Jan. 18, 1998

Spartan Grapplers Claim Fourth at National Team Duals

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State upset three teams on its way to a fourth-place finish at this weekend’s Cliff Keen/NWCA National Wrestling Duals in Iowa City, Iowa. The Spartans were the only unseeded team to finish among the top five teams and improved upon last year’s fifth-place finish.

Saturday night, the Spartans fell to No. 1 seed and eventual champion Minnesota, 31-7, with senior David Morgan (118 pounds) and freshman Pat McNamara (126) earning victories for MSU. Both Morgan, who improved to 27-0 on the year, and McNamara finished the weekend with perfect 5-0 individual records.

Michigan State moved on to face seventh-seeded Nebraska Sunday morning and defeated the Cornhuskers, 23-18. The Spartans opened up a 13-0 lead in the first three matches and also won at 150 pounds (Cory Posey), 158 (Greg DeGrand) and 167 (Will Hill). The Spartans lost the final three bouts, but hung on to win, 23-18.

Sunday afternoon’s third-place match with No. 3 Penn State featured a rematch of last weekend’s dual match in State College, Pa., which Penn State won. The Nittany Lions again claimed victory, 26-10, despite MSU wins by Morgan, McNamara and Nick Muzashvili.

Michigan State (4-4 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) returns to action Saturday, Jan. 24, at Northwestern.

MSU RESULTS (3-2)
First round: Michigan State 19, #4 Oklahoma 12
Second round: Michigan State 27, #5 Arizona State 9
Semifinals: #1 Minnesota 31, Michigan State 7
Consolation Semifinals: Michigan State 23, #7 Nebraska 18

TOP 8 TEAM STANDINGS (seed)
1. Minnesota (1)
2. Iowa (2)
3. Penn State (3)
4. Michigan State
5. Nebraska (7)
6. West Virginia
7. Arizona State (5)
8. Oklahoma (4)

Third-Place Match: #3 Penn State 26, Michigan State 10
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
118 David Morgan 5-0
126 Pat McNamara 5-0
134 Isaac Miller 2-3
142 Nick Curry 2-3
150 Cory Posey 1-4
158 Greg DeGrand 3-2
167 Will Hill 3-2
177 James Brimm 0-5
190 Nick Muzashvili 3-2
HWT Matt Lamb 0-5

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