A generous amount of Michigan State and Illinois wrestling fans packed the Jenison Field House for some Sunday afternoon entertainment. They were treated to an entertaining wrestling match, one that ultimately went to the Illini in a narrow fashion.
Starting out the day with the 125 pound weigh-in was Spartan junior Benny Gomez (7-5) on the year, matching up against Fighting Illini redshirt freshman Maximo Renteria (3-9). Both repeatedly sized each other up for the first minute, waiting for an opening to attack. Both grappled and held for the majority of the duration, but no points were gained by either side of the mat in the first two minutes.
Still anyone’s period, Gomez pulled a unique move on Renteria, but to no avail. Renteria was able to escape in a quick spiral.
Finding an opening, Renteria was able to put the Fighting Illini up 2-1. Ultimately, Renteria’s speed and agility around the mat lead to his 4-2 win over Gomez, putting the Fighting Illini up 3-0.
Next for 133 was Spartan graduate student Ravyon Foley (11-6) against Fighting Illini redshirt junior Lucas Byrd (20-3). Byrd started his lead 2-0 in the first two minutes, soon lengthening it to 4-0 in their first period of brawl.
Going into their third period, Foley trailed Byrd’s 5-0 lead, looking for a way to respond.
Byrd eventually took the matchup, ending with 6-1 lead, putting the Fighting Illini up 6-0.
Up next on the mat was the 141 bout, which included Spartan redshirt junior Jordan Hamdan (20-9) and Fighting Illini redshirt freshman Danny Pucino (13-5). Pucino didn’t hesitate to get busy. Moreover, Pucino was able to grab a hold of Hamdan’s leg, controlling the match indefinitely for the better half of 10 seconds. As a result Pucino went up 2-1.
In the blink of an eye, Pucino lengthened his lead 8-1, and thereafter 15-4 going into their third period of wrestling. A high-scoring round, Pucino finished up 23-8.
For the 149, Spartan redshirt junior Petyon Omania (13-8) met Fighting Illini redshirt freshman Jake Harrier (4-12). A bit of standstill ensued between these two, until Omania was able to show up on the board with a fundamental slam to the mat, going up 2-1. Harrier responded with a lock move that earned him two points, to take a 3-2 lead. His sophomore campaign continued on with a series of moves his teammates enjoyed from the end of the mat, now up 6-3 going into the third period.
Then, there was a turn of events. Omania responded with three points of his own, tying up the match in a firm green-and-white knot to which the crowd audibly approved. The call was soon overturned, sending Omania back down two points, trailing 6-4. It was crucial to the outcome of this matchup, to which Harrier finished on top 8-4.
The Spartans were yet to get on the board going into the 157 weight with MSU junior Chase Saldate (19-4) and Fighting Illini sixth year Mike Carr (3-0). It was 0-0 going into their second period, with a lot of time to spare.
Talk about an evenly matched battle, both these two wouldn’t give. In the start of the third, points were still yet to be scored. Saldate was then able to exert some control, up 2-0 in the last duration of the third period.
Saldate was able to give the Spartans their first win on the day, bringing them within nine points.
After the break, 165 pounders Caleb Fish and Danny Braunagel entered the mat. Braunagel, a Fighting Illini Senior who’s 17-7, was first on the board, up 2-0. Fish, a Spartan junior who's 21-6, was quick to respond, shortening the lead to 2-1. Fish then continued his efforts with much success; administering an 8-2 lead over Braunagel going into the third period of their matchup.
The period had the fans in a cheering frenzy, with Fish winning 12-4 over Braunagel. The Spartans increased their comeback story, but still trailed 14-7.
For 174, Spartan freshman Ceasar Garza (13-8) battled with Fighting Illini redshirt sophomore Edmond Ruth (22-2).
With a slam to the mat, Ruth went up 4-1 in the first minute, adding two more points within the last minute of the first period. Garza responded with three points of his own, but still trailed an agile and skilled Ruth. Nonetheless, Ruth’s lead started to disappear, as Garza put up two more points in this period, only trailing 7-5.
Ruth started to escape; adding to his lead, eventually winning 12-7. The Fighting Illini's lead was down to 17-7.
Next up for 184, Spartan redshirt senior Layne Malczewski (18-3) and Fighting Illini redshirt freshman Dylan Connell (16-11). It was yet another scoreless standstill on the day, 0-0 in the first period.
Eventually breaking this drought was Malczewski, up 1-0 in the start of the second period. It stayed that way until their final buzzer.
The Spartans still trailed 17-10 after Malczewski’s win.
Coming up on the last to weigh-ins for the afternoon, at 197 Spartans graduate student and fan favorite Cameron Caffey (15-3) against Fighting Illini redshirt junior Zac Braunagel (19-3). Braunagel did a great job defending Caffey’s attacks, contributing to his 2-1 lead over Caffey going into the second period. All tied up now, Caffey looked to break through the threshold. For their third period, both Caffey and Braunagel pushed the pace and went into third gear. Braunagel went up 3-2 as the crowd waited for Caffey to respond.
With 30 seconds left, Caffey went on an absolute point spree. The Spartan graduate student showed the crowd how much wrestling experience he really had, winning the match 6-4 in the last leg of the third period. There’s a reason why Caffey is the fan favorite, and why little kids ask for his autograph after the matches. This win is definitely one of many.
Head Wrestling Coach Roger Chandler had a few words on Caffey’s performance.
“He can be the best wrestler in the nation in his weight class at times," Chandler said. "He needs to learn to open, and compete what you saw that last 30 seconds because that Cam Caffey, nobody can wrestle with him, that's how good he is. That's what we keep trying to pull out of him.”
With the score at 17-13 now, the Fighting Illini had to buckle up.
For the last matchup, the 285 pound finale, Spartan graduate student Ryan Vasbinder (14-11) took on fighting Illini redshirt senior Matt Wroblewski (10-13). No points scored in the first period, Vasbinder went up 1-0 in the start of the second. Then in the third period, yelling filled Jenison Field House.
Vasbinder repeatedly looked for an opening in the last 20 seconds. He left the matchup with a 1-0 win.
Michigan State fell to 8-6 on the season and will be back in action Friday night in East Lansing versus Indiana at 6:30 p.m.
