Michigan State Hangs Close With #18 Rutgers

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan State wrestling team hung close with No. 18-ranked Rutgers in Big Ten wrestling action on Friday, January 25, falling to the Scarlet Knights by a final tally of 22-20.

With a loss the Spartans' season record drops to 4-6 overall and 1-4 in Big Ten duals. Rutgers improved to 8-4 on the season and is now 2-2 in conference action.

Much like in the Spartans dual against Illinois on January 11, redshirt freshman Brad Wilton started the dual off with a bang at 197 pounds, pinning Matt Correnti at 4:15 to give the Spartans an early 6-0 advantage over the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers brought the overall tally to 6-3 following a lengthy match at heavyweight that required a second round of tiebreaker periods. Redshirt sophomore Christian Rebottaro tied the bout at 1-1 in the third period with an escape to force extra time, but was outlasted by Christian Colucci of Rutgers.

No. 7-ranked 125-pounder Rayvon Foley increased the Spartans lead to 11-3 with a decisive 17-0 tech fall over Shane Metzler. Foley picked up three tilts overall with two four-point near falls, one of which clinched the bout in the third period.

Following Foley's tech fall, Rutgers rattled off five consecutive victories to take a 22-11 lead over the Spartans heading into the 174-pound bout.

At 133 pounds, redshirt junior Logan Griffin made his season dual debut facing No. 5-ranked Nick Suriano of Rutgers. Suriano earned a 22-4 tech fall over Griffin to bring the Scarlet Knights within three points of Michigan State.

Rutgers tied the dual at 11-11 with a 4-2 decision at 141 pounds. Redshirt sophomore Alex Hrisopoulos used a second period escape to tie the bout at 2-2, but two points for Pete Lipari in the third period proved to be the difference.

Michigan State faced their first deficit of the dual following the bout at 149 pounds as No. 2-ranked Anthony Ashnault defeated redshirt freshman Jaden Enriquez by tech fall, 20-4.

The Scarlet Knights were on the winning end of two decisions at 157 and 165 pounds as redshirt sophomore's Jake Tucker and Austin Hiles each lost in close bouts. Tucker scored a first period takedown to take a 2-1 lead over No. 15 John Van Brill, but an escape and a two point tilt in the second gave Van Brill a 4-2 lead over Tucker to close things out.

Hiles trailed 5-3 midway through the third period, but Glasgow earned a late takedown to earn a 7-4 decision.

Redshirt sophomore Drew Hughes got the Spartans back on track at 174 pounds, defeating Joe Grello with a 4-3 decision thanks to riding time. Hughes led 3-1 following the first period.

With the dual locked up in favor of Rutgers at 22-14, redshirt freshman Cameron Caffey was the 184-pound winner by way of medical forfeit.

Michigan State will aim for their second Big Ten victory of the season on Sunday as they take on a Maryland squad that enters the weekend with an 0-6 record in duals. Sunday's action will kick-off at 2:00 p.m. from College Park, Md. Follow along with Sunday's dual on twitter at @wrestlingmsu.

January 25, 2019 // Rutgers Dual // Piscataway, N.J.
Rutgers 22, Michigan State 20
197: Brad Wilton (MSU) over Matt Correntti (RUTG) (Fall 4:15)
285: Christian Colucci (RUTG) over Christian Rebottaro (MSU) (TB-2 4-2)
125: RayVon Foley (MSU) over Shane Metzler (RUTG) (TF 16-0 6:12)
133: Nick Suriano (RUTG) over Logan Griffin (MSU) (TF 22-4 6:39)
141: Pete Lipari (RUTG) over Alex Hrisopoulos (MSU) (Dec 4-2)
149: Anthony Ashnault (RUTG) over Jaden Enriquez (MSU) (TF 20-4 4:45)
157: John Vanschenkbrill (RUTG) over Jake Tucker (MSU) (Dec 4-2)
165: Stephan Glasgow (RUTG) over Austin Hiles (MSU) (Dec 7-4)
174: Drew Hughes (MSU) over Joe Grello (RUTG) (Dec 4-3)
184: Cameron Caffey (MSU) over Willie Scott (RUTG) (Inj. 2:48)

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