After dropping the 125-pound bout, Michigan State fell into an early 3-0 deficit. The next match was the one many had circled entering the dual: a 133-pound showdown between MSU redshirt sophomore Caleb Weiand, ranked No. 31, and Illinois graduate student Lucas Byrd, ranked No. 1.

Byrd is the defending Big Ten and NCAA champion at 133 pounds, becoming just the 21st Illinois wrestler to win a national title last season. He is also a three-time All-American, making it no surprise that he enters ranked No. 1. Byrd is the first 133-pound wrestler in program history to win a Big Ten championship and holds the seventh-highest career winning percentage in school history, with the remainder of the season still ahead as he continues to add to his legacy at Illinois.

But Weiand entered the match on a strong run, posting a 4-2 record since moving up to the 133-pound weight class, making it a matchup that drew significant attention. Weiand held his own in the opening period, but that success didn’t last long. Byrd took control in the final two periods, showing why he is among the nation’s best, and secured an 8-1 decision that gave Illinois a 6-0 lead through the opening two matches.

Illinois would continue their dominance, holding a 17-0 lead going into the 157-pound matchup where redshirt first-year student Darius Marines took over in the 3rd period and finished the match with an impressive pin, putting up the first points of the night for the Spartans. A late rally to come back and pin his opponent gave life to the crowd, getting them on their feet to celebrate a big result going into the half.

MSU redshirt junior Kael Wisler, ranked No. 28/29, delivered the most impressive performance of the night, erasing two three-point deficits to earn a crucial victory. Trailing 6-3 late, Wisler tied the match at the buzzer to force a tiebreaker, then secured a takedown in the closing seconds to claim three points for the Spartans.

The final heavyweight bout remained scoreless through the first two periods, leaving everything to be decided in the third. Redshirt junior Josh Terrill earned the match’s lone point with an acrobatic roll to escape late, a decisive moment that sealed the victory. Michigan State closed the Big Ten dual with back-to-back wins from Kael Wisler and Terrill, results that did not change the overall outcome but could provide valuable momentum moving forward.

MSU is now gearing up for an Indiana road trip, taking on Purdue on Friday the 23rd and University of Indiana on Sunday the 25th.