Michigan State University
Clarion
Wrestling Travels Back to Clarion for Dual Matchup
12/15/2023 12:26:00 PM | Wrestling
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State wrestling looks to extend its four-match winning streak and 4-0 record as it travels to Clarion, Pa. for the second time this season on Saturday, Dec. 16, to face Clarion University for a 7 p.m. dual. The dual will be streamed on flowrestling.com.
MATCH NOTES
HEAD COACH ROGER CHANDLER SAID
"Last week is no different than this week; we need to continue to get better in all positions when we compete. That is something we have been stressing with our guys week-in and week-out. Clarion is no doubt a very talented team and we must be ready to go in all 10 weight classes. They will be a tough challenge for our team, but we just need to continue to focus on ourselves and compete through every position and put points on the board."
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
· The Spartans are on the road for the fourth-straight dual with five of the six total events so far this season occurring out of state.
· The Green and White have made themselves feel right at home on the road, winning four dual matches, while placing sixth at the Clarion Open and fourth at the Black Knight Invite.
· The last time the Spartans took the stage in front of the home crowd was on Nov. 19 at the MSU Open.
JUMPING LIKE JORDAN
· Redshirt senior 141-pounder Jordan Hamdan has jumped out to a 4-0 dual record winning every match with bonus points. Hamdan looks to return to his 2021 form that saw a victory at the NCAA tournament.
TURN IT UP, DJ
· Following his victory in Buffalo, redshirt senior 174-pounder DJ Shannon has already set a career-high for wins in a season with eight. Shannon previously had seven wins when he was with University of Illinois before transferring to MSU in 2022.
SCOUTING CLARION
· Clarion owns an overall record of 3-4 through seven duals. The Golden Eagles started the season 1-3 before winning two of their next three by defeating West Liberty (30-13) and Drexel (23-17).
· Clarion is led by head coach Keith Ferraro who is in his 10th season, and has accumulated a record of 67-80.
· The Golden Eagles went 11-6 in the 2022-23 season; it was the most wins for the program since the 2000-01 season (11-3).
· Sophomore 157-pounder Alejandro Herrera is on pace for a career season with a 9-3 record going into the dual (which leads the team) and has won five of his last seven matches. The Oklahoma transfer has ended seven of his nine victories with bonus points (five tech falls and two major decisions).
SERIES HISTORY
· Saturday's match marks the ninth all-time meeting between the Spartans and Golden Eagles. MSU holds the series lead, 6-2, winning the last three meetings with a combined score of 66-39.
· Clarion's two victories came in back-to-back meetings, defeating the Green and White in 2013, 25-16, then two years later, 19-12.
· This is the first meeting between these two programs since 2020.
UP NEXT
The Michigan State wrestling team will compete in its last regular season tournament of the season at the Midlands Championships in Hoffman Estates, Ill., from Dec. 29-30.
Players Mentioned
