Michigan State University
Indiana
No. 25/30 Spartans Drop Heartbreaker at Indiana
2/4/2024 4:13:00 PM | Wrestling
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Michigan State wrestling pounced to an early 18-0 lead through four matches against No. 28-ranked Indiana on Sunday afternoon, but a Hoosier surge sparked a comeback as the Spartans were defeated 23-18 at Wilkinson Hall.
"It's just a matter of staying in the matches," said head Michigan State wrestling coach Roger Chandler. "There were five to six really close matches that could've gone our way, but we came up on the short side of it. The biggest thing I tell our guys all the time, you have to wrestle all the way through a match and there was a couple that caused us the victory."
Action began at 157 pounds with No. 21-ranked senior Chase Saldate taking on Nick Rotkvich. The Gilroy, California, native dominated the match from start to finish as he executed three takedowns and cradled Rotkvich for a second period fall, his tenth of the season. It's Saldate's fourth win by fall in B1G action and his third straight.
Back-to-back-to-back falls for Saldate. #GoGreen | #OneFocus pic.twitter.com/YUqvZncraU
— Spartan Wrestling (@MSU_Wrestling) February 4, 2024
Indiana forfeited at 165 pounds to put six more team points on the board for MSU.
In the 174 pounds bout it was a clash of the DJs, as redshirt senior DJ Shannon got the call and battled evenly against No. 12 DJ Washington for two and half periods. With the match knotted up at 1-1 late in the third period, Shannon avoided an attack and lifted Washington to a single leg before converting a takedown on the edge of the mat as time expired to earn the upset victory, 4-1. "We know he's special," said Chandler. "He's finally able to get in a groove and he's a dangerous guy that can be in every single match and pull of a big win like you saw today."
IN THE FINAL SECONDS! Shannon upsets No. 12 Washington!
— Spartan Wrestling (@MSU_Wrestling) February 4, 2024
MSU 15, IU 0 #GoGreen | #OneFocus pic.twitter.com/Hfz9wk2h4Q
Entering the week as the No. 15-ranked wrestler at 184-pounds, Graduate Layne Malczewski controlled a majority of his, executing the lone takedown of the bout, and scoring a second period reversal to rack up 2:48 in riding time. Roman Rogotzke picked up a reversal in the third, but it was Malczewski who took home the 6-2 decision.
With Michigan State leading, 18-0, the Hoosiers would bounce back to take the remaining six bouts at 197, heavyweight, 125, 133, 141 and 149 pounds. The Spartans competed hard, losing tight decisions at 197, heavyweight and 125 pounds. Redshirt freshman heavyweight Josh Terrill fell to Nick Willham in tiebreakers after a rare double stall call was awarded in sudden victory.
No. 30 Jordan Hamdan looked to seal the dual for the Spartans at 141 pounds, but a literal last second takedown by No. 24-ranked Dan Fongaro was the decision maker as he dropped a 6-4 decision. No takedown was awarded in regulation, but an officials review changed the call on the mat.
Michigan State will look to bounce back at Maryland next week on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT
No. 28 Indiana 23, No. 28/30 Michigan State 18
February 4, 2024 // Bloomington, Ind.
157 | No. 21 Chase Saldate (MSU) fall over Zack Rotkvich (IU) 4:09 | MSU leads 6-0
165 | No. 9 Caleb Fish wins via Forfeit | MSU leads 12-0
174 | DJ Shannon (MSU) dec. No. 12 DJ Washington (IU) 4-1 | MSU leads 15-0
184 | No. 15 Layne Malczewski (MSU) dec. Roman Rogotzke (IU) 6-2 | MSU leads 18-0
197 | Gabe Sollars (IU) dec. No. 29 Kael Wisler (MSU) 8-5 | MSU leads 18-3
HWT | Nick Willham (IU) dec. Josh Terrill (MSU) 4-3 TB-1 | MSU leads 18-6
125 | Michael Spangler (IU) dec. Tristan Lujan (MSU) 10-8 | MSU leads 18-9
133 | Cayden Brooks (IU) tech fall over Andy Hampton (MSU) 20-3 | MSU leads 18-14
141 | No. 24 Dan Fongaro (IU) dec. No. 30 Jordan Hamdan (MSU) 6-4 | MSU leads 18-17
149 | No. 15 Graham Rooks (IU) fall over Clayton Jones (MSU) 4:36 | Indiana wins 23-18
Players Mentioned
