Saturday, March 8
Evanston, Ill.
Michigan State University
at
Big Ten Championships
Photo by: Sam Janicki
Postseason Begins for Wrestling at B1G Championships
3/6/2025 12:52:00 PM | Wrestling
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Postseason competition gets underway for Michigan State wrestling on Saturday, March 8 in Evanston, Ill. when the 2025 B1G Championships begin at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Coverage throughout the weekend will be provided on Big Ten Network and B1G+.
B1G Championships Schedule
Saturday, March 8 (Coverage on BTN/B1G+)
10 a.m. - Session I (First Round, Quarterfinals, Wrestlebacks)
5 p.m. - Session II (Consolation Matches, Wrestlebacks)
7 p.m. - Session II (Semifinals)
Sunday, March 9 (Coverage on BTN/B1G+)
12 p.m. - Session III (Consolation Semifinals, 7th-Place Matches)
5 p.m. - Session IV (1st, 3rd, 5th-Place Matches)
The First Whistle
Pre-seedings were announced for B1Gs on Wednesday, March 5: Caleb Weiand (#11 @ 125), Andy Hampton (#13 @ 133), Jaden Crumpler (#14 @ 141), Clayton Jones (#12 @ 149), Braden Stauffenberg (#14 @ 149), Jay Nivison (#14 @ 165), Ceasar Garza (#13 @ 174), Luke Daly (#12 @ 184), Remy Cotton (#10 @ 197), Max Vanadia (#12 @ HWT).
Seven of Michigan State's 10 entries at this weekend's B1G Championships have never competed there previously, and seven of the 10 entries are redshirt sophomores or younger. Caleb Weiand, Jaden Crumpler, Clayton Jones, Jay Nivison, Luke Daly, Remy Cotton and Max Vanadia will all be making their first career postseason appearances in Evanston. Andy Hampton, Braden Stauffenberg and Ceasar Garza are the only returners with postseason appearances, each with a 1-2 record at B1Gs.
Under head coach Roger Chandler, the Spartans have a best finish of eighth at the B1G Championships in 2019 and 2021.
Redshirt freshman Remy Cotton is enjoying a breakout campaign for the Spartans entering this week ranked #23 by FloWrestling and #26 by InterMat at 197 pounds. At heavyweight, redshirt freshman Max Vanadia is ranked #33 by FloWrestling for the seventh consecutive week. Vanadia has won five of his last six bouts entering the postseason, including his first three career B1G dual victories against Northwestern. Wisconsin and Rutgers. Vanadia posted a tech fall of Northwestern's Dirk Morley.
New Kids on the Block
Seven of Michigan State's 10 entries at this weekend's B1G Championships have never competed there previously. Caleb Weiand, Jaden Crumpler, Clayton Jones, Jay Nivison, Luke Daly, Remy Cotton and Max Vanadia will all be making their first career postseason appearances in Evanston. Andy Hampton (1-2), Braden Stauffenberg (1-2) and Ceasar Garza (1-2) are the only returners with postseason appearances, each with a 1-2 record at B1Gs.
Training to Peak
Redshirt freshman heavyweight Max Vanadia is coming into his own late in the season having won five of his last six bouts.
Vanadia's streak started with a win over Clarion's Austin Chapman, 4-0, on Feb. 2. He then 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. His regular season came to a close with a 5-3 decision over Central Michigan's Bryan Caves on Feb. 21.
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.
11 of Vanadia's losses have come to Top 33 ranked opponents, he owns a season-best victory over former national qualifier Lucas Stoddard of Army, 4-3.
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 #23 on FloWrestling, #26 on InterMat and #28 in the Coaches' Rankings.
Cotton's final dual appearance of the season against Jacob Cardenas ended in the first period by injury default after an accidental headbutt.
Cotton picked up an upset victory over then No. 18-ranked John Poznanski of Rutgers on Feb. 14, 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). Cotton 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 final set of coaches' rankings on Feb. 27 and its second RPI release of the season. Redshirt freshman Remy Cotton is No. 16 in the RPI at 197 and redshirt freshman Max Vanadia is No. 28 at heavyweight. Cotton is the lone Spartan ranked in the final coaches' rankings, coming in at No. 28 at 197 pounds.
Up Next
NCAA Championships qualifiers will compete in Philadelphia, Pa. on Thursday, March 20-22. at the Wells Fargo Center.
B1G Championships Schedule
Saturday, March 8 (Coverage on BTN/B1G+)
10 a.m. - Session I (First Round, Quarterfinals, Wrestlebacks)
5 p.m. - Session II (Consolation Matches, Wrestlebacks)
7 p.m. - Session II (Semifinals)
Sunday, March 9 (Coverage on BTN/B1G+)
12 p.m. - Session III (Consolation Semifinals, 7th-Place Matches)
5 p.m. - Session IV (1st, 3rd, 5th-Place Matches)
The First Whistle
Pre-seedings were announced for B1Gs on Wednesday, March 5: Caleb Weiand (#11 @ 125), Andy Hampton (#13 @ 133), Jaden Crumpler (#14 @ 141), Clayton Jones (#12 @ 149), Braden Stauffenberg (#14 @ 149), Jay Nivison (#14 @ 165), Ceasar Garza (#13 @ 174), Luke Daly (#12 @ 184), Remy Cotton (#10 @ 197), Max Vanadia (#12 @ HWT).
Seven of Michigan State's 10 entries at this weekend's B1G Championships have never competed there previously, and seven of the 10 entries are redshirt sophomores or younger. Caleb Weiand, Jaden Crumpler, Clayton Jones, Jay Nivison, Luke Daly, Remy Cotton and Max Vanadia will all be making their first career postseason appearances in Evanston. Andy Hampton, Braden Stauffenberg and Ceasar Garza are the only returners with postseason appearances, each with a 1-2 record at B1Gs.
Under head coach Roger Chandler, the Spartans have a best finish of eighth at the B1G Championships in 2019 and 2021.
Redshirt freshman Remy Cotton is enjoying a breakout campaign for the Spartans entering this week ranked #23 by FloWrestling and #26 by InterMat at 197 pounds. At heavyweight, redshirt freshman Max Vanadia is ranked #33 by FloWrestling for the seventh consecutive week. Vanadia has won five of his last six bouts entering the postseason, 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 ENTRIES |
| 125 | Caleb Weiand | R-Fr. |
| 133 | Andy Hampton | R-Jr. |
| 141 | Jaden Crumpler | R-Fr. |
| 149 | Clayton Jones III | R-Fr. |
| 157 | Braden Stauffenberg | R-So. |
| 165 | Jay Nivison | R-Sr. |
| 174 | Ceasar Garza | R-So. |
| 184 | Luke Daly | R-Jr. |
| 197 | #26/28 Remy Cotton | R-Fr. |
| HWT | #33/NR Max Vanadia | R-Fr. |
New Kids on the Block
Seven of Michigan State's 10 entries at this weekend's B1G Championships have never competed there previously. Caleb Weiand, Jaden Crumpler, Clayton Jones, Jay Nivison, Luke Daly, Remy Cotton and Max Vanadia will all be making their first career postseason appearances in Evanston. Andy Hampton (1-2), Braden Stauffenberg (1-2) and Ceasar Garza (1-2) are the only returners with postseason appearances, each with a 1-2 record at B1Gs.
Training to Peak
Redshirt freshman heavyweight Max Vanadia is coming into his own late in the season having won five of his last six bouts.
Vanadia's streak started with a win over Clarion's Austin Chapman, 4-0, on Feb. 2. He then 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. His regular season came to a close with a 5-3 decision over Central Michigan's Bryan Caves on Feb. 21.
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.
11 of Vanadia's losses have come to Top 33 ranked opponents, he owns a season-best victory over former national qualifier Lucas Stoddard of Army, 4-3.
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 #23 on FloWrestling, #26 on InterMat and #28 in the Coaches' Rankings.
Cotton's final dual appearance of the season against Jacob Cardenas ended in the first period by injury default after an accidental headbutt.
Cotton picked up an upset victory over then No. 18-ranked John Poznanski of Rutgers on Feb. 14, 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). Cotton 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 final set of coaches' rankings on Feb. 27 and its second RPI release of the season. Redshirt freshman Remy Cotton is No. 16 in the RPI at 197 and redshirt freshman Max Vanadia is No. 28 at heavyweight. Cotton is the lone Spartan ranked in the final coaches' rankings, coming in at No. 28 at 197 pounds.
Up Next
NCAA Championships qualifiers will compete in Philadelphia, Pa. on Thursday, March 20-22. at the Wells Fargo Center.
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