Saturday, January 3
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Michigan State University
at
Southern Scuffle
Photo by: Kam Beal
Wrestling’s Wisler, Weiand Place at Southern Scuffle
1/4/2026 5:35:00 PM | Wrestling
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Michigan State wrestling redshirt junior 197-pounder Kael Wisler and redshirt sophomore 133-pounder Caleb Weiand each placed at the Southern Scuffle this weekend at McKenzie Arena. Weiand knocked off a pair of ranked opponents en route to the semifinals.
Wisler was the top placer among Spartans taking fifth at 197 pounds, while Weiand took sixth at 133.
Weiand's tournament started with a 9-6 upset over No. 24-ranked Raymond Lopez of American, 9-6, in which seven of his nine points came in the final 50 seconds of the bout. A take down and four near-fall with 14 seconds left in the third period aided Weiand to victory over Lopez. A sudden victory takedown helped Weiand knock off Trayce Eckman of Bellarmine in the Round of 16. He trailed 13-2 against No. 9-ranked Dillon Campbell of Virginia Tech in the quarters before he cradled and pinned Campbell at the 5:43 mark. Weiand medically forfeited the remainder of the tournament to place sixth.
Wisler was dominant through the first three rounds of competition winning bouts by major, tech fall and fall. He defeated Clarion's Ethan Wiant (12-1), Bellarmine's Kennedy Wyatt (15-0) and Appalachian State's Logan Eller by fall in 3:20. Wisler was defeated in the quarters by No. 3-ranked Stephen Little of Little Rock by a 9-4 decision.
Wisler's consolation bracket run started with a 13-10 decision over North Dakota State's Devin Wasley and a 7-2 decision over Utah Valley's Kael Bennie before dropping the consolation semi bout to No. 17-ranked Branson John of Maryland, 17-4. Wisler's fifth-place bout opponent forfeited out of the tournament to give Wisler the fifth-place finish.
Michigan State returns to dual action on Friday, January 9 when it heads to Ann Arbor for a 7:00 p.m. dual against intrastate rival No. 12-ranked Michigan at the Crisler Center. The dual will stream on B1G+.
Wisler was the top placer among Spartans taking fifth at 197 pounds, while Weiand took sixth at 133.
Weiand's tournament started with a 9-6 upset over No. 24-ranked Raymond Lopez of American, 9-6, in which seven of his nine points came in the final 50 seconds of the bout. A take down and four near-fall with 14 seconds left in the third period aided Weiand to victory over Lopez. A sudden victory takedown helped Weiand knock off Trayce Eckman of Bellarmine in the Round of 16. He trailed 13-2 against No. 9-ranked Dillon Campbell of Virginia Tech in the quarters before he cradled and pinned Campbell at the 5:43 mark. Weiand medically forfeited the remainder of the tournament to place sixth.
Wisler was dominant through the first three rounds of competition winning bouts by major, tech fall and fall. He defeated Clarion's Ethan Wiant (12-1), Bellarmine's Kennedy Wyatt (15-0) and Appalachian State's Logan Eller by fall in 3:20. Wisler was defeated in the quarters by No. 3-ranked Stephen Little of Little Rock by a 9-4 decision.
Wisler's consolation bracket run started with a 13-10 decision over North Dakota State's Devin Wasley and a 7-2 decision over Utah Valley's Kael Bennie before dropping the consolation semi bout to No. 17-ranked Branson John of Maryland, 17-4. Wisler's fifth-place bout opponent forfeited out of the tournament to give Wisler the fifth-place finish.
Michigan State returns to dual action on Friday, January 9 when it heads to Ann Arbor for a 7:00 p.m. dual against intrastate rival No. 12-ranked Michigan at the Crisler Center. The dual will stream on B1G+.
Players Mentioned
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