The Spartans ended in eighth-place with 7s3.5 points, MSU's both highest finish and most points under head coach Roger Chandler. The eighth-place finish is also the highest Michigan State finish since 2010 when the Spartans were seventh. The 73.5 points is the most since 92.5 points in 2003 when MSU was third.
"This championship weekend was a huge step forward as a program," MSU head coach Roger Chandler said. "It finally felt for the first time we had all 10 guys battle from start to finish. I talk all the time to the guys about wrestling seven minutes and not giving an inch, and our guys did that and it was on display all weekend. Seeing that we finished just four points out of fifth-place is a pretty good sign that this team has started to find its footing on the national stage."
Chandler noted that this was a full team effort and everyone contributed.
"There are so many things you can point to this weekend, but all in all, great effort and great intensity all weekend. We need to carry this momentum into the nationals as there is unfinished business awaiting us," Chandler said.
Iowa won its second-straight Big Ten title, as well as the Hawkeyes' 37th B1G crown. Four Iowa individual wrestling won titles.
The Spartans had three top four finishers, led by redshirt-junior Rayvon Foley, finishing third at 125, winning the third-place match with an 8-2 decision over Malik Heinselman of Ohio State. It was Foley's highest finish of his three trips to the B1G Championships, after finishing sixth in 2019 and seventh in 2018.
"Rayvon Foley showed he's in top form again and ready to make a deep run in St. Louis," Chandler said.
Redshirt-junior Cameron Caffey was fourth at 197, dropping an 8-3 decision to Jacob Warner of Iowa. Caffey collected his second top fourth finish in a row, after earning runner-up accolades at 184 last season, as well as ninth in 2019.
"Cam Caffey was so close to being in the Big Ten finals on a very questionable call that decided the match. He never held his head and got back to work and put a lot points on the board in the consolation semifinal," Chandler said. "I know Cam is a contender every time he steps on the mat and someone none wants to match up against."
At 157 pounds, freshman Chase Saldate finished fourth in his B1G Championships debut, losing to Minnesota's Brayton Lee by a 6-3 decision.
This weekend, Chase Saldate really demonstrated why he's so special," Chandler said. "He picked up a fall in his opening match and then in the consolation semi-finals defeating a guy he lost to earlier in the year who is a top 5 or 6-ranked guy in the nation. He put the country on notice this weekend that you better not sleep on him."
Redshirt-senior Jake Tucker was sixth at 165, being defeated by Gerrit Nijenhuis of Purdue, but matching his highest of his three appearances, joining his last year's place.
"Jake Tucker really proved to be the savvy, experienced veteran that he is and to keep competing the entire match. He had to beat the number two seed and number seven nationally ranked guy to punch his ticket to NCAA's while losing in the finals seconds and got the fall."
At 184, Layne Malczewski was also sixth, having to medical forfeit to Christophe Weiler of Wisconsin, but still qualified for NCAAs.
"Layne Malczewski came in as the number three seed and competed hard to punch his ticket to his second NCAA Championships in as many tries," Chandler said. "He was able to flip the script as I call it, and defeat a guy he lost to earlier in the season. He's not a guy who you want to go to sleep on, as he's capable of taking out anyone in the country."
Redshirt-freshman Jordan Hamdan was seventh in his first B1G Championships appearance, beating Boo Dryden of Minnesota in a 9-2 decision.
"Jordan Hamdan showed why we have been so high on him and to put it together and qualify for the NCAA's in his first try," Chandler said. "He showed resilience in coming back and beating the guy he lost to in the first round decisively in the placement match."
At 174, redshirt-senior Drew Hughes finished eighth after losing in a 12-3 major decision to Minnesota's Jake Allar, and becomes a four-time national qualifier, the Spartans' first since Nick Simmons (2003-2007).
"Drew Hughes just continues to exemplify that he figures out a way to get it done in the most important moments," Chandler said. "He is now a four-time NCAA qualifier and a guy we have always looked to the past five years to be a leader and set the tone for us."
Seven Spartans are automatically qualified for NCAA Championships in Foley, Hamdan, Saldate, Tucker, Hughes, Malczewski and Caffey. The NCAA are March 18-20 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, with full NCAA field announced Wednesday, March 10, with a full selection show on NCAA.com.
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MSU Eighth, Three Spartan Wrestlers Finish In Top Four At B1G Championships - Michigan State Athletics
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