Michigan State University
Midlands Championships
Wrestling Competes at Midlands Championships This Weekend
12/29/2023 8:00:00 AM | Wrestling
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State wrestling is back in action following the holiday break as it travels to Hoffman Estates, Illinois, to partake in the classic Ken Kraft Midlands Championships. The two-day event will run from Dec. 29-30 and will stream on Big Ten Plus.
WATCH LIVE ON BIG+ | FOLLOW LIVE RESULTS
WORDS FROM HEAD COACH ROGER CHANDLER
"This will no doubt be the biggest test of the season for our guys. This event is traditionally one of the toughest tournaments in the country outside of the Big Ten Championships, and NCAA Championships. I expect that again this year. Every one of our guys from top to bottom have to treat this tournament like preparation for the post season in March since we will not have another tournament until then."
FINAL REGULAR SEASON TOURNAMENT
· The Spartans will compete in their fourth and final regular season tournament. twenty-one wrestlers have placed top-six finishes for the Green and White in the previous three tournaments - three at the Clarion Open, 16 at the MSU Open, and six at the Black Knight Invite.
· The Green and White has three tournament champions: freshman 184-pounder Luke Vanadia (Fresh/soph. bracket MSU Open), freshman 285-pounder Max Vanadia (Fresh/soph. bracket MSU Open), and redshirt freshman 197-pounder Kael Wisler (Black Knight Invite).
· MSU has placed sixth or better as a team in each tournament this season (MSU Open had no team scores) and averaged 89.2 points per tournament.
TERRILL STARTING HOT
· Redshirt freshman 285-pounder Josh Terrill is off to a fast start posting a 16-4 record. His 16 hand raises ranks second in the country and tied for the most in the Big Ten.
· Terrill leads all Spartans in tournament victories with 12.
· The Holt, Michigan native has two tournament placed finishes: placed fifth at Clarion Open, and third at the MSU Open.
IN THE RANKINGS
Michigan State was well represented in the latest Intermat individual rankings as four Spartans - 125-pound senior Tristan Lujan (No. 32), 157-pound senior Chase Saldate (No. 16), 165-pound senior Caleb Fish (No.10), and 184-pound graduate Layne Malczewski (No. 12) - all maintained their ranked status.
ABOUT THE MIDLANDS CHAMPIONSHIPS
· It will be the 59th edition of the Midland Championships and the second consecutive year with both men's and women's divisions.
· A total of 42 programs will be in attendance to compete in the tournament that includes eight Big Ten squads Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern (Host), Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, and Wisconsin.
THE LAST TIME OUT
· The Spartans last competed in a dual against Clarion Golden Eagles on Dec. 16, finding themselves in an early deficit, losing three of the first four matches.
· MSU went on to win five of its next six matches, including three resulting in bonus points, to defeat Clarion, 25-13. The Spartans improved to 5-0 in duals with the victory over the Golden Eagles.
Players Mentioned
