Friday, January 21
East Lansing, Mich.
6 p.m. ET
Michigan State University
20
vs
17
Rutgers
Photo by: Marshal Filipowicz / MSU Athletic Communications
Malczewski’s Pin Helps No. 21 Spartans Knock Off No. 14 Rutgers
1/21/2022 10:30:00 PM | Wrestling
Saldate and Caffey Score Major Decisions
EAST LANSING, Mich. – A 2:21 fall from redshirt junior Layne Malczewski over fifth-ranked John Poznanski proved to be the turning point, as No. 21 Michigan State used three bonus-point victories to defeat No. 14 Rutgers, 20-17, in Big Ten wrestling action Friday night inside Jenison Field House.
MSU now improves to 8-1 in dual meets and 3-1 in the conference, while Rutgers shifted to 12-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten.
In the 125-pound bout, sophomore Tristan Lujan rode No. 23 Dylan Shawver for all of the third period but could not get a near-fall as Shawver held on for a 4-3 decision to open the night. Another one-point decision came in the 133 match, as redshirt senior Rayvon Foley scored a 1-0 decision against No. 22 Joseph Olivieri, while 141 ended as an 18-2 technical fall in favor of No. 3 Sebastian Rivera over redshirt sophomore Jordan Hamdan to keep Rivera undefeated this season.
The 149 match saw No. 14 Michael VanBrill earn over two minutes of riding time in a 3-1 decision over redshirt sophomore Peyton Omania. Sophomore Chase Saldate got the Spartans bonus points in the 157-pound showdown, dominating his way to a 9-0 major decision against Al DeSantis before fellow sophomore Caleb Fish tacked on a late takedown to secure a 4-0 decision over Rutgers 165-pounder Andrew Clark. Despite being tied 1-1 late in the third period, Connor O'Neill ended up scoring a takedown in the final seconds to get the 3-1 decision over redshirt junior Nathan Jimenez that put the Scarlet Knights ahead, 14-10.
Malczewski got the first-period pin over the 184-pound All-American in Poznanski to give the Spartans their first lead of the evening, 16-14, while redshirt senior Cameron Caffey used a takedown and pair of near-falls after trailing with under a minute left in his 197 bout, turning around to grab a 12-4 major decision against No. 12 Greg Bulsak. With a 20-14 MSU lead, Boone McDermott ended up taking the 3-1 sudden-victory decision over redshirt senior Brad Wilton to bring the dual to its final score, 20-17.
The win marked the first for MSU over Rutgers, moving the all-time series to 5-1-1 in RU's favor. It was also MSU's first time beating Top-15 opponents in back-to-back weeks since 2003 when the Spartans beat No. 5 Oklahoma, No. 2 Iowa and No. 7 Michigan in the span of eight days.
Michigan State concludes its homestand on Sunday, Jan. 23, hosting top-ranked Penn State at 1 p.m.
Head Coach Roger Chandler Quotable
"I should know by now to expect the unexpected with this team, because they really do believe as a collective group, even in matches where you think you're going to win and guys may have fallen short. It seems like time and time again this team has guys who step up. It's a different guy every time and that's probably what I'm most proud of as a coach. These guys never stop fighting and never stop competing at every weight, even the matches that we lost. That's how you give a true team effort and we talk about that. It's taken a long time to get to this point but our guys have learned how to compete as a unit in dual meets, and I get really excited about that. Yeah, it's an individual sport, but with the team component you can see the excitement within the program and with the alumni and all that good stuff. Obviously, it's a very good win against a very, very tough Rutgers team."
"There were three marquee matches that I looked at it for the dual, maybe four, and we were able to win three of those marquee matches at 133, 184 and 197. Did I expect Layne to pin Poznanski? Probably not but it's a wrestling match, anything can happen and I've been talking about Layne's competitive maturity this year. He has so many tools and he used to go out there and kind of recklessly attempt stuff and it would cost him, but he's really maturing and letting the positions come to him. Good things happen when you're very patient and let things happen organically out there on the mat."
Bout-by-Bout
125: #23 Dylan Shawver (RU) dec. Tristan Lujan (MSU), 4-3
Lujan got to a swing single, trying to scramble for a first period takedown but a stalemate was called, while Shawver threw in double boots before time expired in the first period for a takedown. Call of a takedown was challenged on the mat. Takedown was confirmed, as Shawver took a 2-0 lead into the second period. Lujan on bottom to start the second and he escaped but was quickly caught by Shawver, who earned a takedown on the edge of the mat. Refs came together to discuss whether to award the escape, but it was confirmed as the wrestlers go back to the center. Lujan got out with Shawver leading 4-2. Lengthy scramble off a Shawver shot led to no points to end the second period. Shawver had choice and started the third on bottom. Lujan opened the third trying to cut down on Shawver's riding time advantage that was nearing a minute. Lujan got to a minute of riding time by riding out the period, but could not find a turn to bring the score to 4-3 before time expired.
133: #11 Rayvon Foley (MSU) dec. #22 Joseph Olivieri (RU), 1-0
No scoring in the first period put Foley on bottom to start the second. Foley escaped but Olivieri quickly went back on Foley's ankle, as a stalemate was called when Foley fought off the takedown. Olivieri selected neutral to start the third period, and he got in deep on another shot, but Foley was able to force a stalemate once again, defending for the entire third period to earn the 1-0 decision.
141: #3 Sebastian Rivera (RU) tech. fall over Jordan Hamdan (MSU), 18-2
Rivera put on a dominant performance in the bout as he defeated Hamdan by technical fall, 18-2. His bonus points opened up an 8-3 lead for Rutgers in the dual.
149: #14 Michael VanBrill (RU) dec. Peyton Omania (MSU), 3-1
Scoreless first period as the wrestlers feel each other out, as VanBrill started the second period on bottom, picking up a reversal to take a 2-1 lead. Omania escaped to bring it to 2-1, which remained the score heading into the third. With Omania on bottom to start the third, VanBrill's riding time crossed a minute as Omania fought on bottom. VanBrill rode out the entire third period to secure a 3-1 victory.
157: Chase Saldate (MSU) major dec. Al DeSantis (RU), 9-0
Saldate struck first, scoring the first takedown of the dual for Michigan State. With Saldate on bottom to start the second, he scored a reversal to take a 4-0 lead. DeSantis was hit for stalling on bottom twice as Saldate took a 6-0 lead into the third period with 2:30 of riding time. Saldate earned his second takedown of the bout to lead 8-0 in the third, and he rode out the remainder of the third to win 9-0 with nearly four minutes of riding time.
165: Caleb Fish (MSU) dec. Andrew Clark (RU), 4-0
No score in the first sent Fish to start the second on top, where he got two minutes of riding time in the second as Clark was unable to get out of bottom. With Fish on bottom to start the third, Clark was warned for stalling on top before Fish escaped and took a 1-0 lead with 1:34 of RT into the final moments of the bout. Fish scored a takedown in short time to pull off a 4-0 victory, as his win brought the dual score to 11-10 in favor of Rutgers.
174: Connor O'Neill (RU) dec. Nathan Jimenez (MSU), 3-1
Scoreless first period put Jimenez on top to start the second, where O'Neill was able to escape to take a 1-0 lead, the only scoring of the second period. Jimenez went on bottom to start the third, earning the escape with 1:20 to wrestle to tie the match at 1-1. O'Neill found the takedown in short time to give him a late 3-1 lead and the win.
184: #21 Layne Malczewski (MSU) fall over #5 John Poznanski (RU), 2:21
Malczewski earned two after a lengthy scramble with Poznanski, and Poznanski tried to roll through but got caught by Malczewski for the fall. Malczewski picked up the upset and put six points on the board for MSU.
197: #18 Cameron Caffey (MSU) major dec. #12 Greg Bulsak (RU), 12-4
Bulsak opened the scoring against Caffey with an early takedown, as Caffey scooted off the edge of the mat to bring the action back to the center. Caffey was able to escape off the restart, bringing the score to 2-1. Caffey deferred and started the second period on top, where an escape gave Bulsak a 3-1 advantage. A lengthy scramble on the edge of the mat resulted in no points as the bout remained 3-1 heading into the third. Caffey got on bottom to start the final period, as an escape made the score 3-2, but Bulsak had 1:05 of riding time in the bank at that point. Caffey earned the takedown and back points with under a minute to wrestle in the third, as he picked up two full sets of backs and led 12-3 when Rutgers threw the challenge brick on the initial takedown. Call on the mat stood, setting up a Bulsak escape in the final seconds to give Caffey a 12-4 victory and put MSU ahead 20-14 in the dual going into the final bout.
HWT: Boone McDermott (RU) dec. Brad Wilton (MSU), 3-1 (SV-1)
Scoreless first period sent Wilton on bottom to start the second period, earning the escape to lead 1-0. McDermott got on bottom to start the third and escaped to tie the bout at 1-1. Wilton was warned for stalling in the third before he got in his first shot of the bout, but it was defended by McDermott before the end of the period. McDermott eventually found the takedown to win the bout in sudden victory.
No. 21 Michigan State 20, No. 14 Rutgers 17
125: #23 Dylan Shawver (RU) dec. Tristan Lujan (MSU), 4-3; RU leads, 3-0
133: #11 Rayvon Foley (MSU) dec. #22 Joseph Olivieri (RU), 1-0; Match Tied, 3-3
141: #3 Sebastian Rivera (RU) tech. fall over Jordan Hamdan (MSU), 18-2; RU leads, 8-3
149: #14 Michael VanBrill (RU) dec. Peyton Omania (MSU), 3-1; RU leads, 11-3
157: Chase Saldate (MSU) major dec. Al DeSantis (RU), 9-0; RU leads, 11-7
165: Caleb Fish (MSU) dec. Andrew Clark (RU), 4-0; RU leads, 11-10
174: Connor O'Neill (RU) dec. Nathan Jimenez (MSU), 3-1; RU leads, 14-10
184: #21 Layne Malczewski (MSU) fall over #5 John Poznanski (RU), 2:21; MSU leads, 16-14
197: #18 Cameron Caffey (MSU) major dec. #12 Greg Bulsak (RU), 12-4; MSU leads, 20-14
HVY: Boone McDermott (RU) dec. Brad Wilton (MSU), 3-1 (SV-1); MSU wins, 20-17
Extra Match:
141: Matt Santos (MSU) dec. Michael Cetta (RU), 5-2
Individual Ranking based on FloWrestling
MSU now improves to 8-1 in dual meets and 3-1 in the conference, while Rutgers shifted to 12-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten.
In the 125-pound bout, sophomore Tristan Lujan rode No. 23 Dylan Shawver for all of the third period but could not get a near-fall as Shawver held on for a 4-3 decision to open the night. Another one-point decision came in the 133 match, as redshirt senior Rayvon Foley scored a 1-0 decision against No. 22 Joseph Olivieri, while 141 ended as an 18-2 technical fall in favor of No. 3 Sebastian Rivera over redshirt sophomore Jordan Hamdan to keep Rivera undefeated this season.
The 149 match saw No. 14 Michael VanBrill earn over two minutes of riding time in a 3-1 decision over redshirt sophomore Peyton Omania. Sophomore Chase Saldate got the Spartans bonus points in the 157-pound showdown, dominating his way to a 9-0 major decision against Al DeSantis before fellow sophomore Caleb Fish tacked on a late takedown to secure a 4-0 decision over Rutgers 165-pounder Andrew Clark. Despite being tied 1-1 late in the third period, Connor O'Neill ended up scoring a takedown in the final seconds to get the 3-1 decision over redshirt junior Nathan Jimenez that put the Scarlet Knights ahead, 14-10.
Malczewski got the first-period pin over the 184-pound All-American in Poznanski to give the Spartans their first lead of the evening, 16-14, while redshirt senior Cameron Caffey used a takedown and pair of near-falls after trailing with under a minute left in his 197 bout, turning around to grab a 12-4 major decision against No. 12 Greg Bulsak. With a 20-14 MSU lead, Boone McDermott ended up taking the 3-1 sudden-victory decision over redshirt senior Brad Wilton to bring the dual to its final score, 20-17.
The win marked the first for MSU over Rutgers, moving the all-time series to 5-1-1 in RU's favor. It was also MSU's first time beating Top-15 opponents in back-to-back weeks since 2003 when the Spartans beat No. 5 Oklahoma, No. 2 Iowa and No. 7 Michigan in the span of eight days.
Michigan State concludes its homestand on Sunday, Jan. 23, hosting top-ranked Penn State at 1 p.m.
Head Coach Roger Chandler Quotable
"I should know by now to expect the unexpected with this team, because they really do believe as a collective group, even in matches where you think you're going to win and guys may have fallen short. It seems like time and time again this team has guys who step up. It's a different guy every time and that's probably what I'm most proud of as a coach. These guys never stop fighting and never stop competing at every weight, even the matches that we lost. That's how you give a true team effort and we talk about that. It's taken a long time to get to this point but our guys have learned how to compete as a unit in dual meets, and I get really excited about that. Yeah, it's an individual sport, but with the team component you can see the excitement within the program and with the alumni and all that good stuff. Obviously, it's a very good win against a very, very tough Rutgers team."
"There were three marquee matches that I looked at it for the dual, maybe four, and we were able to win three of those marquee matches at 133, 184 and 197. Did I expect Layne to pin Poznanski? Probably not but it's a wrestling match, anything can happen and I've been talking about Layne's competitive maturity this year. He has so many tools and he used to go out there and kind of recklessly attempt stuff and it would cost him, but he's really maturing and letting the positions come to him. Good things happen when you're very patient and let things happen organically out there on the mat."
Bout-by-Bout
125: #23 Dylan Shawver (RU) dec. Tristan Lujan (MSU), 4-3
Lujan got to a swing single, trying to scramble for a first period takedown but a stalemate was called, while Shawver threw in double boots before time expired in the first period for a takedown. Call of a takedown was challenged on the mat. Takedown was confirmed, as Shawver took a 2-0 lead into the second period. Lujan on bottom to start the second and he escaped but was quickly caught by Shawver, who earned a takedown on the edge of the mat. Refs came together to discuss whether to award the escape, but it was confirmed as the wrestlers go back to the center. Lujan got out with Shawver leading 4-2. Lengthy scramble off a Shawver shot led to no points to end the second period. Shawver had choice and started the third on bottom. Lujan opened the third trying to cut down on Shawver's riding time advantage that was nearing a minute. Lujan got to a minute of riding time by riding out the period, but could not find a turn to bring the score to 4-3 before time expired.
133: #11 Rayvon Foley (MSU) dec. #22 Joseph Olivieri (RU), 1-0
No scoring in the first period put Foley on bottom to start the second. Foley escaped but Olivieri quickly went back on Foley's ankle, as a stalemate was called when Foley fought off the takedown. Olivieri selected neutral to start the third period, and he got in deep on another shot, but Foley was able to force a stalemate once again, defending for the entire third period to earn the 1-0 decision.
141: #3 Sebastian Rivera (RU) tech. fall over Jordan Hamdan (MSU), 18-2
Rivera put on a dominant performance in the bout as he defeated Hamdan by technical fall, 18-2. His bonus points opened up an 8-3 lead for Rutgers in the dual.
149: #14 Michael VanBrill (RU) dec. Peyton Omania (MSU), 3-1
Scoreless first period as the wrestlers feel each other out, as VanBrill started the second period on bottom, picking up a reversal to take a 2-1 lead. Omania escaped to bring it to 2-1, which remained the score heading into the third. With Omania on bottom to start the third, VanBrill's riding time crossed a minute as Omania fought on bottom. VanBrill rode out the entire third period to secure a 3-1 victory.
157: Chase Saldate (MSU) major dec. Al DeSantis (RU), 9-0
Saldate struck first, scoring the first takedown of the dual for Michigan State. With Saldate on bottom to start the second, he scored a reversal to take a 4-0 lead. DeSantis was hit for stalling on bottom twice as Saldate took a 6-0 lead into the third period with 2:30 of riding time. Saldate earned his second takedown of the bout to lead 8-0 in the third, and he rode out the remainder of the third to win 9-0 with nearly four minutes of riding time.
165: Caleb Fish (MSU) dec. Andrew Clark (RU), 4-0
No score in the first sent Fish to start the second on top, where he got two minutes of riding time in the second as Clark was unable to get out of bottom. With Fish on bottom to start the third, Clark was warned for stalling on top before Fish escaped and took a 1-0 lead with 1:34 of RT into the final moments of the bout. Fish scored a takedown in short time to pull off a 4-0 victory, as his win brought the dual score to 11-10 in favor of Rutgers.
174: Connor O'Neill (RU) dec. Nathan Jimenez (MSU), 3-1
Scoreless first period put Jimenez on top to start the second, where O'Neill was able to escape to take a 1-0 lead, the only scoring of the second period. Jimenez went on bottom to start the third, earning the escape with 1:20 to wrestle to tie the match at 1-1. O'Neill found the takedown in short time to give him a late 3-1 lead and the win.
184: #21 Layne Malczewski (MSU) fall over #5 John Poznanski (RU), 2:21
Malczewski earned two after a lengthy scramble with Poznanski, and Poznanski tried to roll through but got caught by Malczewski for the fall. Malczewski picked up the upset and put six points on the board for MSU.
197: #18 Cameron Caffey (MSU) major dec. #12 Greg Bulsak (RU), 12-4
Bulsak opened the scoring against Caffey with an early takedown, as Caffey scooted off the edge of the mat to bring the action back to the center. Caffey was able to escape off the restart, bringing the score to 2-1. Caffey deferred and started the second period on top, where an escape gave Bulsak a 3-1 advantage. A lengthy scramble on the edge of the mat resulted in no points as the bout remained 3-1 heading into the third. Caffey got on bottom to start the final period, as an escape made the score 3-2, but Bulsak had 1:05 of riding time in the bank at that point. Caffey earned the takedown and back points with under a minute to wrestle in the third, as he picked up two full sets of backs and led 12-3 when Rutgers threw the challenge brick on the initial takedown. Call on the mat stood, setting up a Bulsak escape in the final seconds to give Caffey a 12-4 victory and put MSU ahead 20-14 in the dual going into the final bout.
HWT: Boone McDermott (RU) dec. Brad Wilton (MSU), 3-1 (SV-1)
Scoreless first period sent Wilton on bottom to start the second period, earning the escape to lead 1-0. McDermott got on bottom to start the third and escaped to tie the bout at 1-1. Wilton was warned for stalling in the third before he got in his first shot of the bout, but it was defended by McDermott before the end of the period. McDermott eventually found the takedown to win the bout in sudden victory.
No. 21 Michigan State 20, No. 14 Rutgers 17
125: #23 Dylan Shawver (RU) dec. Tristan Lujan (MSU), 4-3; RU leads, 3-0
133: #11 Rayvon Foley (MSU) dec. #22 Joseph Olivieri (RU), 1-0; Match Tied, 3-3
141: #3 Sebastian Rivera (RU) tech. fall over Jordan Hamdan (MSU), 18-2; RU leads, 8-3
149: #14 Michael VanBrill (RU) dec. Peyton Omania (MSU), 3-1; RU leads, 11-3
157: Chase Saldate (MSU) major dec. Al DeSantis (RU), 9-0; RU leads, 11-7
165: Caleb Fish (MSU) dec. Andrew Clark (RU), 4-0; RU leads, 11-10
174: Connor O'Neill (RU) dec. Nathan Jimenez (MSU), 3-1; RU leads, 14-10
184: #21 Layne Malczewski (MSU) fall over #5 John Poznanski (RU), 2:21; MSU leads, 16-14
197: #18 Cameron Caffey (MSU) major dec. #12 Greg Bulsak (RU), 12-4; MSU leads, 20-14
HVY: Boone McDermott (RU) dec. Brad Wilton (MSU), 3-1 (SV-1); MSU wins, 20-17
Extra Match:
141: Matt Santos (MSU) dec. Michael Cetta (RU), 5-2
Individual Ranking based on FloWrestling
Players Mentioned
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Monday, January 22
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Tuesday, December 12
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Wednesday, December 21