Wrestling Heads to Northeast Duals

Nov. 27, 2013

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State wrestling team will head to the Northeast Duals in Troy, N.Y., on Saturday to face Columbia, Rutgers and North Carolina. The event is being hosted by Hudson Valley Community College.

The Spartans (4-1) are coming off a 24-9 victory over Eastern Michigan last Thursday in the home opener at Jenison Field House. MSU also owns wins over Utah Valley, Gardner-Webb and Drexel; its only loss was a setback to then-No. 6 Oregon State.

MSU will take on Columbia at 9:15 a.m., Rutgers at 1:30 p.m. and North Carolina at 3:30 p.m.

This marks the first-ever meeting between the Spartans and the Lions. Columbia, who participated in the MSU Open on Nov. 9, hasn't wrestled in a dual yet this season.

MSU has only faced Rutgers one other time in school history, a 16-16 tie on Jan. 16, 2010. The Scarlet Knights are 3-0 on the season with wins over Hofstra, Boston and Clarion.

The Spartans own a 3-2-1 series advantage over the Tar Heels, although UNC won the last meeting, 23-21, last season in Clarion, Pa. North Carolina is 1-2 this season with a win over Wisconsin and losses to Old Dominion and Hofstra.

Michigan State Probable Starting Lineup at Northeast Duals
125	MSU: Hermilo Esquivel (R-Fr., 1-3) OR Brenan Lyon (Sr., 0-2)
133	MSU: Garth Yenter (R-Fr., 7-3)
141	MSU: Brian Gibbs (So., 4-6)
149	MSU: Matt Pasqualini (R-Fr., 5-4)
157	MSU: No. 19 Ryan Watts (Jr., 5-2) OR Roger Wildmo (So., 3-4)
165	MSU: Bobby Nash (Sr., 4-4)
174	MSU: Kevin Nash (Jr., 6-3) OR Nick Kaczanowski (Sr., 3-2)
184	MSU: John Rizqallah (Jr., 8-1)
197	MSU: Nick McDiarmid (Jr., 7-1) OR Luke Jones (Jr., 4-2)
Hwt.	MSU: No. 12 Michael McClure (7-2) OR Chris Nash (So., 5-3)