Michigan State University
Iowa
No. 14 Spartan Wrestling Shocks No. 2 Iowa
2/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 7, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The No. 14 Michigan State wrestling team shocked the wrestling world Friday night (Feb. 7) at Jenison Field House by defeating No. 2 Iowa by criteria after wrestling to a 19-19 team score. MSU won on criteria B, which declares the team with the most falls is the victor of the dual. MSU's Arsen Aleksanyan (Sr., Santa Ana, Calif.) recorded the lone pin of the match at 165 pounds, which gave MSU the victory - the first over Iowa since 1971 for the Spartans. MSU improves to 6-5 (3-1 Big Ten) for the season, while Iowa falls to 12-3 (2-1 BT).
MSU led 19-14 heading into the heavyweight match. No. 1-ranked Steve Mocco of Iowa needed a pin for the Hawkeyes to win, but instead defeated John Wechter (Sr., Saginaw) by a technical fall, 27-11, for the five points and the tie. Mocco, the 2002 NCAA runner-up, had 12 pins thus far this season.
"That might be the most emotional I've ever been after a match," said MSU head coach Tom Minkel, who beat Iowa for the first time in his career. "Time slowed down in that last match, and it was great for John (Wechter) to hold off Mocco and not get pinned. Everybody fought hard and did an amazing job tonight."
The Spartans took the five-point lead after sixth-ranked Nik Fekete (Sr., Cranford, N.J.) beat Ryan Fulsaas at 197 pounds, 8-6. Fekete extended his winning streak to nine matches with the victory.
Nick Simmons (R-Fr., Williamston) started the match off with a masterful performance at 125 pounds, defeating No. 6 and 2002 NCAA runner-up Luke Eustice by a major decision, 11-0. Simmons dominated the entire match, racking up six near-fall points and over five minutes of riding time. Simmons, who is ranked seventh in the nation, extended his winning streak to seven and improved his record to a team-best 18-5.
Iowa tied the dual at 4-4 on No. 4 Cliff Moore's major decision over Shane Martin (So., DeWitt), 15-4, in the 133-pound match.
MSU took back the lead with an upset at 141 pounds as Ryan L'Amoreaux (Jr., Clarkston) held off No. 15 and defending Big Ten Champion Luke Moffit, 9-3. Trailing 1-0 in the second period, L'Amoreaux quickly scored five points on a takedown and near-fall points for a 5-1 lead. He added a reversal and a takedown in the third, extending his lead to eight before winning by a 9-3 count.
The Spartans lost a heartbreaker in the 149-pound match as 12th-ranked Karl Nadolsky (Sr., Holland) fell to No. 14 Ty Eustice, 7-5, in overtime. With the score tied at three apiece in the third, Eustice recorded a takedown with less than 30 seconds remaining to go up 5-3. Nadolsky escaped in the last 10 seconds, however, and added a riding-time point to send the match into overtime. Eustice then scored a takedown in the first 15 seconds of the overtime for the 7-5 victory.
MSU led 10-7 heading into intermission as fifth-ranked Gray Maynard (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.) held off No. 8 Joe Johnston, 15-11, at 157 pounds. Maynard led by as many as six points before Johnston added a late takedown in the third to close the gap to three, but Maynard had riding-time advantage to win by four.
The Spartans pushed their lead to 16-7 on a dramatic pin by Arsen Aleksanyan (Sr., Santa Ana, Calif.) over Jason D'Agata with only 43 seconds left in the 165-pound match. Aleksanyan, trailing 6-3, pulled a reversal on D'Agata, then held him on his back for several seconds before recording his first career pin.
The Hawkeyes trimmed MSU's lead to two points as third-ranked Tyler Nixt defeated Rashad Evans (Sr., Niagara Falls, N.Y.) at 174 pounds, 9-5, and No. 2 Jessman Smith topped Jeff Clemens (R-Fr., Bellbrook, Ohio) in a major decision at 184 pounds, 16-5.
MSU returns to action Sunday, Feb. 9 to face No. 7 Michigan in Jenison Field House at 1 p.m.
MATCH SUMMARY:Wt. Outcome Team Score125 No. 7 Nick Simmons (MSU) major dec. No. 6 Luke Eustice (IA), 11-0 MSU, 4-0133 No. 4 Cliff Moore (IA) major dec. Shane Martin (MSU), 15-4 Tied, 4-4141 Ryan L'Amoreaux (MSU) dec. No. 15 Luke Moffit (IA), 9-3 MSU, 7-4149 No. 14 Ty Eustice (IA) dec. No. 12 Karl Nadolsky (MSU), 7-5 (OT) Tied, 7-7157 No. 6 Gray Maynard (MSU) dec. No. 8 Joe Johnston (IA), 15-11 MSU, 10-7165 Arsen Aleksanyan (MSU) pinned Jason D'Agata (IA), 6:17 MSU, 16-7174 No. 3 Tyler Nixt (IA) dec. Rashad Evans (MSU), 9-5 MSU, 16-10184 No. 2 Jessman Smith (IA) major dec. Jeff Clemens (MSU), 16-5 MSU, 16-14197 No. 6 Nik Fekete (MSU) dec. Ryan Fulsaas (IA), 8-6 MSU, 19-14Hwt. No. 1 Steve Mocco (IA) tech. fall John Wechter (MSU), 27-11 Tied, 19-19PLEASE NOTE: Team rankings according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Individual rankings according to Amateur Wrestling News.
ATTENDANCE: 2,170
Players Mentioned
