Michigan State University Athletics
Wrestling Hosts No. 17 Wisconsin In Friday Night Dual
1/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 29, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format
Coach Minkel Weekly Press Conference
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State wrestling team returns to Jenison Field House this Friday, Jan. 30, to host No. 17 Wisconsin at 7 p.m.
The Spartans are 16-23-2 all-time against the Badgers, with seven of their 16 wins coming at home.
In last year's dual, the No. 13 Badgers beat the Spartans, 26-12, in Madison. Rex Kendle started the dual well for MSU, winning a 3-1 decision to give the Spartans the early 3-0 lead. Nick Palmieri earned a decision over No. 15 Trevor Brandvold to tie the score at six two bouts later.
Wins by Franklin Gomez and Eddie Skowneski wouldn't be enough as the Badgers won five of the next seven bouts to take the dual.
SCOUTING THE BADGERS
Wisconsin enters Friday's dual at 6-5 on the season, 0-2 in Big Ten play, and is ranked 17th in the country.
The Badgers won five of their first six duals, including a sweep at the ACC-Big Ten Clash, but have since lost four of five, all to ranked opponents. Their 0-2 start to the Big Ten season resulted from a loss to top-ranked and currently undefeated Iowa, 24-12, and a tightly contested loss to Northwestern, 21-19.
Five of Wisconsin's 10 starters are ranked in the top 10 of their respective weight classes - senior Zach Tanelli (No. 1, 18-3 record) at 141, junior Kyle Ruschell (No. 5, 18-5) at 149, freshman Andrew Howe (No. 10, 16-4) at 165, senior Dallas Herbst (No. 3, 14-2) at 197 and senior Kyle Massey (No. 9, 16-6) at heavyweight.
LAST TIME OUT
The Michigan State wrestling team lost its first road duals of the season last weekend, falling to No. 19 Northwestern, 31-6, and No. 9 Minnesota, 30-6.
MSU junior Franklin Gomez finished 1-1 on the weekend, earning his first loss of the season, a 6-5 decision, in a back-and-forth bout against No. 6 Jayson Ness of Minnesota.
Splitting the weekend puts Gomez at 12-1 and ends his streak of seven-straight weeks of being ranked first in the country at 133 pounds.
Senior Rex Kendle picked up the Spartans' second win against the Wildcats, beating Frank Battaglia, 4-0, at 165.
Sophomore Anthony Jones Jr. and redshirt freshman David Cheza won bouts for the Spartans against Minnesota. Jones defeated No. 14 Tyler Safratowich, 7-6, at 157 and Cheza beat Joe Grygelko, 6-2, at 149.
UP NEXT
The Spartans continue their homestand when they host defending national champion Iowa on Friday, Feb. 6 and arch rival Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 8.
