Friday, February 21
Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
at
Central Michigan
Photo by: Kam Beal
Wrestling to Battle Central Michigan in Regular Season Finale
2/20/2025 11:04:00 AM | Wrestling
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State wrestling will conclude it's dual season on Friday, February 21 at Central Michigan, taking on the Chippewas from McGuirk Arena at 7:00 p.m. The dual will stream on ESPN+.
The First Whistle
Michigan State is 18-20 all-time against the Chippewas dating back to 1987 and have won three straight and four of the last five meetings against CMU. All three recent victories were by close margins, winning 18-13 in 2024, 20-13 in 2023 and 19-17 in 2022. From 2002 to 2017, Central Michigan won 16 of 17 duals against the Spartans including a streak of 12 straight from 2002 to 2013. The Spartans broke that streak with an 18-14 win over CMU on Feb. 22, 2014.
Last season in Jenison Field House the Spartans won six bouts, including five straight from 157 to 197. Central Michigan led early 10-3, but decisions by Chase Saldate, Caleb Fish, DJ Shannon, Layne Malczewski and Kael Wisler put MSU ahead 18-10 going into the final match.
Redshirt freshman Remy Cotton is enjoying a breakout campaign for the Spartans entering this week ranked #24 by FloWrestling and #26 by InterMat at 197 pounds. At heavyweight, redshirt Freshman Max Vanadia is ranked #33 by FloWrestling for the fifth consecutive week. Vanadia has won four of his last five bouts entering the week, including his first three career B1G dual victories against Northwestern. Wisconsin and Rutgers. Vanadia posted a tech fall of Northwestern's Dirk Morley.
First Look: Central Michigan
Central Michigan is 8-9 in duals this season and finished MAC competition with a 6-1 mark to earn their 16th MAC regular season title and third in the last four years. CMU is riding a four-dual winning streak that dates back to Feb.7 when they defeated Edinboro, 23-10. It includes wins over Buffalo (26-6), Kent State (36-0) and SIUE (26-6). The Chippewas have five common opponents with MSU, defeating Buffalo and losing to Ohio (18-16), CSU Bakersfield (21-20), American (21-13) and Indiana (17-16). MSU was 3-2 against the same opponents with wins over Ohio, American and Buffalo.
CMU's lineup has four wrestlers ranked by both FloWrestling and InterMat, led by 174-pounder Alex Cramer who ranks #7 on InterMat and #8 on FloWrestling.
Training to Peak
Redshirt freshman heavyweight Max Vanadia is coming into his own late in the season having won four of his last five bouts. Vanadia defeated Northwestern's Dirk Morley by tech fall (20-5), Wisconsin's Gannon Rosenfeld (11-4) and Rutgers' John O'Donnell (1-0) to pick up the first three B1G dual wins of his career over the last two weeks.
Vanadia's streak started with a win over Clarion's Austin Chapman, 4-0, on Feb. 2. Ten of Vanadia's losses have come to Top 33 ranked opponents, he owns a season-best victory over former national qualifier #17 Lucas Stoddard of Army, 4-3.
Vanadia comes from a family of wrestlers, with twin brother Luke Vanadia wrestling at 197 pounds for the Spartans and older brother Ben Vanadia the 197 pound starter at Purdue.
Remy In The Rankings
Redshirt freshman Remy Cotton has spent most of his breakout season in the rankings owning an 12-9 record. Cotton is #24 on FloWrestling, #26 on InterMat and #27 in the Coaches' Rankings.
Cotton picked up an upset victory over then No. 18-ranked John Poznanski of Rutgers last weekend, defeating Poznanski by major decision, 11-2. Poznanski is a former All-American at 184 pounds and reached the Round of 12 at the 2024 NCAA Championships at 197.
Cotton wrestled back to place third at the MSU Open, winning two matches by bonus with a pin of Kent State's Blake Schaffer (1:22) and a major decision over Michigan's Hayden Walters (12-3). He earned his first career dual victory in MSU's season opener at American with a tech fall over Liam Volk-Klos (21-6).
NCAA Rankings Update
The NCAA released its second set of coaches' rankings as well as its first RPI release of the season on Feb. 13.
Redshirt sophomore Ceasar Garza ranks No. 32 in RPI at 174, redshirt freshman Remy Cotton is No. 17 at 197 and redshirt freshman Max Vanadia is No. 23 at heavyweight. Cotton is the lone Spartan ranked in the second coaches' rankings, coming in at No. 27 at 197 pounds.
Up Next
Friday's dual concludes the regular season for Michigan State, who opens postseason competition at the Big Ten Championships in Evanston, Ill. on Saturday, March 8-9 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. NCAA Championships qualifiers will compete in Philadelphia, Pa. on Thursday, March 20-22. at the Wells Fargo Center. Redshirt senior Tristan Lujan is the only former NCAA qualifier in the MSU lineup.
The First Whistle
Michigan State is 18-20 all-time against the Chippewas dating back to 1987 and have won three straight and four of the last five meetings against CMU. All three recent victories were by close margins, winning 18-13 in 2024, 20-13 in 2023 and 19-17 in 2022. From 2002 to 2017, Central Michigan won 16 of 17 duals against the Spartans including a streak of 12 straight from 2002 to 2013. The Spartans broke that streak with an 18-14 win over CMU on Feb. 22, 2014.
Last season in Jenison Field House the Spartans won six bouts, including five straight from 157 to 197. Central Michigan led early 10-3, but decisions by Chase Saldate, Caleb Fish, DJ Shannon, Layne Malczewski and Kael Wisler put MSU ahead 18-10 going into the final match.
Redshirt freshman Remy Cotton is enjoying a breakout campaign for the Spartans entering this week ranked #24 by FloWrestling and #26 by InterMat at 197 pounds. At heavyweight, redshirt Freshman Max Vanadia is ranked #33 by FloWrestling for the fifth consecutive week. Vanadia has won four of his last five bouts entering the week, including his first three career B1G dual victories against Northwestern. Wisconsin and Rutgers. Vanadia posted a tech fall of Northwestern's Dirk Morley.
| MICHIGAN STATE PROBABLES |
| 125 | Caleb Weiand | R-Fr. |
| 133 | Andy Hampton | R-Jr. |
| OR | Tristan Lujan | R-Sr. |
| 141 | Jaden Crumpler | R-Fr. |
| 149 | Clayton Jones III | R-Fr. |
| 157 | Braden Stauffenberg | R-So. |
| OR | Jack Conley | R-Fr. |
| 165 | Jay Nivison | R-Sr. |
| 174 | Ceasar Garza | R-So. |
| 184 | Luke Daly | R-Jr. |
| OR | Marty Larkin | R-Sr. |
| 197 | #26/28 Remy Cotton | R-Fr. |
| OR | Kael Wisler | R-So. |
| HWT | #33/NR Max Vanadia | R-Fr. |
| OR | Josh Terrill | R-So. |
First Look: Central Michigan
Central Michigan is 8-9 in duals this season and finished MAC competition with a 6-1 mark to earn their 16th MAC regular season title and third in the last four years. CMU is riding a four-dual winning streak that dates back to Feb.7 when they defeated Edinboro, 23-10. It includes wins over Buffalo (26-6), Kent State (36-0) and SIUE (26-6). The Chippewas have five common opponents with MSU, defeating Buffalo and losing to Ohio (18-16), CSU Bakersfield (21-20), American (21-13) and Indiana (17-16). MSU was 3-2 against the same opponents with wins over Ohio, American and Buffalo.
CMU's lineup has four wrestlers ranked by both FloWrestling and InterMat, led by 174-pounder Alex Cramer who ranks #7 on InterMat and #8 on FloWrestling.
| CENTRAL MICHIGAN PROBABLES |
| 125 | Grant Stahl | R-Fr. |
| 133 | #26/29 Sean Spidle | R-Jr. |
| OR | Vince Perez | R-Jr. |
| 141 | Andrew Austin | R-So. |
| OR | Kellan Aure | R-Fr. |
| 149 | #31/27 Mason Shrader | R-Jr. |
| 157 | #16/17 Johnny Lovett | Grad. |
| 165 | Chandler Amaker | R-Jr. |
| 174 | #8/7 Alex Cramer | Grad. |
| OR | Mason Alessio | R-Fr. |
| 184 | Adrien Cramer | R-Jr. |
| OR | Cody Brenner | R-Jr. |
| 197 | Luke Cochran | R-Fr. |
| OR | Cameron Wood | R-Jr. |
| HWT | Bryan Caves | R-Jr. |
Training to Peak
Redshirt freshman heavyweight Max Vanadia is coming into his own late in the season having won four of his last five bouts. Vanadia defeated Northwestern's Dirk Morley by tech fall (20-5), Wisconsin's Gannon Rosenfeld (11-4) and Rutgers' John O'Donnell (1-0) to pick up the first three B1G dual wins of his career over the last two weeks.
Vanadia's streak started with a win over Clarion's Austin Chapman, 4-0, on Feb. 2. Ten of Vanadia's losses have come to Top 33 ranked opponents, he owns a season-best victory over former national qualifier #17 Lucas Stoddard of Army, 4-3.
Vanadia comes from a family of wrestlers, with twin brother Luke Vanadia wrestling at 197 pounds for the Spartans and older brother Ben Vanadia the 197 pound starter at Purdue.
Remy In The Rankings
Redshirt freshman Remy Cotton has spent most of his breakout season in the rankings owning an 12-9 record. Cotton is #24 on FloWrestling, #26 on InterMat and #27 in the Coaches' Rankings.
Cotton picked up an upset victory over then No. 18-ranked John Poznanski of Rutgers last weekend, defeating Poznanski by major decision, 11-2. Poznanski is a former All-American at 184 pounds and reached the Round of 12 at the 2024 NCAA Championships at 197.
Cotton wrestled back to place third at the MSU Open, winning two matches by bonus with a pin of Kent State's Blake Schaffer (1:22) and a major decision over Michigan's Hayden Walters (12-3). He earned his first career dual victory in MSU's season opener at American with a tech fall over Liam Volk-Klos (21-6).
NCAA Rankings Update
The NCAA released its second set of coaches' rankings as well as its first RPI release of the season on Feb. 13.
Redshirt sophomore Ceasar Garza ranks No. 32 in RPI at 174, redshirt freshman Remy Cotton is No. 17 at 197 and redshirt freshman Max Vanadia is No. 23 at heavyweight. Cotton is the lone Spartan ranked in the second coaches' rankings, coming in at No. 27 at 197 pounds.
Up Next
Friday's dual concludes the regular season for Michigan State, who opens postseason competition at the Big Ten Championships in Evanston, Ill. on Saturday, March 8-9 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. NCAA Championships qualifiers will compete in Philadelphia, Pa. on Thursday, March 20-22. at the Wells Fargo Center. Redshirt senior Tristan Lujan is the only former NCAA qualifier in the MSU lineup.
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Monday, January 22
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Tuesday, December 12
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Wednesday, December 21