Michigan State University
Penn St
No. 11 Wrestlers Take Down Penn State University, 27-7
1/16/2000 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 16, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State won its first conference dual meet of the season and fifth overall as the No. 11 Spartans defeated the No. 22 Penn State Nittany Lions 27-7 Sunday afternoon.
After dropping the first match to Penn State in the 174 pound division, MSU wrestlers regrouped and won the next three matches beginning with James Brimm?s (Jr., Evansville, Ind.) 20-9 major decision over PSU?s Jon Long in the 184 pound class to give the Spartans a 4-3 lead. Following Brimm was MSU?s Nick Muzashvili (Sr., Unadilla, N.Y./Republic of Georgia), who is currently ranked No. 1 in the 197 pound division and entered the match with a 17-0 record. Muzashvili remained undefeated following his 3-1 victory over No. 6 Ross Thatcher, but it took a takedown with :36 left in overtime to do so. Heavyweight Matt Lamb (Jr., Camden, N.J.) put MSU up 10-3 after a close 2-1 decision over PSU?s Mark Janus.
PSU?s No. 1 ranked Jeremy Hunter chalked a victory up for the Nittany Lions with a 16-4 major decision over MSU?s Chris Williams (So., Fowlerville, Mich) in the 125 pound class. Hunter?s victory, however, was PSU?s last as Spartan wrestlers won the remaining five matches. Getting things started for MSU was No. 3-ranked Pat McNamara (Jr., Jordan, Minn.), who made a successful return to MSU?s lineup after having preseason shoulder surgery. McNamara easily disposed of PSU?s Scott Moore 14-7.
Following McNamra were Spartans Mike Castillo (Jr., Ada, Mich.), Cory Posey (Jr., Columbia, Tenn.), Gray Maynard (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev.) and Greg DeGrand (Sr., Ann Arbor, Mich.), who all came away victorious. Castillo, a 141-pounder, earned a 15-5 major decision over PSU?s Jay Schrum, while Posey gave MSU a 20-7 lead following his close 4-3 decision over Brent Narkiewicz in the 149 pound division.
Maynard, a freshman, continues to be impressive as the No. 7-ranked 157-pounder won his match 10-3 over Nate Wachter. DeGrand closed out the meet in style with a 11-2 major decision over Doc Vecchio in the 165 pound division.
MSU will have a full week to rest before its Big Ten dual meet against in-state rival Michigan on Jan. 23 in Ann Arbor, Mich.
MSU - PSU Match/score PSU MSU 174 - Mark Becks (PSU) dec. John Wechter (MSU), 10-6 3 0184 - James Brimm (MSU) maj. dec. Jon Long (PSU), 20-9 3 4 197 - No. 1 Nick Muzashvili (MSU) dec. No. 6 Ross Thatcher (PSU), OT 3-1 3 7 285 - No. 20 Matt Lamb (MSU) dec. No. 18 Mark Janus (PSU), 2-1 3 10 125 - No. 1 Jeremy Hunter (PSU) maj. dec. Chris Williams (MSU), 16-4 7 10133 - No. 3 Pat McNamra (MSU) dec. Scott Moore (PSU), 14-7 7 13 141 - Mike Castillo (MSU) maj. dec. Jay Schrum (PSU), 15-5 7 17149 - Cory Posey (MSU) dec. Brent Narkiewicz (PSU), 4-3 7 20157 - No. 7 Gray Maynard (MSU) dec. Nate Wachter (PSU), 10-3 7 23165 - Greg DeGrand (MSU) maj. dec. Doc Vecchio (PSU), 11-2 7 27
