Junior Chase Saldate feels out his opponent during a meet against the University of Illinois, held at Jenison Fieldhouse on Feb. 5, 2023. The Spartans fell to the Illini 17-16.
The Michigan State wrestling team’s two highest-ranked Intermat wrestlers have both completed transfers away from East Lansing.
The first wrestler to transfer was team captain and senior Chase Saldate, who announced his transfer to Michigan State's in-state rival, the University of Michigan. The Gilroy, California native qualified for the NCAA Tournament all four times during his time with the Spartans and went on to collect an 82-33 record in his four years.
Saldate finished this past season with a 25-8 record but fell short of expectations in this year's NCAA Tournament. Saldate is expected to continue wrestling in the 157-pound weigh-in, using his final year of NCAA eligibility with the Wolverines.
Senior Caleb Fish followed shortly and announced his commitment to Oklahoma State for his final year of eligibility. Fish, a native of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, served as a starter for the Spartans for the past three seasons and amassed an impressive 83-37 record.
This season, Fish finished with a 27-11 record and went 2-2 in his third NCAA Tournament appearance. Expectations for Fish are to fill the 165-pound weigh-in for the Cowboys, and he will have early competition for the starting position with Wisconsin’s two-time All-American and 165-pound weigh-in Dean Hamiti, who also committed to Oklahoma State through the transfer portal this offseason.
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