Wrestling falls to No. 12 Central Michigan, 29-6

MSU junior Franklin Gomez extends his unbeaten streak in the loss

EAST LANSING, Mich., 1/03/09 - Top-ranked Michigan State junior Franklin Gomez extended his season-opening win streak to nine matches, but it wasn't enough to hold off No. 12 Central Michigan at MSU's home opener on Saturday afternoon, as the Spartans (3-2) fell to the Chippewas (5-1), 29-6.

"Franklin makes it look easy," MSU head coach Tom Minkel said. "He's an outstanding wrestler. Franklin is the whole package, and that's why he's number one."

In the 125-pound match, No. 9-ranked Chippewa Scotti Sentes recorded a takedown and earned three near-fall points to give him a 5-0 lead over Spartan redshirt freshman Eric Olanowski at the end of the first period. Another takedown, three more near-fall points and over a minute of riding time gave Sentes the 11-0 major decision victory and gave CMU the early 4-0 lead.

At 133, Gomez defeated No. 13 Conor Beebe of CMU by an 11-4 decision. After taking a 2-1 lead into the second period, Gomez extended his lead to 6-2 after recording a takedown and earning two near-fall points. Another takedown, two more near-fall points and 1:50 of riding time gave Gomez the victory and cut the CMU lead to 4-3.

CMU extended its lead to 10-3 after 141-pound junior Tony D'Alie pinned MSU redshirt freshman Collin Dozier in 6:16. Dozier kept the bout close in the first two periods, but the fall with 44 seconds left in the third gave D'Alie the win.

MSU redshirt freshman David Cheza dropped the 149-pound match to No. 8 Steve Brown by an 11-8 margin. Cheza gave Brown all he could handle in the first period, leaving the bout at a 3-3 tie. Brown recorded a reversal and a takedown, sandwiching a Cheza escape to give Brown a 7-4 lead at the end of two. Cheza recorded two escapes and a takedown in the third, but Brown notched a takedown and an escape of his own to claim victory.

At 157, Chippewa junior Tyler Grayson defeated Spartan sophomore Anthony Jones Jr., 8-4, in overtime. Jones escaped from Grayson in the third to cut the lead to 3-2, then recorded a takedown to take a 4-3 lead with 30 seconds remaining. Grayson escaped from Jones' hold with five seconds left to force overtime. Grayson recorded a takedown and earned two near-fall points in overtime to solidify the win and up CMU's lead to 16-3.

In another battle between ranked opponents, No. 10 Steve Brown defeated No. 16 Rex Kendle by an 11-3 major decision at 165. In the first period, Brown took Kendle down to take the early 2-0 lead. A reversal in the second gave Brown a 4-0 lead. Three takedowns by Brown against just two escapes by Kendle in the third locked up the win for Brown and gave CMU four more points and a 20-3 lead.

At 174, MSU redshirt freshman Ian Hinton fell 2-0 at the hands of No. 10 Mike Miller. After a scoreless first period, Miller escaped from Hinton to give him a 1-0 lead after two. Miller reached over 1:00 of riding time in the third to give him another point and the 2-0 win. The decision gave CMU three more points, extending its lead to 23-3.

MSU junior Nick Palmieri defeated CMU senior Vince DiDona by 8-6 decision at 184 to cut the CMU lead to 23-6. Palmieri notched two takedowns in the first stanza with DiDona escaping twice, giving him the 4-2 lead. DiDona tallied his third escape in the second period, cutting Palmieri's lead to 4-3. The two grapplers exchanged an escape and a takedown in the third, with Palmieri notching the final escape with 52 seconds remaining to give him the 8-6 advantage and the win.

"Nick did a good job," Minkel said. "He's still a little rusty, but today was a good win for him."

CMU 197-pounder Eric Simaz defeated MSU redshirt freshman Tyler Dickenson, 3-1, to give CMU three more points and a 26-6 lead. Simaz took a 2-0 lead midway through the second on a takedown, but Dickenson escaped 30 seconds later to cut that lead in half. Despite a scoreless third, Simaz earned another point from riding advantage, giving him the 3-1 victory.

At heavyweight, MSU junior Alan O'Donnell dropped the final match of the afternoon against CMU redshirt freshman Jarod Trice. A scoreless first led to Trice escaping from O'Donnell to open the second. Trice earned another point from O'Donnell fleeing, giving him a 2-0 lead through two. O'Donnell escaped to open the third, cutting the lead to 2-1, but Trice recorded a takedown to seal the 4-1 win.

The Spartans hit the road after a week off from competition to face West Virginia on Saturday, Jan. 17 and Ohio on Sunday, Jan. 18. Both matches are set for 1 p.m. EST.

MATCH RESULTS
Central Michigan 29, Michigan State 6 (Attendance: 1,899)
125: #9 Scotti Sentes (CMU) major dec. Eric Olanowski (MSU), 11-0; CMU leads, 4-0
133: #1 Franklin Gomez (MSU) dec. #13 Conor Beebe (CMU), 11-4; CMU leads, 4-3
141: Tony D'Alie (CMU) pinned Collin Dozier (MSU), 6:16; CMU leads, 10-3
149: #8 Steve Brown (CMU) dec. David Cheza (MSU), 11-8; CMU leads, 13-3
157: Tyler Grayson (CMU) dec. Anthony Jones Jr. (MSU), 8-4 (OT); CMU leads, 16-3
165: #10 Trevor Stewart (CMU) major dec. #16 Rex Kendle (MSU), 11-3; CMU leads, 20-3
174: #10 Mike Miller (CMU) dec. Ian Hinton (MSU), 2-0; CMU leads, 23-3
184: Nick Palmieri (MSU) dec. Vince DiDona (CMU), 8-6; CMU leads, 23-6
197: Eric Simaz (CMU) dec. Tyler Dickenson (MSU), 3-1; CMU leads, 26-6
HWT: Jarod Trice (CMU) dec. Alan O'Donnell (MSU), 4-1; CMU wins, 29-6