The MSU wrestling team's six-match homestand began with a bang as they turned in two impressive performances against top-25 opponents over the weekend.
The No. 18 Spartans (5-5 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) exacted some revenge on the No. 21 Badgers (9-2, 1-2) 22-13 Friday, and upset the 5th-ranked Sooners (11-6) 24-14 on Sunday. Last season, the Spartans lost to Wisconsin 21-19 and Oklahoma 38-3.
The weekend's action marked MSU's eighth and ninth matches against top-25 competition. And head coach Tom Minkel wouldn't have it any other way.
"It's far more satisfying to beat teams of this caliber," he said. "We want to build championship teams and with that comes facing championship caliber competition."
The victories were even sweeter for senior Karl Nadolsky who became the 13th Spartan to amass 100 career victories with two wins over the weekend.
"That was one of the long-term goals I set for myself," he said. "And it's just that much better coming against Oklahoma. Every time we've gone against them, they've taken it to us."
Fellow senior Gray Maynard moved within five victories of 100 with his two wins.
MSU now finds itself in a tie with Penn State for fifth place in the conference. There is a four-way tie of undefeated teams in first place.
It's not often a team has a lead in a match without even hitting the mat.
But the Spartans went into Sunday's contest with a 6-0 lead due to a forfeit in the 197-pound match, which brought senior Nik Fekete's current winning streak to eight matches. In Friday's match against Wisconsin, Fekete dominated his opponent winning 22-7 and picking up a technical fall.
"The streak feels good right now," he said. "I just have to keep the ball rolling until the end of the season and, hopefully into the NCAA's."
The victories also allowed MSU to climb back to .500 at home, after two early season setbacks to then-No. 13 Central Michigan and last month to then-No. 25 Kent State.
After reaching the century mark in victories, Nadolsky also voiced his thoughts on the team's tough schedule.
"We probably have the toughest schedule in the country," he said. "In the end, it can only help us become better individually and as a team. Hopefully it pays off this year."
