Michigan State Closes Out B1G Season Against No. 6 Ohio State

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State wrestling (9-5, 2-5 B1G) looks to close out the Big Ten season as it hosts No. 6-ranked Ohio State (14-2, 6-1 B1G) on Friday, Feb. 16. Seven of the Spartans' last eight opponents have been nationally ranked. The dual will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.

Against common opponents, the Buckeyes are 6-1 with wins over: Illinois (36-6), Maryland (38-4), Wisconsin (27-15), Michigan (20-19), Rutgers (22-12) and Indiana (32-6). Ohio State's lone common opponent loss came against No. 1-ranked Penn State (28-9).

MSU NOTES

HEAD COACH ROGER CHANDLER

"This week has been all about discipline and how each one of our guys can use discipline to be better. It's the one consistent thing that everyone can do to become better. That has been my challenge to the entire team. When you have discipline then you will compete better and have a sense of confidence in life and everything you do."

ROAD TO 100

No. 15-ranked graduate 184-pounder Layne Malczewski sits one victory away from the 100-career win threshold. The Macomb, Michigan, native earned his 99th win in a dominant fashion as he defeated Maryland's Chase Mielnik 15-0. It was his first tech fall victory this season.

Malczewski boasts a 48-16 career dual record and is 25-11 against Big Ten opponents. The four-time national qualifier has 29 career fall victories that ranks eighth in program history.

IN THE RANKINGS

Five separate Spartans are represented in the InterMat rankings. Redshirt senior Jordan Hamdan moved up two spots to No. 27 at 141 following his 6-1 upset victory over Maryland's Kal Miller, senior Chase Saldate slid up one spot to No. 20 at 157, senior Caleb Fish still sits in the Top 10 at No. 9 at 165, Malczewski enters at No. 15 at 184 and 197-pound redshirt freshman Kael Wisler rounds out the list at No. 30.

LAST TIME OUT

The Michigan State wrestling team concluded its road dual season at Maryland on Feb. 11 inside Xfinity Center Pavilion, falling 28-15. Two Spartans posted bonus point victories, No. 9-ranked Caleb Fish picked up a 14-0 major decision over AJ Rodrigues and Malczewski posted a 15-0 tech fall over Chase Mielnik. Hamdan and Chase Saldate picked up decision wins over the Terps.

KNOW THE FOE: OHIO STATE

At the helm for Ohio State is 18th-year head coach Tom Ryan. The Buckeyes enter the week as the No.6-ranked team with a 14-2 overall record and an 6-1 mark in Big Ten play. Ohio State has faced nine Top 25 opponents and went 7-2 with notable victories over then No. 3-ranked Virginia Tech (24-12), No. 2-ranked NC State (21-20) and No. 8-ranked Cornell (21-20). In their last outing, the Buckeyes handled No. 26-ranked Indiana (32-6).

This will mark the 85th meeting between Michigan State and Ohio State. The Green and White have the narrow lead in the all-time series, 42-40-2 but have seen the Buckeyes take the last 13 meetings. Ten Buckeye wrestlers are nationally ranked in their respective weight classes on InterMat including four ranked in the Top 10: Nic Bouzakis (No. 10 | 133), Jesse Mendez (No. 3 | 141), Dylan D'Emilio (No. 10 | 149), Nick Feldman (No. 7 | HWT).