Michigan State University
Big Ten Championships
Nick Simmons Crowned Big Ten Champion
3/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
March 6, 2005
IOWA CITY, Iowa - Sophomore Nick Simmons claimed his first career Big Ten title as four Michigan State wrestlers placed in the top four in their respective weight classes at the 2005 Big Ten Championships, Sunday, March 6.
Nick Simmons is the first Michigan State wrestler to capture a Big Ten championship since Nick Muzashvili in 2000, as Simmons defeated Kyle Ott of Illinois, 4-2, in the finals.
"It was a very tough tournament, but I thought we wrestled hard in every weight class," said head coach Tom Minkel. "The 125-pound weight class was one of the hardest in the Big Ten, with five guys ranked in the top 10 all season. For Nick to win this tournament is terrific."
The Spartans finished eighth in the tournament with 70.5 points, but realistically had little chance of a top-five finish without Joe Williams at 184 pounds. The Spartans voided the weight class, and only competed with nine wrestlers. Illinois captured the 2005 Big Ten Championships.
Despite giving up an early takedown and trailing to Ott 2-1 after the first period, Nick Simmons continued his relentless attack and took the lead with a takedown midway through the second period. Simmons chose the bottom position and easily escaped in the third. He was then able to weather several shots by the Illinois All-American late in the match to claim the two-point decision.
Nick Simmons will head to the NCAA Championships with a 28-2 record, and will most likely be no lower than a No. 2 seed as he vies for his second All-American finish.
Andy Simmons dropped a tough, 2-0 decision to Michigan's Josh Churella in the 141-pound championship match. Churella scored the lone points of the match late in the first period, and held off Simmons for two minutes after he selected neutral for the third period.
Andy Simmons improves from last year's seventh-place performance at the 2004 Big Ten Championships, to second place in 2005. He enters his second NCAA tournament with a 29-4 record and leads the team in falls with 10. In 2004, Simmons was just one match away from claiming All-American honors.
Junior Darren McKnight reached the consolation finals with a convincing, 13-5 major-decision victory over Indiana's Isaac Knuble. McKnight rolled off six takedowns and tacked on a riding time point for his 30th victory of the season and seventh major decision of the 2004-05 campaign.
McKnight dropped his final match of the tournament, 3-1, to Ty Eustice of Iowa. Eustice took McKnight down as time expired in the first period, which proved to be the different in the match. Both wrestlers selected the bottom position and escaped, but neither could score another takedown.
McKnight heads to his second straight NCAA Championships, improving his finish at the Big Ten Championships from fifth a year ago, to fourth in 2005. He currently has a record of 30-11.
After a mouth injury and being knocked unconscious in the first period, Boudro persevered to beat his former teammate, Michigan's Nick Roy in triple overtime to reach the consolation finals. Boudro managed to hold Roy down in the second overtime session, and then escaped in the sixth period of the match to capture the 3-2 sudden-victory decision. (more) "In his match with Nick Roy, R.J. suffered a concussion, had some teeth knocked in and sustained a cut in his mouth that required stitches," Minkel said. "For him to come back and win that match showed a lot of courage, and kind of characterized what this team is all about."
Boudro injury defaulted the consolation finals to Brady Richardson of Indiana due to the mouth injury. Heading into his first career NCAA tournament, Boudro is 18-6. He has set career highs this season in wins, technical falls, major decisions and falls.
Ryan Froese and Bryan Harney dropped decisions in their respective weight classes, eliminating them from competition.
The four qualifiers will travel to St. Louis, Mo., for the 2005 NCAA Championships March 17-19. The top eight wrestlers in each weight class earn All America honors.
125 lbs.- Finals- Nick Simmons (MSU) def. Kyle Ott (Ill.) 4-2
133 lbs.- Seventh-place Match- Bryan Heller (PSU) def. Ryan Froese (MSU) MD, 15-3
141 lbs.- Finals- Josh Churella (Mich.) def. Andy Simmons (MSU) 2-0
149 lbs.- Cons. Semifinals- Darren McKnight (MSU) def. Isaac Knable (Ind.) MD, 13-5 Cons. Finals- Ty Eustice (Iowa) def. Darren McKnight 3-1
165 lbs.- Seventh-place Match- John DeCeault (PU) def. Bryan Harney (MSU) 5-2
174 lbs.- Cons. Semifinals- R.J. Boudro (MSU) def. Nick Roy (Mich.) SV, 3-2 Cons. Finals- R.J. Boudro (MSU) injury defaults to Brady Richardson (Ind.) INJ DEF
Attendance: 6,183
Players Mentioned
