“I said, ‘Danny you’re the best in the country, you’re the best in the country,” freshman Sean McMurray said.

The encouragement from the freshman proved prophetic as Osterman stunned Terrazas 3-2, recapturing the lead for MSU — a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

“Danny’s one of the hardest workers on the team, one of the best kids you’ll ever meet, involved in his church, really good grades, he’s pure student-athlete,” McMurray said. “He’s the perfect model for Spartan wrestling.”

After Osterman’s dramatic win, it was the freshman’s turn to take the mat. McMurray found himself in a tough matchup with Illini freshman Jackson Morse (18-8). As both lay entwined on the ground struggling for an advantage, McMurray summoned the strength for the day’s signature highlight, a pin that netted MSU six points and a commanding 7-point lead.

McMurray said the pin had special meaning for him.

“My brother’s about to leave for another tour in Iraq and he actually made it here today,” McMurray said. “It’s the first time he saw me wrestle in the Spartan singlet and I got it done, so it meant a lot to me and my family.”

McMurray was supposed to redshirt this year, but after an injury to junior David Cheza he was called upon, and according to head coach Tom Minkel “has stepped up in a big way.”

“Sean’s a terrific addition to our program and it starts with the fact that he’s an outstanding rusher and an outstanding competitor,” Minkel said. “He’s very, very serious about what he does and he gives you everything he has every minute, but he’s also a team guy and he made a huge contribution to the team today.”

For the freshman, all the talk after the match wasn’t about his pin, but about how important his teammates are to everything he does.

“I feel like (the key to my success) is my teammates behind me”, McMurray said. You go out there and it’s just you and another guy, but you go out-of-bounds and you look over and you got a bunch of guys on their feet clapping, yelling, screaming and cheering for you. It was really a team effort, it wasn’t just one person.”

Taking down one of the top teams in the Big Ten was certainly a collective effort with six Spartans winning duals, including victories over No. 14 Terrazas and No. 18 Tony Dallago. But on this day a humble true freshman ignited a furious Spartan comeback, netting MSU their first Big Ten win and potentially signature victory of the season.