Wrestling defeats Ohio University to earn weekend sweep

MSU senior Rex Kendle earns an 11-0 major decision to help boost the Spartans

ATHENS, Ohio, 1/16/09 - The Michigan State wrestling team defeated Ohio, 26-6, on Sunday (Jan. 18) to complete a weekend sweep. The Spartans (5-2) rattled off four wins in a row after dropping the first bout of the afternoon, which proved to be enough to hold off the Bobcats (5-5-1). MSU defeated West Virginia on Saturday, 25-15.

"It was a very satisfying weekend," said MSU head coach Tom Minkel. "Ohio wrestled us very tough. I was very pleased that we accomplished some of the goals that we've been stressing over the last two weeks. It was validation of what Chris (Williams), Roger (Chandler) and I have been coaching."

MSU redshirt freshman Collin Dozier (Virginia Beach, Va.) lost a 5-2 decision to Germane Lindsey at 141 pounds to give Ohio its only lead of the day, a 3-0 margin.

Four straight Spartan wins put MSU back on top for good. Redshirt freshman David Cheza (Grand Blanc, Mich.) followed Dozier's loss with a 7-1 win at 149 over Ohio's Kevin Christensen to draw the teams even at 3. Anthony Jones Jr. (Highland Park, Mich.) then defeated Ohio's Clay Tucker, 4-2, to give MSU its first lead of the day.

Three takedowns and three near fall points helped give 165-pound senior Rex Kendle (Edwardsburg, Mich.) the Spartans' biggest win of the day, an 11-0 major decision win over Chris Kline. Redshirt freshman Ian Hinton (Nappanee, Ind.) followed with a 4-2 decision over Nick Purdue to give MSU a 13-3 lead.

Despite battling back from an early deficit to force an overtime period, MSU senior Nick Palmieri (Highland Heights, Ohio) lost a 7-5 sudden victory decision to Erik Schuth at 184. Following suit, Spartan 197-pounder Tyler Dickenson (Pewamo, Mich.) took Chris Iammarino into an extra period as well. Dickenson, however, recorded a takedown in overtime to earn the 3-1 decision.

MSU junior heavyweight Alan O'Donnell (Lakewood, Mich.) extended the team's lead, beating Ohio's Andy Hartshorn, 6-3. The win gave the Spartans a 19-6 lead and clinched the MSU victory with two bouts remaining.

Redshirt freshman Eric Olanowski (Virginia Beach, Va.) earned three more points for the Green and White at 125, defeating Ohio's Tim Silvers, 7-3, to extend the lead to 22-6.

The afternoon's competition concluded with top-ranked 133-pounder Franklin Gomez (Brandon, Fla.) earning his second major decision victory of the weekend, 10-2, over Ohio's Quentin Keyes. The junior is now 11-0 this season after recording his fourth major decision of the 2008-09 campaign.

The Spartans will open Big Ten competition when they travel to Northwestern on Friday, Jan. 23, and Minnesota on Sunday, Jan. 25.

Final Results
141 Germane Lindsey (OU) dec. Collin Dozier (MSU), 5 - 2; OU leads, 3-0
149 David Cheza (MSU) dec. Kevin Christensen (OU), 7 - 1; Tied, 3-3
157 Anthony Jones (MSU) dec. Clay Tucker (OU), 4 - 2; MSU leads, 6-3
165 Rex Kendle (MSU) maj. dec. Chris Kline (OU), 11 - 0; MSU leads, 10-3
174 Ian Hinton (MSU) dec. Nick Purdue (OU), 4 - 2; MSU leads, 13-3
184 Erik Schuth (OU) dec. Nick Palmieri (MSU), 7 - 5 (OT); MSU leads, 13-6
197 Tyler Dickenson (MSU) dec. Christopher Iammarino (OU), 3 - 1 (OT); MSU leads, 16-6
285 Alan O'Donnell (MSU) dec. Andy Hartshorn (OU), 6 - 3; MSU leads, 19-6
125 Eric Olanowski (MSU) dec. Tim Silvers (OU), 7 - 3; MSU leads, 22-6
133 #1 Franklin Gomez (MSU) maj. dec. Quentin Keyes (OU), 10 - 2; MSU wins, 26-6