With a 2-1 record thus far, the Spartan wrestlers are not only in good shape for this season, they have four junior college national champion transfer students hoping to lead the way.

Arsen Aleksanyan, Rashad Evans, Anton Hall and Ryan L’Amoreaux have provided the Spartans with valuable depth.

MSU head coach Tom Minkel said the Spartans don’t recruit just anybody, they look for potential.

“You have to know they can compete at the national level,” Minkel said. “All four of them have proven to be very successful at this level.”

Hall, a transfer from Muskegon Community College won the title in 2001 at the 165-pound weight class. He and Evans knew each other before they put on the green and white.

The two met in the finals of the Junior College National Championships in 2000, with Evans picking up the slim victory, 5-3.

“I was just beating everyone and then I wrestled Anton, and he beat me,” Evans said. “Then I had to wrestle him in the finals - and I beat him.”

When Hall won the title the following year, both men were ready to test the competition that Division I had to offer.

“Every match here is just like the finals match for me,” Hall said. “The level of intensity is higher.”

L’Amoreaux jumped at the chance to join MSU’s varsity team after winning a national championship in 2001.

“After I won, I was in shock and numb for two hours,” L’Amoreaux said. “It’s not every day your dreams come true.”