Michigan State senior Skyla Schulte walks with her family on Senior Day at Jenison Field House on March 16, 2025. The Spartans won the meet 197.375 to 192.550.
From a historic hockey shutout to NCAA Tournament bids and standout Senior Day performances, Michigan State University athletics had a week to remember.
With winter sports reaching their peak and spring teams kicking off, MSU athletes continue to showcase resilience across the board.
Hockey kept its Big Ten title defense alive, both basketball teams secured NCAA Tournament spots and gymnastics dominated on Senior Day. Meanwhile, track and field, tennis, baseball and softball faced their own highs and lows.
'Watching these teams grind out wins certainly speaks to our culture as Spartans," Assistant AD/Business Development and NIL Strategy Darien Harris said.
Hockey: Historic shutout and title defense continues
MSU hockey blanked Notre Dame 1-0 in the Big Ten semifinals on Saturday, securing a spot in the championship game.
The victory marked MSU’s first postseason shutout since 2013. Meanwhile, goaltender Trey Augustine was named one of five finalists for the AAU Sullivan Award, joining Jeff Lerg (2007) as the only MSU hockey players to receive the honor. No ice hockey player has ever won the award.
MSU will face Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday, March 22, looking to defend its conference title.
"You have to be at your best each and every time you take the course or step on the ice," Executive Senior Associate AD and Communications Matt Larson said. "It’s the beauty of March, but it can also be in some way the cruelty of March."
Men’s basketball: Big Ten Tournament heartbreak, NCAA bid secured
Top-seeded MSU fell to Wisconsin 77-74 in the Big Ten semifinals on Saturday.
The team managed to fight back in the second half after being down, but couldn’t catch the Badgers. Three players made it into double figures despite the loss with freshman guard Jase Richardson racking up 21 points followed by redshirt freshman guard Jeremy Fears with 14 and junior guard Tre Holloman with 10.
On Selection Sunday, MSU secured a No. 2 seed in the South Region and will face No. 15 Bryant in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 21, at 10 p.m.
"Everybody is excited for all of these tournaments that are coming up and to continue supporting our teams and our programs," Harris said. "There’s just a really really upbeat, up-tempo vibe, going on in our department."
Women’s basketball: NCAA Tournament bound
MSU women’s basketball earned a No. 7 seed and will face No. 10 Harvard in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 22. Tip-off time is yet to be determined.
After not playing for a week and having another week between Selection Sunday and the start of the tournament, the Spartans will have not played for two weeks, but head coach Robyn Fralick’s message to the team has been to win the wait, Larson said.
Gymnastics: Dominant Senior Day performance
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
MSU gymnastics dominated its Senior Day meet, defeating Bowling Green 197.475-192.550 in its final home competition.
The Spartans swept all four events and claimed every event title, including the all-around crown.
Junior Nikki Smith stole the show, winning the all-around title, tying for the vault win with senior Gabrielle Stephen, and sharing the bars title with junior Sage Kellerman. Fifth-year senior Giana Kalefe and freshman Cady Duplissis shined on beam, while sophomore Elle Beaufait claimed first on floor.
The Big Ten Championships are set for March 21-22 at Michigan’s Crisler Center. MSU will compete in the final session on March 22 at 5 p.m.
Track and Field: Elle Adrian earns All-American honors
Senior thrower Elle Adrian was MSU’s lone representative at the Indoor Track & Field Championships in Virginia Beach, competing in the weight throw.
She managed to finish 16th and earned All-American honors on the first day. To kick off the meet Adrian threw a 21.03m, her second throw was a 20.26m and on the third and final throw, she matched her first distance.
The Spartans kick off their outdoor season on Friday, March 21, at the USF Alumni Classic.
Men’s tennis: Back-to-back road wins
MSU men’s tennis picked up its first road win of the season on Friday, edging Wisconsin 4-3 in a hard-fought match.
After losing the doubles matches, the team fought through singles, with freshman Mitchell Sheldon delivering the deciding point.
MSU carried its momentum into Sunday, sweeping Nebraska 4-0 for another road victory. After splitting the first two doubles matches, the Spartans claimed the decisive tiebreaker to secure the point.
The Spartans dominated in singles play, winning three straight matches to seal the shutout.
MSU will look to extend its winning streak on the road against Indiana on Saturday, March 22, at 1 p.m.
Women’s tennis: Upset win followed by a tough loss
MSU women’s tennis continued its strong form, defeating Penn State 4-2 on Saturday for its second consecutive upset win.
After splitting the first two doubles matches, MSU narrowly lost the decisive third, forcing them to rally in singles play. Redshirt sophomore Hanna Tsitavets sealed the victory with a clutch singles win.
MSU’s momentum stalled on Sunday as No. 10 Ohio State dominated in a 4-0 sweep in East Lansing.
The Spartans now turn their focus to a West Coast trip, facing No. 18 USC on Saturday, March 22, at 3 p.m.
Baseball: Strong start, rough finish in Iowa City
MSU baseball opened its Big Ten schedule in Iowa City with a three-game series against the Hawkeyes.
The two teams opened with a doubleheader on Friday where the Spartans took home the first game, winning 12-8.
The opener was a tightly contested, 11-inning battle. Iowa rallied late, scoring in the seventh, three times in the eighth and once more in the ninth to force extra innings.
However, the rest of the games, the Spartans did not see the same success they did in the first. The second game ended with the Hawkeyes winning 7-3 and in the third game, the Spartans couldn’t get a single home plate touch and lost in a run-rule shortened game 10-0.
The Spartans return home looking to rebound against Oakland on Wednesday, March 19, at 4 p.m.
Softball: Close battles in Big Ten play
MSU softball opened Big Ten play with a 6-5 loss to Minnesota in Oklahoma City on Thursday but bounced back in a dramatic 13-11 victory in Saturday’s rematch.
Senior Madison Taylor sealed the win with her fourth career save, striking out the final batter in a high-pressure moment.
Riding the momentum from their win over Minnesota, MSU jumped out to a 5-3 lead against Northwestern in Saturday’s second game. However, the Wildcats rallied late to edge the Spartans 8-7.
In Sunday’s rematch, Northwestern controlled the game from start to finish, handing MSU a 9-2 defeat.
MSU will look to regroup at home against Oakland on Tuesday, March 18, at 5 p.m. in Secchia Stadium.
"Regardless of what sport youre watching, when you turn on the television, there’s a good chance the Spartans will be competing," Larson said.
As Michigan State’s winter sports near their climactic finishes and spring teams embark on new challenges, the Spartans continue to embody perseverance and excellence.
Whether it’s historic wins, heartbreaks, or dominant performances, MSU athletes are proving that success comes from grit, determination and an unwavering Spartan spirit.
With conference titles, national tournaments, and individual accolades on the line, the coming weeks promise more unforgettable moments for Michigan State sports.
