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The MSU wrestling team fell 23-15 to No. 4 Minnesota Friday night at Jenison Field House in its Big Ten opener.

The Spartans took the defending national champions down to the wire,
trailing 17-15 heading into the final match.

After a back and fourth first period, Minnesota’s Manuel River, No. 4 nationally in the 141-pound weight class, took control of the match in the second period against freshman Micah Carter and pinned him with 56 seconds remaining to seal the win for the Golden Gophers.

In the night’s most anticipated match, No. 5 sophomore Franklin Gomez defeated No. 2 Mack Reiter 7-4 in the 133-pound weight class.

“Well, you know Minnesota is the defending national champions, they’re ranked fourth in the country — they’re a hell of a program. And we won five of the ten matches,” MSU head coach Tom Minkel said. “For us that’s a significant step in the progress we’re trying to make.”

The Spartans next wrestle Purdue at 1 p.m. Sunday at Jenison.

Published on Friday, January 25, 2008