Michigan State University
Ohio State
Buckeyes Hold Off Spartans In 23-15 Dual
2/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 8, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Spartans battled through a ranked opposing starting lineup as No. 7 Ohio State came to Jenison Field House. The Buckeyes walked away with the overall win, 23-15, but not without seeing incredible performances from Michigan State. No. 4 Franklin Gomez remains undefeated in dual action (13-0) with a win at 133 pounds while John Fulger, John Murphy and No. 15 Joe Williams also added victories for MSU.
Gomez picked up his third technical fall of the year at 133 pounds, while Williams recorded his fourth shutout at 197 pounds, highlighting the Spartans' efforts.
Opening up the night at 285 pounds, Ohio State's second-ranked J.D. Bergman scored first in the heavyweight bout with a takedown in the first twenty seconds before eventually pinning MSU's Alan O'Donnell in 2:45.
In the 125-pound match, Joel Trombly took to the circle to face OSU's Nikko Triggas. The Buckeyes took a 2-0 lead with a takedown early in the first period as Triggas built over two minutes of riding time as time expired. OSU earned five points in the second period with a takedown, after starting neutral, and three near fall points. Triggas started the final block in the defensive down position and tallied two points with a reversal to take a 9-0 lead. But Trombly fought back to put up his first points of the night with a reversal with 54 seconds left. Two seconds later, Triggas retaliated with an escape, and with over four minutes of riding time, claimed the major decision victory 11-2.
Michigan State's No. 4 Franklin Gomez brought the Spartans back to life with an 18-1 win at 133 pounds. Gomez took a quick 2-0 lead and controlled for over a minute until OSU's Owen Shaefer could manage an escape. With another takedown and four near fall points, Gomez rode out the clock in the first period. Gomez started the second down and tallied an escape point 11 seconds in and picked up two more points with a takedown three seconds later. Gomez held on for the remainder of the period, accumulating riding time as well as two near fall points, taking an 13-1 lead. Shaefer chose to start the final period at neutral, and Gomez took immediate advantage with a takedown at 1:47. Tacking on two additional near fall points and the riding time, Gomez claimed his third technical fall with an 18-1 victory. His five points put the Spartans on the board, but the Buckeyes still held a 10-5 advantage.
Both wrestlers came out strong in the 141 bout, but OSU's No. 9 J Jaggers came up with the first points, taking down Micah Carter ten seconds into the dual. Carter countered with an escape at 1:22. After dancing around the mat, Jaggers took Carter down again and tallied three near fall points to end the period. Ohio State started the second period down and extended its advantage to 8-1 with an escape. The pair wrestled in neutral for the remainder of the period. Entering the final period, Carter chose neutral and again, the two battled through neutral until Carter forced an important fall with 20 seconds left to avoid a major decision. Jaggers came away with an 8-3 win, and Ohio State extended its lead to 13-5.
At 149 pounds, Eddie Skowneski waited as Ohio State substituted T.J. Enright to take No. 6 Lance Palmer's starting spot. Enright tallied a takedown 14 seconds into the first but Skowneski escaped after 31 seconds. Another OSU takedown and MSU escape would end the period, as Enright led 4-2. Heading into the second period, OSU chose to start down and escaped to claim the period's only points until a last second Enright takedown. Skowneski opened the third period in the defensive down and earned a point with an escape six seconds into the final block. Ohio State came back with a takedown, only to see Skowneski escape again. Enright clinched the overall match with a 10-4 win as Skowneski held off a major decision. Ohio State's three points gave the Buckeye's a 16-5 lead.
After intermission, MSU's 157-pounder John Fulger squared off against Jason Johnstone in the circle. Fulger took care of business early with a takedown at 2:36 and built 23 riding time seconds before Johnstone escaped. The remainder of the period was scoreless, and Fulger entered the second period in the down position with a 2-1 lead. After seven seconds, Fulger escaped and extended his lead to 3-1, which would hold through the remainder of the middle period. Johnstone chose to start the third period down, and Fulger took advantage, holding the Buckeye for the entire period to claim 2:16 worth of riding time. With the extra point, Fulger captured the win 4-1 and inched the Spartans closer to Ohio State as his three points cut the Buckeye lead to 16-8.
Although Alez Picazo scored the first points, MSU's John Murphy came back to take control and win the 174 match 11-6. Picazo had the first takedown in the first, but Murphy escaped seven seconds later, and after the two battled for position, Murphy managed a takedown in the final 15 seconds to put up a 3-2 lead heading into the second. Ohio State chose down and earned the escape to even the score, and then took the lead again with a takedown at 1:22. Murphy fought back and escaped at 0:28 then flipped the lead to MSU's advantage with a late takedown and two near fall points. With a Spartan 8-5 lead, Murphy chose down for an easy escape point, which he followed with a takedown for an 11-5 advantage. Ohio State would manage an escape but Murphy claimed the win 11-6 and picked up three points for MSU, cutting the Buckeye lead to 20-11.
MSU Nick Palmieri came out against the third-ranked Mike Pucillo and performed at his highest level, keeping the match close for the entire seven minutes. Holding Pucillo scoreless through the first, Ohio State was forced to choose down, hoping to claim an escape point and the first tally of the match. Pucillo managed the point, which proved to be the only score in the second period. Heading into the third in neutral, Pucillo struggled but found one more takedown to finish the bout 4-0 with his riding time point. The win extended Ohio State's lead to 23-11.
In the evening's final match, 197-pounder No. 15 Joe Williams came out and earned four points for the Spartans, as he defeated John Weakley 9-0 in his fourth shutout of the season. Williams came on strong with the first period's only takedown and continued the same intensity into the second period with an escape. Owning a three-point lead, Williams made good use of the final period to tack on six points - two takedown points, three near fall points and a riding-time point - to blow out the Buckeyes.
Michigan State will host its final Big Ten home match of the season Sunday, Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. as No. 11 Northwestern comes to Jenison Field House.
#7 Ohio State def. Michigan State, 23-15
Friday, February 08, 2008
East Lansing, Mich., Jenison Field House; Attendance: 581
285: #2 J.D. Bergman (OSU) dec. Alan O'Donnell (MSU) Fall 2:16; OSU leads 6-0
125: Nikko Triggas (OSU) dec. Joel Trombly (MSU) MD 11-2; OSU leads 10-0
133: #4 Franklin Gomez (MSU) dec. Owen Shaefer (OSU) TF 19-1; OSU leads 10-5
141: #9 J Jaggers (OSU) dec. Micah Carter (MSU) 8-3; OSU leads 13-5
149: T.J. Enright (OSU) dec. Eddie Skowneski (MSU) 10-4; OSU leads 16-5
157: John Fulger (MSU) dec. Jason Johnstone (OSU) 4-1; OSU leads 16-8
165: #8 Colt Sponseller (OSU) dec. Rex Kendle (MSU) MD 29-14; OSU leads 20-8
174: John Murphy (MSU) dec. Alex Picazo (OSU) 11-6; OSU leads 20-11
184: #3 Mike Pucillo (OSU) dec. Nick Palmieri (MSU) 4-0; OSU leads 23-11
197: #15 Joe Williams (MSU) dec. John Weakley (OSU) MD 9-0; OSU clinches 23-15
Players Mentioned
