Saturday, March 7
Piscataway, N.J.
All Day
Michigan State University
vs
Big Ten Championships
Caffey Advances to Finals, Spartans Collect 52 Team Points on Day One of Big Ten Championships
3/7/2020 4:48:00 PM | Wrestling
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Redshirt sophomore Cameron Caffey claimed a spot in the 184 pound final as the Spartans collected 52 team points en route to a 9th place finish on day one of the Big Ten Championships, Saturday inside the the Rutgers Athletic Center.
Six wrestlers achieved automatic bids to the NCAA Championships throughout the day, the most from a Spartan wrestling team since the 2012 season, when six wrestlers earned berths at the championships.
Along with redshirt sophomore Cameron Caffey, who earned his automatic berth in the morning session with a 14-3 major decision over Zac Braunagel in the quarterfinals, redshirt junior Drew Hughes went 2-2 on the day on his way to his third career NCAA Tournament berth. Redshirt senior Logan Griffin compiled a 2-3 record on the day with wins over Maryland and Penn State to qualify for the first time in his career. Redshirt freshman Layne Malczewski, competing at the Big Ten Championships for the first time, went 2-2 on the day en route to guaranteed top-9 finish and automatic berth. Redshirt junior Alex Hrisopoulos punched his ticket after a 2-2 outing on the day. Redshirt junior Jake Tucker was the last Spartan to grab an automatic bid, fighting back after an opening round loss to win three-straight matches to guarantee himself a spot in the top 6.
"I think the biggest thing is that our guys have bought in to the process and obviously they are competing at a higher level, and the results are starting to show," said MSU wrestling head coach Roger Chandler. "It's not always easy to start at rock-bottom and kind of build up into a program that's being recognized now. These guys have truly bought in to the process, and the process takes time.They've bought in and now they're figuring out how to compete at the highest level."
Consolation Rounds
The Spartans went 6-0 in the first round of consolations, as Griffin, May, Santos, Hrisopoulos, Tucker and Rebottaro all earned their first wins of the tournament. Griffin took on Penn State's Brandon Meredith to begin the second round of consolation action at 125 pounds. A takedown in the first and third periods pushed Griffin to a 5-1 decision over Meredith. With the win, Griffin guaranteed himself a spot in the top 8. With 125 pounds having nine allocations, Griffin grabbed an automatic qualification into the NCAA Championships. Hughes and Malczewski followed that with consolation wins at 165 and 174 pounds, respectively. Hughes started with a reversal and two-point near-fall over Maryland's Kyle Cochran and never looked back, rolling to an 8-2 win and setting up a spot in the NCAA Championships. Hughes' NCAA berth was the third of his career, qualifying in both 2017 and 2019. Malczewski secured a 9-3 win over Wisconsin's Jared Krattiger to cement his spot in the top-8. Malczewski, a first-time NCAA qualifier, controlled the match from the start, racing out to a 5-0 start on his way to the win. Tucker, competing at 157 pounds, rallied to win three-straight matches after dropping his opening match to the 11-seed. Tucker tallied his first of three bonus point wins with a shutout 8-0 victory over Fernie Silva of Indiana and backed that up with a dominant 8-0 win over Ryan Thomas of Minnesota. Hughes took control from the start in his consolation quarterfinal match, sailing away with a 14-2 major decision over Mike Van Brill of Rutgers. Hrisopoulos advanced to at least an eight-place finish after receiving a win via medical forfeit from Gerard Angelo of Rutgers.
Redshirt senior Garrett Pepple battled Joey Silva of Michigan after receiving a bye in the first round of consolations. The two went back and forth to start the dual, with Pepple trailing 2-1 after one. Silva landed a takedown and escape in the final two frames for the 5-3 decision. Redshirt junior Matt Santos fell to the No. 3-seed Max Murin of Iowa, 16-5, in the second round of consolations after tallying a 3-2 decision over Eddie Bolivar of Indiana. Redshirt junior Nick May moved on in session two with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Taylor Watkins of Wisconsin and fell to No. 3- seed Jacob Warner by fall (2:10) in the next round. Redshirt junior Christian Rebottaro used a late throw to pin Parker Robinson of Maryland in the first round of consolations and fell to David Jensen of Nebraska by decision, 5-0, in the second round of wrestlebacks.
Six wrestlers achieved automatic bids to the NCAA Championships throughout the day, the most from a Spartan wrestling team since the 2012 season, when six wrestlers earned berths at the championships.
Along with redshirt sophomore Cameron Caffey, who earned his automatic berth in the morning session with a 14-3 major decision over Zac Braunagel in the quarterfinals, redshirt junior Drew Hughes went 2-2 on the day on his way to his third career NCAA Tournament berth. Redshirt senior Logan Griffin compiled a 2-3 record on the day with wins over Maryland and Penn State to qualify for the first time in his career. Redshirt freshman Layne Malczewski, competing at the Big Ten Championships for the first time, went 2-2 on the day en route to guaranteed top-9 finish and automatic berth. Redshirt junior Alex Hrisopoulos punched his ticket after a 2-2 outing on the day. Redshirt junior Jake Tucker was the last Spartan to grab an automatic bid, fighting back after an opening round loss to win three-straight matches to guarantee himself a spot in the top 6.
"I think the biggest thing is that our guys have bought in to the process and obviously they are competing at a higher level, and the results are starting to show," said MSU wrestling head coach Roger Chandler. "It's not always easy to start at rock-bottom and kind of build up into a program that's being recognized now. These guys have truly bought in to the process, and the process takes time.They've bought in and now they're figuring out how to compete at the highest level."
Consolation Rounds
Redshirt senior Garrett Pepple battled Joey Silva of Michigan after receiving a bye in the first round of consolations. The two went back and forth to start the dual, with Pepple trailing 2-1 after one. Silva landed a takedown and escape in the final two frames for the 5-3 decision. Redshirt junior Matt Santos fell to the No. 3-seed Max Murin of Iowa, 16-5, in the second round of consolations after tallying a 3-2 decision over Eddie Bolivar of Indiana. Redshirt junior Nick May moved on in session two with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Taylor Watkins of Wisconsin and fell to No. 3- seed Jacob Warner by fall (2:10) in the next round. Redshirt junior Christian Rebottaro used a late throw to pin Parker Robinson of Maryland in the first round of consolations and fell to David Jensen of Nebraska by decision, 5-0, in the second round of wrestlebacks.
Opening Round
Three Spartans advanced to quarterfinal action Saturday at the Big Ten Championships. Hughes, the nine-seed in the 165 pound bracket, put the Spartans on the board with a fall over Minnesota's Baillee O'Reilly in the opening round. Hughes gave up a takedown in the opening period and went into the second trailing, 2-1. Hughes gathered himself in the second period, scoring a takedown to regain the lead. With four back points in his back pocket, Hughes finished the match with a pin at 4:43 to advance to is quarterfinal matchup with No.1-seed Vincenzo Joseph.
Malczewski took on the No. 9 seed, Philip Spadafora of Maryland, in the opening round of the 174-pound bracket. Malczewki fell behind early, 4-0, after giving up a takedown and two-point near-fall, but battled back to score six-straight on his way to a 6-4 victory and a spot in the quarterfinals.
No. 2-seeded Cameron Caffey received a first-round bye at 184 pounds for the Spartans.
Redshirt seniors Logan Griffin and Garrett Pepple, along with redshirt juniors Jake Tucker, Nick May, Alex Hrisopoulos, Matt Santos and Christian Rebottaro all dropped their opening-round matches. Tucker and Hrisopoulos fell in hard-fough decisions at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively. Tucker trailed early in the contest to No. 11-seed Elijah Cleary of Ohio State, 2-1, and couldn't overcome a late near-fall, losing a 5-1 decision. Hrisopoulos gave up and early takedown to No. 5-seed Graham Rooks of Indiana before rallying to tie the match at two after two periods. Rooks' escape proved to be the decider as he went on to win, 3-2 over Hrisopoulos.
Pepple fell in his opening round match ate 133 pounds to Sammy Alvarez of Rutgers by decision, 3-0, and Griffin dropped a close 8-3 decision to Michigan's Jack Medley in the opening round of 125 pounds, 8-3. May took on Lucas Davison of Northwestern at 197 pounds, and took an early 2-0 lead after a first period takedown. Davison reeled off seven unanswered points to take the 7-2 decision over May. Rebottaro met up with Ohio State's Gary Traub for the second time this season at 285 pounds. A slow start for both wrestlers ended in favor of Traub, who tallied a 12-1 major decision.
Quarterfinals
Caffey led the Spartans in quarterfinals with a dominant 14-3 major decision over Zac Braunagel of Illinois. Caffey raced out to a 4-1 lead over Braunagel and never looked back, tallying two more takedowns and a four-point near-fall on his way to the semifinals.
Hughes matched up with No. 1-seed Vincenzo Joseph of Penn State in the 165-pound round of 8, while Malczewski took on Michael Kemerer of Iowa, the number one seed at 174 pounds. Malczewski fell behind early (8-1) before Kemerer registered a fall at 1:43. Hughes rode out the third period, but fell short to Joseph, 16-5.
Semifinals
Caffey took on No. 3-seed Abe Assad of Iowa in semifinal action for the Spartans. In what was a nearly identical match from their meeting earlier in the season, where Caffey came away a 3-2 winner in East Lansing, Caffey held on late once again to advance to the finals with a 5-3 decision. Caffey tallied two takedowns in the second frame on his way to the victory.
"Cam (Caffey) flipped the switch in about the second week of January," said Chandler. "He started listening to the coaches with his offense and how to finish. He can very well win a Big Ten title and a national title. He's one of the best guys in the country. He can do it now, and I really believe he will."
Caffey will face Np. 1-seed Aaron Brooks of Penn State in tomorrow's finals slated for 3:30 p.m. ET.
"Cam (Caffey) flipped the switch in about the second week of January," said Chandler. "He started listening to the coaches with his offense and how to finish. He can very well win a Big Ten title and a national title. He's one of the best guys in the country. He can do it now, and I really believe he will."
Caffey will face Np. 1-seed Aaron Brooks of Penn State in tomorrow's finals slated for 3:30 p.m. ET.
Day One Results
125 - (12) Logan Griffin (2-2)
First Round - (5) Jack Medley (Michigan), L, 8-3
Consolation First Round - (13) Brandon Cray (Maryland), W, 10-2
Consolation Second Round - (14) Brandon Meredith (Penn State), W, 5-1
Consolation Quarterfinals - (10) Alex Thomsen (Nebraska), L, 5-2
Consolation Second Round - (14) Brandon Meredith (Penn State), W, 5-1
Consolation Quarterfinals - (10) Alex Thomsen (Nebraska), L, 5-2
133 - (10) Garrett Pepple (0-2)
First Round - (7) Sammy Alvarez (Rutgers), L, 3-0
Consolation First Round - Bye
Consolation Second Round - (8) Joey Silva (Michigan), L, 5-3
Consolation First Round - Bye
Consolation Second Round - (8) Joey Silva (Michigan), L, 5-3
141 - (12) Matt Santos (3-2)
First Round - (5) Tristan Moran (Wisconsin), L, 11-0
Consolation First Round - (13) Eddie Bolivar (Indiana), W, 3-2
Consolation Second Round - (3) Max Murin (Iowa), L, 16-5
Extra Match - (13) Eddie Bolivar (Indiana), W, 3-2
Consolation Second Round - (3) Max Murin (Iowa), L, 16-5
Extra Match - (13) Eddie Bolivar (Indiana), W, 3-2
149 - (12) Alex Hrisopoulos (2-2)
First Round - (5) Graham Rooks (Indiana), L, 3-2
Consolation First Round - (12) Mousa Jodeh (Illinois), W, 7-3
Consolation Second Round - (11) Gerard Angelo (Rutgers), W, MFF
Consolation Quarterfinals - (7) Colin Purinton (Nebraska), L, 6-3
Consolation Second Round - (11) Gerard Angelo (Rutgers), W, MFF
Consolation Quarterfinals - (7) Colin Purinton (Nebraska), L, 6-3
157 - (6) Jake Tucker (3-1)
First Round - (11) Elijah Cleary (Ohio State), L, 5-1
Consolation First Round - (14) Fernie Silva (Indiana), W, 8-0
Consolation Second Round - (5) Ryan Thomas (Minnesota), W, 8-0
Consolation Quarterfinals - (11) Mike Van Brill (Rutgers), W, 14-2
165 - (9) Drew Hughes (2-2)
First Round (8) Bailee O'Neill (Minnesota), W, Fall (4:43)
Quarterfinals - (1) Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State), L, MD, 16-5
Consolation Second Round - (10) Kyle Cochran (Maryland), W, 8-2
Consolation Quarterfinals - (5) Ethan Smith (Ohio State), L, 10-4
174 - (8) Layne Malczewski (2-2)
First Round (9) Philip Spadafora (Maryland), W, 6-4
Quarterfinals - (1) Michael Kemerer (Iowa), L, Fall, 1:43
Consolation Second Round - (10) Jared Krattiger (Wisconsin), W, 9-3
Consoaltion Quarterfinals - (5) Mikey Labriola (Nebraska), L, 17-7
184 - (2)Cameron Caffey (2-0)
First Round - Bye
Quarterfinals - (7) Zac Braunagel (Illinois), W, 14-3
Semifinals - (3) Abe Assad (Iowa), W, 5-3
197 - (12) Nick May (1-2)
Opening Round (5) Lucas Davison (Northwestern), L, 7-2
Consolation First Round - (13) Taylor Watkins (Wisconsin), W, 3-1
Consolation Second Round - (3) Jacob Warner (Iowa), L, Fall, 2:10
285 - (12) Christian Rebottaro (1-2)
First Round - (5) Gary Traub (Ohio State), L, 12-1
Consolation First Round - (14) Parker Robinson (Maryland), W, Fall, 4:39
Consolation Second Round - (5) David Jensen (Nebraska ), L, 5-0
Players Mentioned
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