Wrestling Downs Eastern Michigan, 18-15

Rex Kendle wins the final match to seal the victory for the Spartans

YPSILANTI, Mich., 12/5/08 - The Michigan State wrestling team pulled out a close victory against Eastern Michigan on Friday, Dec. 5, taking a 18-15 victory on the final contest of the night in Ypsilanti. The Spartans (3-1) defeated the Eagles (1-5) for the 10th-straight time, extending their record against EMU to 12-1 all-time.

No. 15-ranked senior Rex Kendle defeated Justin Brandel by 6-1 decision to clinch the victory for the Spartans in the final match of the night. Kendle extended his season record to 16-2, which leads the team in victories.

"It was a very good dual," MSU head coach Tom Minkel said. "Eastern Michigan came out and wrestled very hard. We still had the dual pretty well in hand until Tim Hammer got pinned. After that, it was like they came alive. Fortunately we were able to close out the dual with Rex Kendle. He's one of the few seniors on our team, and he did a great job tonight to help us get the victory."

MSU took an early 3-0 lead when redshirt freshman Curran Jacobs defeated Chris Eggert, 3-0. EMU then took the next two matches, with Spartan redshirt freshmen Ian Hinton and Tyler Dickenson losing by 6-2 and 4-1 decisions, respectively.

The Spartans tied the match at six when junior heavyweight Alan O'Donnell defeated David Wade by 7-2 decision. Redshirt freshman Eric Olanowski won by the same margin against Jordan McGuire, giving the Spartans a 9-6 lead.

No. 2-ranked junior Franklin Gomez then defeated Chris Jenkins, 7-1, to extend the MSU lead to 12-6. Gomez remains unbeaten on the season, moving to 8-0 after the victory.

The tide turned in favor of the Eagles, however, when Corey Phillips defeated redshirt freshman Collin Dozier, 10-9, followed by J.J. Johnson pinning senior Tim Hammer. The back-to-back victories gave EMU a 15-12 lead with two matches to go.

Sophomore Anthony Jones Jr. brought the contest back to a tie after beating Drew Lesko by 11-5 decision. Kendle then defeated Brandel to seal the Spartan victory.

The Spartans will take three weeks off for the holiday break before returning to action on Dec. 29-30 at the Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill.

FINAL RESULTS
174 Curran Jacobs (MSU) dec. Chris Eggert (EMU) 3-0 MSU, 3-0
184 Derek Foore (EMU) dec. Ian Hinton (MSU) 6-2 Tie, 3-3
197 John McClure (EMU) dec. Tyler Dickinson (MSU) 4-1 EMU 6, MSU 3
285 Alan O'Donnell (MSU) dec. David Wade (EMU) 7-2 EMU 6, MSU 6
125 Eric Olawnowski (MSU) dec. Jordan McGuire (EMU) 7-2 MSU 9, EMU 6
133 #2 Franklin Gomez (MSU) dec. Chris Jenkins (EMU) 7-1 MSU 12, EMU 6
141 Corey Phillips (EMU) dec. Collin Dozier (MSU) 10-9 MSU 12, EMU 9
149 J.J. Johnson (EMU) pinned Tim Hammer (MSU) Pin, 3:41 EMU 15, MSU 12
157 Anthony Jones (MSU) dec. Drew Lesko (EMU) 11-5 MSU 15, EMU 15
165 #15 Rex Kendle (MSU) dec. Justin Brandel (EMU) 6-1 MSU 18, EMU 15