MSU wrestling: Spartans topped by No. 3 Hawkeyes Sunday
EAST LANSING - Michigan State wrestling was topped by No. 3 Iowa, 44-0, Sunday afternoon in front of a spirited crowd at Jenison Field House.
With the loss, the Spartans are now 2-4 overall and 0-3 in Big Ten Conference action. The Hawkeyes improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in B1G action, completing their sweep in Michigan after posting a 31-7 win at No. 15 Michigan Friday night at Ann Arbor. Iowa has now 20-straight road duals and 24 Big Ten duals in a row.
Sunday was not only MSU's first action of the 2017 portion of the schedule, but was also the first home dual in a span of three of their next four duals being at home.
Eight of the 10 wrestlers in Iowa's lineup were ranked, with the two unranked wrestlers being in the two weight classes that the Spartans are ranked, with MSU's Javier Gasca, ranked No. 16 at 141 pounds, dropping a 12-2 major decision to Iowa's Topher Carton, while at 165 pounds, the Spartans' Drew Hughes, ranked No. 15, dropped a 2-1 decision to Iowa's Joey Gunther.
"I think the bottom line today was that our guys didn't compete up to their full abilities. I think there was probably too much of a respect factor involved and we know our guys are better than that. If they're going to become championship level wrestlers, they're going to have to adjust their mindset," MSU head coach Roger Chandler said.
The Spartans have a pair of matches next weekend, opening by heading to Evanston, Ill., to tangle with Northwestern on Friday, Jan. 13, before returning home to host Maryland on Sunday, Jan. 15. The Spartans will then host in-state foe Central Michigan on Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at Jenison Field House as part of the annual “Tumbles and Takedowns” with the MSU gymnastics team.
a 2-0 lead, before Trimble trimmed the gap in half with an escape. The Hawkeye posted another takedown for a 4-1 lead at the halfway point of the opening period. Sorensen added four back points for an 8-1 advantage at the end of the first frame. Trimble’s gap grew to 9-1 after Sorensen escaped from the start of the second period and the visitor from Iowa added a takedown for an 11-1 lead. Trimble escaped for a 11-2 margin, but Sorensen tacked on another takedown for a 13-2 lead, which he held through the end of the second. The Spartan score an escape before Sorensen tallied another takedown for a 15-4 lead and added another takedown and a 17-4 lead. Trimble escaped for a 17-5 gap, but Sorensen added three more points and the 20-5 technical fall win.
No. 3 Iowa 44, Michigan State 0
125: No. 1 Thomas Gilman (IOWA) pinned Logan Griffin (MSU), 0:45; Iowa leads, 6-0
133: No. 1 Cory Clark (IOWA) dec. Austin Eicher (MSU), 7-0; Iowa leads, 9-0
141: Topher Carton (IOWA) maj. dec. No. 16 Javier Gasca (MSU), 12-2; Iowa leads, 13-0
149: No. 2 Brandon Sorensen (IOWA) tech. fall Nick Trimble (MSU), 20-5; Iowa leads, 18-0
157: No. 2 Michael Kemerer (IOWA) maj. dec. Austin Thompson (MSU), 14-2; Iowa leads, 22-0
165: Joey Gunther (IOWA) dec. No. 15 Drew Hughes (MSU), 2-1; Iowa leads, 25-0
174: No. 13 Alex Meyer (IOWA) tech. fall Drew Barnes (MSU), 22-7; Iowa leads, 30-0
184: No. 6 Sammy Brooks (IOWA) tech. fall Wesley Maskill (MSU), 19-3; Iowa leads, 35-0
197: Cash Wilke (IOWA) dec. Matt Okaiye (MSU), 8-4; Iowa leads, 38-0
HWT: No. 6 Sam Stoll (IOWA) win by DQ Jacob Cooper (MSU), 6-0, 3:36; Iowa wins, 44-0
Attendance: 619
Michigan State Athletics communication department