“I don’t always judge a team based on wins and losses,” Chandler said. “It’s about effort and execution and how they grow throughout the season. We’ve come a long way. Our guys have learned how to compete at the highest levels, and with a team this young and inexperienced—probably the most inexperienced team I’ve ever had — I’m proud of them for persevering.”

MSU started strong, securing early victories. At 125 pounds, Caleb Weiand controlled his match against Michigan’s Christian Tanefeu, winning 5-0 to give the Spartans an early 3-0 lead. At 133 pounds, Andy Hampton pulled off a thrilling comeback against Dylan Ragusin, securing a crucial takedown reversal in the final 30 seconds to win 3-2 after an official review overturned Ragusin’s takedown.

Michigan responded quickly. No. 12-ranked Sergio Lemley (141 lbs.) secured the Wolverines’ first points, pinning Jaden Crumpler at 6:14 in the third period to tie the score at 6-6.

Michigan took the lead at 149 pounds, as No. 24 Dylan Gilcher earned a 4-1 decision over Clayton Jones. A battle of former Mishawaka High School teammates, Gilcher's late takedown sealed the win.

Braden Stauffenberg kept MSU in contention, tying the score at 9-9 at intermission with a 6-1 win over Zar Walker at 157 pounds.

Out of the break, Michigan seized control. No. 10 Beau Mantanona (165 lbs.) dominated Jay Nivision in a 12-3 major decision, putting the Wolverines ahead 13-9. MSU’s Ceasar Garza (174 lbs.) provided a spark with a thrilling 4-1 sudden-victory win over Connor Owens, using a single-leg takedown in overtime to bring the Spartans within one at 13-12.

However, Michigan sealed the dual with victories in the final three weight classes. 184-pounder Jaden Bullock (No. 26) defeated Luke Daly 5-3, extending Michigan’s lead to 16-12.

The pivotal moment came at 197 pounds when No. 4 Jacob Cardenas won by injury default after MSU’s Remy Cotton was pulled due to concussion protocol. Cotton was evaluated after a collision at 1:32 in the first period, and trainers deemed it unsafe for him to continue. Michigan gained six points, widening the gap to 22-12.

“I just went into concussion protocol, and out of safety for him, the doctors decided it probably wasn’t best for him to continue,” Chandler said. “We’ve got the most important part of the season coming up — the postseason — so they decided to hold him out.”

No. 8 Josh Heindselman (285 lbs.) finished the dual with a dominant 9-2 performance over No. 33 Max Vanadia, finalizing Michigan’s 27-12 victory.

Despite finishing winless in the Big Ten, the team remains optimistic as they prepare for its upcoming match against Central Michigan and the Big Ten Championships.

“Every guy has their own individual issues technically, but I think we’re getting the effort out of this team now that we wanted to see at the early part of the year,” Chandler said. “They carried over Friday night’s match from Rutgers to this, and we’re in a good spot as far as growth.”

One of the night’s highlights was Ceasar Garza’s redemption win over Connor Owens in sudden victory overtime, avenging an earlier loss at the Midlands Championships.

"We talk a lot about flipping the script," Chandler said. "He faced some of the same things he saw the first time and was able to adjust. The biggest thing I was most proud of was that he went out there, shot, and scored with his offense."

MSU will hit the road to close out its regular season against Central Michigan on Friday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. before turning its attention to the Big Ten Championships, where Chandler hopes his young squad can make crucial strides toward postseason success.