Michigan State University
Clarion
Wrestling Battles From Early Deficit to Defeat Clarion, 25-13
12/16/2023 11:13:00 PM | Wrestling
CLARION, Pa. – The Michigan State wrestling team traveled back to Clarion for the second time this season and battled back from an early 7-0 deficit, defeating Clarion University, 25-13 on Saturday night.
MSU has opened the season with five straight wins and sits at a perfect 5-0, Clarion dropped its fifth dual of the season and falls to 3-5.
"It was a good team win," Michigan State head wrestling coach Roger Chandler said. "We knew Clarion was going to bring the fight as they battled all the way through. I was really proud of how the team stayed in each of their matches and didn't let the early deficit affect them."
The Golden Eagles claimed three of the first four matches of the night, winning at 125, 133 and 149 pounds. Redshirt senior 141-pounder Jordan Hamdan got the Spartans on the board for their first victory of the night, winning his fifth-straight bout with bonus points. Hamdan spent the early part of the first period feeling out his opponent before attacking for a takedown and rolling Clarion's Easton Toth to his back for a four-point near fall. The redshirt senior controlled his way to a 18-2 tech fall.
No.17-ranked senior 157-pounder Chase Saldate found himself in another defensive battle against Clarion's Alejandro Herrera-Rondon as the match went into the third period scoreless. Saldate was able to escape the grasps for a two-point reversal and controlled Herrera-Rondon for riding time, walking away with a 3-0 decision. No. 10-ranked 165-pound senior Caleb Fish continued his strong start in dual season recording his fastest fall of the season. Fish pinned Trevor Elfvin at the 4:34 mark to give the Green and White its first lead of the match, 14-10.
Clarion would narrow MSU's lead when it took the 174-pound match in a 12-8 decision to close thegap on the Spartans lead 14-13.
Michigan State would not relinquish its lead, winning three-straight (including two majors) to end the night. No. 11-ranked graduate 184-pounder Layne Malczewski made his dual debut and picked up his first win of the season with a 13-8 major decision to earn his 90th career win. At the 197-pound weight class, redshirt freshman Kael Wisler also earned a major decision by defeating Ethan Wiant, 16-3.
Redshirt Freshman 285-pounder Josh Terrill was the final bout of the night for the Spartans and faced a familiar foe in John Meyers. Meyers defeated Terrill twice last season by final scores of 3-2. Terrill earned the first point in the second period with a quick escape to take a 1-0 lead. With the score knotted at 1-1 in the third, Terrill defended a double-leg takedown attempt with less than a minute to wrestle and scored on his opponent's shot after sprawling to find a takedown of his own to earn a 4-1 decision.
The Spartans will enjoy the holiday break next week before returning for the classic Ken Kraft Midland Championships at NOW arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. on December 29-30.
MATCH-BY-MATCH
Michigan State 25, Clarion 13
125 | Joey Fischer (CU) major dec. Caleb Weiand (MSU) 12-4
133 | TJ England (CU) dec. Andy Hampton (MSU) 7-3
141 | Jordan Hamdan (MSU) tech fall over Easton Toth (CU) 18-2
149 | Kyle Schickell (CU) dec. Braden Stauffenberg (MSU) 9-6
157 | Chase Saldate (MSU) dec. Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (CU) 3-0
165 | Caleb Fish (MSU) fall over Trevor Elfvin (CU) 4:34
174 | John Worthing (CU) dec. DJ Shannon (MSU) 12-8
184 | Layne Malczewski (MSU) major dec. Cam Pine (CU) 13-8
197 | Kael Wisler (MSU) major dec. Ethan Wiant (CU) 16-3
285 | Josh Terrill (MSU) dec. John Meyers (CU) 4-1
Players Mentioned
