MSU wrestlers see season end at NCAA championships
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Michigan State wrestling's Drew Hughes' sensational freshman season came to an end Friday night at the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Hughes, the No. 15 seed at 165 pounds, lost in a 4-2 decision to fifth-seeded Chad Walsh of Rider in the consolation round.
Walsh jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a takedown in the first minute and had the edge for the rest of the first frame, building up riding time. Hughes took control and managed the action in the second stanza, not able to score any points, but taking down Walsh's riding time and eventually building up his own, however Walsh had a reversal for two points just before the horn sounded at the end of the second period. The Michigan State coaching staff challenged the call, but after the officials' video review, the two-point reversal was upheld, giving Walsh a 4-0 lead entering the final frame. Hughes continued to dictate the action, building up his riding time, and Hughes got on the board with a one-point stalling call on Walsh to cut the gap to 4-1 with 20 seconds left, but couldn't get any points, adding the riding time point for the final 4-2 decision.
Hughes was making his first NCAA Championships appearance and the first MSU freshman to qualify since Sean McMurray in 2011. HE defeated Shaun`Qae McMurtry of Northern Illinois in an 8-4 decision Friday morning and then topped Te`shan Campbell of Pittsburgh in a 6-4 decision, setting up his match with Walsh Friday night in the "blood round."
The Spartan freshman opened Thursday's action with a 6-0 decision over Keilan Torres of Northern Colorado in the first round before losing to second-seeded Logan Massa of Michigan in a 25-10 technical fall at 4:47 in the second round.
Hughes, who was fifth at the Big Ten Championships, ends his season with a 32-9 record, just shy of MSU's single-season wins Top 20 list.
Sophomore 133-pounder Austin Eicher was eliminated Friday morning with a 4-0 decision loss to sixth-seeded Dom Forys of Pittsburgh in the consolation bracket Friday morning.
All three of the Spartans' NCAA qualifiers, Hughes, Eicher and junior Javier Gasca are slated to return to the MSU roster next season, as Michigan State loses only three seniors from head coach Roger Chandler's first season at the helm. The Spartans' 10th-place finish at the Big Ten Championships was their highest since placing 10th at the 2012 Championships. MSU's 38.5 points nearly matches its point total of the last three years combined of 44.5 after 10.5 points in 2016, 12.5 points in 2015 and 21.5 points in 2014.The 38.5 points is also the Spartans' highest point total since 41.5 in 2012, showing the signs of the program's progress in the first year under Chandler.
- MSU Athletic Communications