Spartans Prepare for Challenging Weekend
11/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
| Match 4: Michigan State (2-1) at No. 2 Minnesota (2-0) | |
| Date | Time | Friday, Nov. 21 | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Sports Pavilion |
| Internet Coverage | Broadcast for purchase on BTNPlus at BTN2Go |
| Social Media | @wrestlingmsu  |
| Match 5: Michigan State (2-1) vs. No. 16 Iowa State (2-0) | |
| Date | Time | Sunday, Nov. 23 | 1 p.m. ET |
| Location | East Lansing, Mich. | Jenison Field House |
| Internet Coverage | Live stats at TrackWrestling.com |
| Social Media | @wrestlingmsu |
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State wrestling team will face two difficult tests this weekend as the Spartans travel to No. 2 Minnesota Friday at 8:30 p.m. to open the Big Ten season and return home Sunday to host No. 16 Iowa State at 1 p.m. in Jenison Field House.
The Spartans began their dual season by going 2-1 at the Eastern Michigan Duals last Saturday in Ypsilanti. MSU defeated Kent State, 32-7, shut out Olivet College, 44-0, and fell to Chattanooga, 24-13. Both Kent State and Chattanooga were receiving votes in last week's NWCA/USA TODAY Top 25 Coaches Poll, and the Mocs moved up to No. 23 this week.
The competition only gets tougher this week with the beginning of the Big Ten season at Minnesota, who is ranked No. 1 in the nation by InterMat and No. 2 in the NWCA/USA TODAY Coaches Poll. Last year's NCAA runner-up, the Gophers won both of their duals last weekend over Air Force (28-15) and Wyoming (30-7) and host Grand Canyon Thursday night. Minnesota features six wrestlers ranked in the InterMat Top 20, including a pair of No. 1 wrestlers in Dylan Ness (157 pounds) and Logan Storley (174).
Iowa State is also 2-0 following victories against Utah Valley, 39-4, and Boise State, 36-8, last weekend. The Cyclones are taking on Central Michigan Thursday night in Mount Pleasant. ISU is led by sixth-year head coach Kevin Jackson, a former Olympic Gold Medalist and two-time World Champion who hails from Lansing, Michigan. The Cyclones have five ranked wrestlers in their probable lineup.
Four Spartans went 3-0 at the EMU Duals, including 133-pounder Javier Gasca, who defeated No. 12 Nick Soto of Chattanooga, 11-3, and No. 17 Mackenzie McGuire of Kent State, 8-6. Gasca, who also pinned Olivet's Matt Darling in 6:33, was named the Flo Wrestler of the Week for his efforts last weekend. Gasca entered into the InterMat rankings at No. 16 this week.
Roger Wildmo (157), John Rizqallah (184) and Nick McDiarmid (197) also went 3-0 in Ypsilanti.
A live webcast for Sunday's match is available on BTN Plus and can be purchased online at BTN2Go.com.
Live Twitter updates for Sunday's dual will be available @wrestlingmsu.
| Michigan State at No. 2 Minnesota: Probable Starting Lineups | |
| 125 | MSU: Mitch Rogaliner (R-Fr., 6-2) vs. MINN: No. 20 Sam Brancale (So., 5-1) OR Jordan Bremer (So., 2-3) |
| 133 | MSU: No. 16 Javier Gasca (R-Fr., 7-1) vs. MINN: Jordan Kingsley (Jr., 4-4) |
| 141 | MSU: Garth Yenter (So., 4-3) vs. MINN: Conrad Rangell (Sr., 5-2) |
| 149 | MSU: Nick Trimble (Jr., 5-2) vs. MINN: Jake Short (R-Fr., 6-0) |
| 157 | MSU: Roger Wildmo (Jr., 6-2) vs. MINN: No. 1 Dylan Ness (Sr., 6-0) |
| 165 | MSU: Ryan Watts (Sr., 6-2) vs. MINN: No. 15 Nick Wanzek (R-Fr., 6-0) OR Brandon Kingsley (So., 7-2) |
| 174 | MSU: Nick Proctor (Sr., 3-5) vs. MINN: No. 1 Logan Storley (Sr., 6-0) |
| 184 | MSU: John Rizqallah (Sr., 5-1) vs. MINN: No. 14 Brett Pfarr (So., 5-1) |
| 197 | MSU: Nick McDiarmid (Sr., 5-1) vs. MINN: Chris Pfarr (R-Fr., 3-6) |
| Hwt. | MSU: Luke Jones (Sr., 2-2) vs. MINN: No. 20 Michael Kroells (So., 4-1) |
| Michigan State vs. No. 16 Iowa State: Probable Starting Lineups | |
| 125 | MSU: Mitch Rogaliner (R-Fr., 6-2) vs. ISU: Kyle Larson (So. 5-1) OR Drake Swarm (So., 3-1) |
| 133 | MSU: No. 16 Javier Gasca (R-Fr., 7-1) vs. ISU: No. 12 Earl Hall (Jr., 6-0) OR RJ Hallman (6-3) |
| 141 | MSU: Garth Yenter (So., 4-3) vs. ISU: John Meeks (So., 1-1) |
| 149 | MSU: Nick Trimble (Jr., 5-2) vs. ISU: Gabe Moreno (So., 7-0) |
| 157 | MSU: Roger Wildmo (Jr., 6-2) vs. ISU: Luke Goettl (Sr., 6-1) OR Daniel Woiwor (R-Fr., 9-2) |
| 165 | MSU: Ryan Watts (Sr., 6-2) vs. ISU: No. 3 Michael Moreno (Sr., 6-0) |
| 174 | MSU: Nick Proctor (Sr., 3-5) vs. ISU: No. 6 Tanner Weatherman (Jr., 6-0) |
| 184 | MSU: John Rizqallah (Sr., 5-1) vs. ISU: No. 18 Lelund Weatherspoon (So., 6-0) |
| 197 | MSU: Nick McDiarmid (Sr., 5-1) vs. ISU: No. 3 Kyven Gadson (Sr., 6-0) |
| Hwt. | MSU: Luke Jones (Sr., 2-2) vs. ISU: Quean Smith (So., 6-0) OR Joe Scanlan (So., 4-2) |
Players Mentioned
