Spartan Wrestling Downs Buffalo
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan State wrestling team continued its strong start to the 2018-19 campaign on Wednesday, November 28, defeating Buffalo by a final score of 23-12 in the first dual meet of the season. MSU won six bouts, three of which earned the Spartans bonus points.
Michigan State started the evening strong as sophomore Rayvon Foley remained undefeated on the season by earning a 10-2 major decision over Kyle Akins. Foley, who is currently ranked No. 10 at 125 pounds by InterMat, previously defeated Akins, 8-6, in the Spartans' dual against the Bulls last season.
Redshirt senior Anthony Tutolo was narrowly defeated by Derek Spann at 133 pounds despite a lopsided 11-5 tally. The bout between Tutolo and Spann was tied at 5-5 heading into the final 30 seconds, but a takedown and a four-point near fall secured victory for Buffalo with just 16 seconds left in the third period.
MSU rattled off a pair of wins at 141 and 149 pounds to take a 10-3 lead over the Bulls. Redshirt sophomore Alex Hrisopoulos and redshirt freshman Jaden Enriquez earned decisions over John Arceri and Jason Eztevez respectively. Enriquez scored a takedown on Estevez with 18 seconds left in the third period to earn three points for the Spartans.
Buffalo claimed victory at 157 to narrow Michigan State's lead to 10-6, but the Spartans bounced back in a big way by winning at 165, 174 and 184. Redshirt junior Logan Ritchie secured three points for MSU by scoring four points in the third period of his 9-5 defeat of Noah Grover. At 174, redshirt sophomore Drew Hughes got the crowed on its feet by pinning Jake Lanning in 32 seconds.
Redshirt freshman Cameron Caffey secured more bonus points for Michigan State being earning a major decision (14-3) over Logan Rill at 184. Caffey, who entered Wednesday's dual ranked No. 15 by InterMat, continued his unbeaten start to the season at 9-0.
Buffalo rounded out the dual by earning points at 197 and 285.
Bout-By-Bout
125: Rayvon Foley (MSU) major dec. Kyle Akins (UB), 10-2
Foley scored two takedowns in the first period, but allowed one escape to Akins to take a 4-1 lead into the second period. Akins escaped from the down position to start the second, but Foley secured a third takedown before time expired. The third period was all Foley as he earned an escape and a fourth takedown of the bout.
133: Derek Spann (UB) dec. Anthony Tutolo (MSU), 11-5
Tutolo and Spann each earned takedowns in the first period, but an escape from Spann gave him a 3-2 lead heading into the second. Tutolo tied the bout with an escape from the down position in the second. Spann returned the favor by escaping to start the third, but was met by a takedown from Tutolo who took a 5-4 lead. Spann escaped Tutolo's takedown to tie things up at 5-5. With 24 seconds remaining in the bout, Spann scored a takedown and a four-point near fall to win 11-5.
141: Alex Hrisopoulos (MSU) dec. John Arceri (UB), 7-3
Arceri opened up an early 2-0 lead over Hrisopoulos just 20 seconds into the bout, but Hrisopoulos earned an escape and takedown to lead 3-2 heading towards what turned into a scoreless second period. In the third, Hrisopoulos escaped from the down position and earned a takedown to lead 6-2. After an escape from Arceri and riding time, Hrisopoulos won 7-3.
149: Jaden Enriquez (MSU) dec. Jason Estevez (UB), 7-6
In a back-and-forth bout, both wrestlers secured takedowns and escapes in the first period. Enriquez escaped twice in the second to keep the score tied at 5-5 heading into the third. Estevez escaped to start the third, but Enriquez earned a takedown with 18 seconds remaining to score a decision for the Spartans.
157: Alex Smythe (UB) dec. Jake Tucker (MSU), 5-4
Tucker scored the only two points of the first two periods on a takedown late in the first. Smythe cut into Tucker's 3-2 lead with a takedown in the third, but an escape from Tucker tied things back up. A penalty and a takedown in favor of Smythe in the third gave him the 5-4 win.
165: Logan Ritchie (MSU) dec. Noah Grover (UB), 9-5
Ritchie took Grover down twice in the first period to open up a 4-2 lead heading into the second period. Grover held a 3-1 advantage in the second period to tie the match up at 5-all heading into the third. Ritchie took over in the third scoring an escape, a takedown and riding time to take the bout 9-5.
174: Drew Hughes (MSU) def. Jake Lanning (UB), fall (:32)
Hughes wasted no time, pinning Lanning in 32 seconds to earn six points for Michigan State.
184: Cameron Caffey (MSU) major dec. Logan Rill (UB), 12-4
Caffey scored early and often for MSU, earning two takedowns in the first period. In the second, Caffey took Rill down twice more and allowed a lone escape. Caffey earned two more points for a takedown, one for stalling and another for riding time in the third.
197: Sam Schuyler (UB) dec. Nick May (MSU), 8-2
Nick May struck first earning a takedown 43 seconds into the bout, but the rest was all Schuyler who scored eight consecutive points. Schuyler earned five points in the third period with two takedowns and a penalty against May.
285: Jake Gunnig (UB) dec. Christian Rebottaro (MSU), 7-4
Gunnig took Rebottaro down midway through the first period, but Rebottaro tied things up heading into the second with an escape and a face call against Gunnig. Rebottaro took a narrow 3-2 lead with an early escape in the second, but was later taken down by Gunnig. Gunnig earned a point via penalty and another takedown in the third period to secure the bout.
Michigan State 23, Buffalo 12
125: Rayvon Foley (MSU) major dec. Kyle Akins (UB), 10-2; MSU leads, 4-0
133: Derek Spann (UB) dec. Anthony Tutolo (MSU), 11-5; MSU leads, 4-3
141: Alex Hrisopoulos (MSU) dec. John Arceri (UB), 7-3; MSU leads, 7-3
149: Jaden Enriquez (MSU) dec. Jason Estevez (UB), 7-6; MSU leads, 10-3
157: Alex Smythe (UB) dec. Jake Tucker (MSU), 5-4; MSU leads, 10-6
165: Logan Ritchie (MSU) dec. Noah Grover (UB), 9-5; MSU leads, 13-6
174: Drew Hughes (MSU) fall (:32) Jake Lanning (UB); MSU leads, 19-6
184: Cameron Caffey (MSU) major dec. Logan Rill (UB), 12-4; MSU leads, 23-6
197: Sam Schuyler (UB) dec. Nick May (MSU), 8-2; MSU leads, 23-9
285: Jake Gunnig (UB) dec. Christian Rebottaro (MSU), 7-4; MSU leads, 23-12
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