The MSU wrestling team rebounded from a tough loss last week at Oklahoma State with convincing victories over Division II Findlay (Ohio) and Grand Valley State.
The ninth-ranked Spartans defeated Findlay 45-3, then steamrolled Grand Valley State 42-0.
“This was a chance for some of our veterans to work on some of their skills and a chance for some of our backup kids to get some competition,” head coach Tom Minkel said.
Freshman Nate Mesyn, who wrestles in the 174-pound weight class, said the meet was a good stepping stone for the coming weeks, when the Spartans will face seven ranked opponents.
“It was nice getting a little break and getting a couple of wins in,” he said.
The Spartans next wrestle against No. 5 Illinois at 7:30 p.m. Friday and against archrival and seventh-ranked Michigan at 1 p.m. Sunday. Both meets are at Jenison Field House.
Men’s swimming
It was a break-even weekend in two home meets for the MSU men’s swimming and diving team at IM Sports-West.
The Spartans fell to Purdue 172-128 on Friday, but rebounded to defeat Oakland 140-98 on Saturday.
Sophomore Joe Brennan had two first-place finishes during the weekend, finishing first in the 1,000-meter freestyle against Purdue and in the 200-meter freestyle against Oakland, according to MSU’s Sports Information Department.
Junior Scott Shafer also took home two first-place finishes, winning the 200-meter freestyle event against Purdue and the 100-meter freestyle competition against Oakland.
Junior diver Mike McKee finished first in the three-meter dive against Purdue and first in the one-meter dive against Oakland.
The next action for the Spartans is Feb. 3 against archrival Michigan at IM Sports-West.
Women’s swimming
In its last home meet of the season, the MSU women’s swimming and diving team defeated Oakland 137-106 at IM Sports-West.
In the 200-meter butterfly, junior Ildiko Szekely broke the McCaffree Pool record with a time of 2:02.86, according to sports information.
Other first-place finishers for the Spartans were sophomore Katie Duncombe in the 200-meter backstroke and sophomore Heather Wellings in the 200 breaststroke.
The Spartans will swim against Penn State today in State College, Pa.
Women’s gymnastics
MSU defeated Massachusetts 192.75-185.65 on Saturday at Jenison Field House to improve its record to 1-2.
First-place finishers for the Spartans were senior Elisabeth Forshier on the vault with a score of 9.7, senior Melissa Green on the uneven bars with a score of 9.825, sophomore Julie Devaty on the balance beam with a career-high mark of 9.7, and junior Jane McIntosh on the floor exercise with a score of 9.775, according to sports information.
MSU’s next meet will be against Illinois at 7 p.m. Saturday at Jenison Field House.
Men’s track
The Spartans had three top finishers at the Red Simmons Invitational held in Ann Arbor on Saturday.
The invitational was a nonscoring meet between MSU, Michigan, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green.
The highlight for the Spartans was a record-setting pole vault by senior Paul Terek.
Terek finished first in the pole vaulting competition by breaking his own school record with a vault of 17’ 8”, according to sports information.
Other first-place finishers were sophomore Steve Manz in the shot put and sophomore Andy Lixey in the 600-meter run.
The Spartans’ next action is the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 2-3 in South Bend, Ind.
Women’s track
Also at the Red Simmons Invitational, sophomore Sherita Williams highlighted the Spartan women’s performance with two first-place finishes.
Williams finished first in the long jump with a jump of 5.80 meters and first in the triple jump with a final tally of 12.40 meters, according to sports information.
MSU will next head to South Bend, Ind. on Friday to compete in the Notre Dame dual meet.
Women’s tennis
The Spartans opened up their season Saturday at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility with a 6-1 victory over Toledo.
Senior Natasha Skogerboe led MSU at No. 1 singles with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Toledo’s Monica Ribero. Skogerboe also teamed with sophomore Mollie Hood for a victory in the No. 1 doubles match, according to sports information.
The Spartans will next face Western Michigan on Saturday in Kalamazoo.
Men’s tennis
The Spartans recorded two shutouts at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility on Saturday, defeating Toledo and Wright State by final scores of 7-0, according to sports information.
Sophomore Goran Topalo won both his matches at No. 1 singles Saturday.
The Spartans will next face off against Tulane at noon Friday at home.
