March 5, 2010

2010 Big Ten Championships
March 6 & 7
Crisler Arena • Ann Arbor

Saturday
Session 1 -11 a.m.
Session 2 - 6 p.m.

Sunday
Session 3 - Noon
Finals - 2:05 p.m.
TV: Finals will air live on the Big Ten Network

Coach Tom Minkel Press Conference | Alan O'Donnell Podcast |
Franklin Gomez Podcast

Spartan Wrestling Notes in PDF

Tournament Central, Live Stats

Complete Championship Brackets in PDF

THE 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Michigan State will make the short trip to Ann Arbor for the 2010 Big Championships, which will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Crisler Arena. The Spartans have six wrestlers seeded in the top eight in this year's tournament, including: Franklin Gomez (No. 3, 133), Dan Osterman (No. 7, 141), David Cheza (No. 5, 149), Kyle Bounds (No. 6, 165), Ian Hinton (No. 7, 174) and Alan O'Donnell (No. 8, Hwt.).

THE LAST TIME OUT
MSU fell to No. 13 Indiana, 24-153, in its season finale on Feb. 21. Franklin Gomez, Dan Osterman, David Cheza and Ian Hinton picked up wins for the Spartans.

GOMEZ LOOKING TO JOIN ELITE COMPANY
Senior Franklin Gomez is looking to become just the sixth Spartan to capture at least three Big Ten Championships. With a third Big Ten title, Gomez would join Nick Simmons (2005, 06, 07), David Morgan (1996, 97, 98), Tom Milkovich (1970, 71, 72, 73), Greg Johnson (1970, 71, 72) and Dale Anderson (1966, 67, 68) as the only other Spartans to win at least three Big Ten Championships.

CONTINUING TO SHINE
Franklin Gomez enters this year's Big Ten Championships having won 34 of his last 35 duals, dating back to last season. Gomez is 20-1 on the year and the defending national champion has surrendered just one takedown this year. Fifteen of his wins have been falls, tech. falls or major decisions.

Last season, he defeated Ohio State's Reece Humphrey to claim the national championship. This season Humphrey, a senior, has moved up to 141 pounds where he is currently ranked second in the nation.

Gomez became the 19th different Spartan to claim a National Championship and it was the 25th individual championship in school history. This season, Gomez will look to join Pat Milkovich (1972, 74), Greg Johnson (1970, 71, 72), Dale Anderson (1967, 68), Merle Jennings (1941, 42) and Burl Jennings (1941, 42) as the only other wrestlers in MSU history to capture more than one national title.

CHEZA KEEPS ROLLING
Redshirt sophomore David Cheza currently holds his highest career national ranking this week at No. 11 at 149 pounds and is 10-3 in his last 13 bouts. Cheza's hot streak includes wins over Minnesota's 18th-ranked Mario Mason, a shutout against 20th-ranked Eric Terrazas of Illinois and a 7-3 decision over No. 14 Tony D'Alie of Central Michigan.

Cheza was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week on Jan. 26 after his weekend wins over Mason and Terrazas.