, 6-0
285 - Alex Esposito (RU) dec. over Christian Rebottaro (MSU), 5-2 - Rutgers leads, 9-0
125 - #14 Nicolas Aguilar (RU) dec. over Julian Saldana (MSU), 7-1 - Rutgers leads, 12-0
133 - #11 Sammy Alvarez (RU) dec. over #25 Garrett Pepple (MSU), 5-3 (SV-1) - Rutgers leads, 15-0
141 - JoJo Aragona (RU) injury forfeit over Jaden Enriquez (MSU), (6:19) - Rutgers leads, 21-0
149 - Gerard Angelo (RU) maj. decision over Alex Hrisopoulos (MSU), 16-5 - Rutgers leads, 25-0
157 - #21 Jake Tucker (MSU) by fall over Michael VanBrill (RU), (4:04) - Rutgers leads, 25-6
165 - Drew Hughes (MSU) dec. over Brett Donner (RU), 10-6 - Rutgers leads, 25-9
174 - Layne Malczewski (MSU) dec. over #19 Joseph Grello (RU), 11-10 - Rutgers wins, 25-12
Players Mentioned
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