Spartan Wrestling Begins Preseason Workouts Sept. 4
9/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Sept. 3, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State wrestling team, ranked No. 10 in the InterMat Wrestling preseason poll, begins preseason workouts this week. The Spartans return 15 letterwinners and nine starters from last year's squad, and are looking to be a force in the tough Big Ten standings in 2002-03.
Gray Maynard (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.), a two-time All-American at 157 pounds, is among four NCAA qualifiers returning to the team. Karl Nadolsky (Sr., Holland), Rashad Evans (Sr., Niagara Falls, N.Y.) and John Wechter (Sr., Saginaw) also come back after reaching the NCAA Tournament last March. Nik Fekete (Jr., Cranford, N.J.), a 2001 All-American who redshirted last season, is also expected back in the lineup.
MSU begins the season with an open tournament at Eastern Michigan Nov. 2. The Spartans then host the MSU Open, Nov. 9-10, at Jenison Field House, featuring wrestlers from Michigan, Ohio State, Northwestern and Wisconsin. The first dual match of the season is Nov. 23 as the Spartans travel to Hofstra in Hempstead, N.Y. MSU's home opener is Dec. 3 against Central Michigan, beginning at 7 p.m. at Jenison Field House.