Note of the Weekend
Leading the way — Michigan State senior David Morgan leads the Spartans into the 1998 Cliff Keen/NWCA Wrestling Duals. Morgan, the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the nation at 118 pounds, is unbeaten at 22-0 this season. He won all four tournaments in which Michigan State participated and is 3-0 thus far in the dual meet season. The two-time All-America boasts third-place and fifth-place finishes at the last two NCAA meets and has hopes for a national championship this year. Where Morgan stands among MSU’s all-time best:

Career Victories          
T6. David Morgan, 107           
Best Career Winning Pct. 
6. David Morgan, .922 (107-9)
Best Season Record
4. David Morgan, 22-0-0

Five More Notes No Media Person Should Be Without
1. New addition — Michigan State receives a boost this weekend with the addition of freshman Matt Lamb in the heavyweight position. Lamb, a mid-year transfer from Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College, is expected to make an immediate impact with the Spartans.

In MSU’s first three dual meets, it was forced to forfeit the heavyweight position due to a knee injury to returning starter Marco Sanchez. The addition of Lamb gives head coach Tom Minkel an experienced, skilled wrestler at that weight. Lamb, who joined the U.S. Navy out of high school, finished second in the Greco-Roman Senior National Championships last year and was third in the Greco-Roman U.S. World Team trials.

2. Last year at the NWCA Meet — The Spartans enter this weekend looking to improve upon their 4-2 record and fifth-place finish at last year’s NWCA Wrestling Duals in Lincoln, Nebraska. Michigan State defeated Pitt-Johnstown, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Clarion at last year’s event while falling to Oklahoma State and Big Ten rival Minnesota. David Morgan is MSU’s top returning performer from last year, when he finished with a 4-2 record. Will Hill returns after a 3-1 showing at 167 last year, while Isaac Miller (134) and Greg DeGrand (158) both won multiple matches in 1997. Nick Muzashvili was 1-0 at 190 at last year’s event.

3. Youth contributing — Michigan State has three redshirt freshmen in its probable lineup. Pat McNamara (126 pounds) and Nick Curry (142 pounds) have been particularly impressive to this point in the season. McNamara, a high school state champion in Minnesota, enters this weekend with a 13-4 record, including three pins (4-2 vs. Big Ten opponents). Curry, who went to the same high school as former Michigan State All-American Brian Picklo, has posted an 11-10 record at 142 pounds.

4. Out of the shadows — Sophomore Nick Muzashvili saw limited action behind All-America Brian Picklo last year, but the former USSR Junior Champion is Michigan State’s starter at 190 pounds this year. Muzashvili, who moved to Unadilla, N.Y. before his senior year of high school, has a 9-8 record this season.

5. Strong juniors — Two of MSU’s top records behind David Morgan belong to juniors Isaac Miller (134 pounds) and Greg DeGrand (158). Miller is 14-7 this season (4-4 vs. Big Ten), while DeGrand is 18-7 (8-2 vs. Big Ten).

PROBABLE LINEUP
118 David Morgan Sr., Ferndale, Mich.
126 Pat McNamara Fr., Jordan, Minn.
134 Isaac Miller Jr., Flint, Mich.
142 Nick Curry Fr., Saginaw, Mich.
150 David Hughes So., Lake Hopatcong, N.J.
158 Greg DeGrand Jr., Ann Arbor, Mich.
167 Will Hill So., Indianapolis, Ind.
177 James Brimm Fr., Evansville, Ind.
190 Nick Muzashvili So., Unadilla, N.Y.
HWT Matt Lamb Fr., Pensacola, Fla.

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