“We've wrestled some of the best teams,” Chandler said. “With us having a young team, we're figuring out how to compete at the highest levels.”

Stewart, a Northville, Michigan native, embodied the fight Chandler referenced. He defeated Nebraska’s Scott Robertson 13-10 in a hard-fought bout that extended into extra time. After two periods, Stewart held an 8-7 lead, but a late takedown from Robertson in the third put Nebraska ahead 10-9. With only seconds remaining, Stewart escaped for a crucial point to force the match into overtime, tied at 10.

In overtime, Stewart wasted no time, securing the winning takedown in just 10 seconds.

Chandler commended the freshman for earning his first dual victory as a Spartan.

“Mason's a true freshman and we've seen signs of life from him in the practice room. It was just time to give him an opportunity, and he took full advantage of it,” Chandler said. “To go into a Big Ten dual as a true freshman and get a win, that just shows you the kind of kid he is.”

Two ranked Spartans performed well but ultimately fell short on Sunday. Twenty-third-ranked Remy Cotton faced off against Nebraska’s 26th-ranked Camden McDaniel in the 197-pound weight class. Cotton kept the bout competitive but surrendered two late takedowns, giving McDaniel the victory.

33 rank Max Vanadia faced a similar fate in the heavyweight class. He kept the match scoreless through nearly two full periods, but Nebraska’s Harley Andrews broke through in the third, securing the win with two takedowns.

Five freshmen took the mat for the Spartans on Sunday, showcasing the team’s youth. Despite the challenges, Chandler expressed pride in the team’s progress this season.

“Compared from two weeks ago to now, you can see the fight. As long as we fight through matches and make progress with technique we’ll be alright,” Chandler said. “There's signs of life here. If you stick with these guys, you’re going to see the fruits of their labor.”

Up next, the Spartans host the Clarion Golden Eagles, who hold a 3-9 overall record and a 2-4 mark in conference play. For Michigan State, this dual serves as a final tune-up before their demanding conference schedule, which includes matchups against Northwestern, Wisconsin, Rutgers, and Michigan in February, leading up to the Big Ten Championships.

Michigan State will host Clarion on Friday, Feb. 2, at Jenison Field House. The dual is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.