Spartans Crown Four MSU Open Champions
11/19/2000 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 19, 2000
EAST LANSING, MICH. - The No. 9 ranked MSU Spartans opened their home schedule crowning four champions at the 2000 MSU Open, which was held at Jenison Field House. Although there were no team scores kept, the finals where dominated by Michigan State and University of Michigan wrestlers, as half of the finalists were from those two schools. While the Spartans ruled the lower weight classes, having all four champions from the first five divisions, the Wolverines finished off the tournament winning 174 pounds, 184 pounds and the heavyweight classes.
"As a team, we made improvements from a technical standpoint," said Head Coach Tom Minkel. "It's early. The guys wrestled hard and we had bright spots in some weight classes and struggled in others. But for a first tournament, it was an overall good effort."
At 125 pounds, Chris Williams (Perry, Mich./Fowlerville) won his championship match handily over Central Michigan's Ahmad Sanders. Williams won the decision 4-2, as Sanders scored only on escapes and was warned for stalling during the match.
No. 4 ranked Pat McNamara (Jordan, Mich./Fraser) defeated Michigan's ninth-ranked Foley Dowd in the 133 pounds championships, in a 3-2 decision. McNamara led throughout the entire match, as Dowd scored on a takedown in the last 15 seconds of the match.
"Chris (Williams) and Pat (McNamara) both have made significant improvement on what they need, most importantly footwork," reported Minkel. "They both looked good throughout the tournament."
At 141 pounds, fifth-ranked Mike Castillo (Rochester, Mich./Forest Hills Central) won a nail biter against No.13 Michigan's Clark Forward. Castillo won the individual title with a 7-6 decision. Castillo had taken an early 2-0 lead in the first period, before Forward tied the match with a kick out near the end of the second period. The bout see-sawed back and forth in the third, as Forward took the lead, 6-5 on a reverse with 30 seconds left in the match. Castillo sealed the victory, as he shot and took down Forward with less than 15 seconds to go.
No. 11 Gray Maynard (Las Vegas, N.V./St. Edward) took home the crown at 157, defeating teammate Corey Posey in the semifinals, 3-2, and going on to defeat Northern Illinois's Scott Owen 6-4 in the championship match. Posey (Columbia, Tenn./Westfield) who came back from a 6-0 deficit to win 13-10 the semifinal consolation match, went on to place third after defeating Michigan's Bertin, 3-2.
No. 20 Karl Nadolsky (Holland, Mich./West Ottawa) lost to Michigan's 16th ranked Michael Kulczvcki via tech fall, 25-10 in the championship match at 149 pounds. No. 19 Nik Fekete (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) marched his way to third-place in the tournament, winning handily his consolation championship 15-6 over Central Michigan's Thompson. John Wechter (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central) rounded out the Spartans in the top five, as he finished fifth at 184 pounds.
"Corey (Posey), Nik (Fekete) and John (Wechter) were just little things away from being in the championships in their weight classes," Minkel explained. "Corey showed a lot of maturity, while Nik and John wrestled well for the little experience that they have."
The Spartans continue their open season at the Northern Iowa Open, in Cedar Falls, Iowa on December 2, before opening the dual season against Michigan Dec. 8.