Round One Of Wrestling Rivalary: Michigan

Dec. 11, 2000

ANN ARBOR, MICH. - The No. 10 Michigan State lost 22-12 to intrastate rival No. 8 Michigan in the first dual meet of the 2000-2001 season. The Spartans faced off with the Wolverines in front of nearly 1,500 fans at Michigan's Cliff Keen Arena. The meet was a match of rematches as seven of the individual weight classes were rematches from either this season or last. The match seesawed back and forth as the match was tied through the first five matches. After a major decision by Michigan at the 149 weight class, the Wolverines took a 13-9 led and never trailed again. The win will count towards their dual record but will not count towards the Big Ten conference standings.

With the match starting at the 184 weight class, Michigan took an early 3-0 led after scoring a 9-5 decision by Michigan's No. 10 Andy Hrovat over MSU's John Wechter (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvell C.C.).

The matchup at 197 pounds allowed the Spartans to pull even at 3-3, as No. 20 Nik Fekete (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) scored two off a takedown with 40 seconds to go in the match to tie the match with Michigan's Joe DeGain, 4-4. Fekete went on to score first in overtime, winning the match 6-4.

Heavyweight featured two top-ten wrestlers in Michigan's No. 6 Matt Brink and MSU's No. 9 Matt Lamb (Camden, N.J./Overbrook). Brink won the ninth decision between himself and Lamb, taking this decision 4-1.

With Michigan holding a 6-3 advantage after the upper three weight classes had been wrestled, No. 14 Chris Williams (Perry, Mich./Fowlerville) was looking to tie the match up. But No. 6 A.J. Grant scored a takedown in the last 40 seconds of the match to win the match, 3-2.

Michigan sat on what seemed like a commanding 9-3 led until No. 7 Pat McNamara (Jordan, Minn./Jordan) and No. 5 Mike Castillo (Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Central) won their weight classes tying the match score at nine all. McNamara defeated Michigan's No. 18 Foley Dowd for the second time this season, 10-4 and Castillo beat No. 18 Clark Forward, 7-6.

After a 15-6 major decision by Michigan's No. 16 Mike Kulczycki over Charlie Sageman (Saginaw, Mich./Bridgeport) the Wolverines took a 13-9 led and kept it.

MSU's No. 10 Gray Maynard (Las Vegas, N.V./St. Edward) won his match over Pat Owen, 9-5 at 157 pounds, but that would be the only Spartan victory in the final three matches. While Corey Posey (Columbia, Tenn./Westfield) fought a tough battle at 165 pounds, taking Michigan's Charles Martelli to double overtime, Posey eventually lost to Martelli with 15 seconds to go in the second overtime, 4-3.

Michigan State will try to bounce back in their only team-scoring tournament of the year at the 2000 Midlands Nationals, which will be held in Evanston, Ill. on Dec. 28-29.

184    No. 10 Andy Hrovat dec. John Wechter                 9-5197    No. 20 Nik Fekete dec. Joe DeGain                    6-2 OT285    No. 6 Matt Brink dec. No. 9 Matt Lamb                4-1125    No. 6 A.J. Grant dec. No. 14 Chris Williams          3-2133    No. 7 Pat McNamara dec. No. 17 Foley Dowd            10-4141    No. 5 Mike Castillo dec. No. 18 Clark Foward         7-6149    No. 16 Mike Kulczycki majdec. Charlie Sageman        15-6157    No. 10 Gray Maynard dec. Pat Owen                    9-5165    Charles Martelli dec. Corey Posey                    4-3 2OT174    No. 1 Otto Olson fall Nate Mesyn                     4:58

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