Michigan State University
Midlands Championships
Jones, Cheza Finish Sixth To Lead Spartans At Midlands
12/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 30, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. - Michigan State sophomore Anthony Jones Jr. and redshirt freshman David Cheza took sixth place in the 157- and 149-pound classes, respectively, to lead the MSU wrestling team to a 23rd-place finish at the Midlands Championships on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
"We brought nine to 15 wrestlers in their first two years in college," said MSU head coach Tom Minkel. "That considered, and since we were without Franklin Gomez and John Murphy, I was quite pleased with our performance. Two of our younger kids had breakout performances and as a team, we learned a lot over the last two days."
Cheza, who was wrestling unattached, thus preventing him from scoring any points for MSU in team standings, won five-straight matches after dropping his first on day one of the tournament. Cheza recorded an 8-0 major decision against fourth-seeded Mitch Mueller of Iowa State and a 4-0 decision against eighth-seeded Charlie Ettelson of Northern Iowa to solidify a sixth-place finish.
Losses to two-seed Jake Patacsil of Purdue and five-seed Steve Brown of Central Michigan made Cheza's sixth place finish official.
"Cheza had just a breakout performance," said Minkel. "He lost in the first round but then came roaring back in the consolation round. It's huge for him and I couldn't be happier."
Jones won his first two bouts against Tyler Grayson of Central Michigan (7-3 decision) and Derek Sickles of Columbia (9-4) in the consolation bracket, but suffered an injury against three-seed Michael Chandler of Missouri, forcing him to forfeit his final two contests. Despite not competing in his final two bouts, Jones still came away with sixth place.
"Jones made it to the quarters and wrestled great," said Minkel. "He probably would have done just as well in the wrestlebacks, but he suffered an injury that prevented him from doing that."
Senior Alan O'Donnell took his first match in the heavyweight consolation bracket today, defeating American's Quinton Pruett, 3-1, but lost to top-seeded David Zabriskie of Iowa State by 12-4 major decision to eliminate him from competition.
Senior Nick Palmieri also won his first bout in wrestleback competition today - a 7-4 decision over Brice Arand of Oregon State - before losing to Pittsburgh's Zac Thomusseit in the next round.
The Spartans return to Jenison Field House this weekend to host 12th-ranked Central Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 1 p.m.
Players Mentioned
