Spartans fall to Illinois, now 0-2 in Big Ten

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Following a spirited effort Friday against No. 5 Minnesota, the MSU wrestling team faltered Sunday afternoon against No. 19 Illinois, losing 23-12.

The Spartans led the Golden Gophers for most of the match Friday before dropping a nailbiter, 18-16. Against the Fighting Illini, the Spartans fell behind early and couldn’t quite climb back.

The Illini took an 11-3 advantage before solid efforts by Franklin Gomez, Dan Osterman and David Cheza brought the Spartans to 14-12, but Illinois hung on for the victory.

“Friday we gave everything we had,” MSU head coach Tom Minkel said after Sunday’s match. “(Sunday) we faced a team not as good as Minnesota. We just didn’t do as well, and it’s enormously disappointing.”

The Spartans went up against two of Illinois’ top wrestlers in the first two duals and fell behind 8-0. Senior heavyweight Alan O’Donnell recorded MSU’s first victory with a thunderous takedown in the later stages of the match to take a lead against Marty Smith and bring MSU within 8-3.

After an Illinois victory in the 125-pound class, Gomez, a 133-pound senior, pinned Illinois’ Daryl Thomas, which drew roars from the crowd. The win gave the Spartans six points and marked Gomez’s 28th straight victory dating back to last season. He is 14-0 this year.

Osterman, 141-pound sophomore, put up a fight against No. 11 Ryan Pratter, tying the score at four late in the match with a takedown but lost on a reversal with two seconds remaining. Cheza, a No. 13-ranked 149-pound sophomore, then extended his winning streak to six games by shutting out No. 20 Eric Terrazas and recording an escape to earn a victory and make the score 14-12.

Illinois’ final three wrestlers proved too much for the Spartans to handle, however, as the Illini recorded narrow victories in the remaining weight classes to give Illinois (6-4) the victory.

“We all wrestled pretty flat — we didn’t wrestle as hard as Friday,” O’Donnell said. “It’s a stressful time during the Big Ten season, especially going up against two ranked teams this weekend.”

Despite the defeat, the Spartans managed several close matches in their losses, including showings by Osterman and 165-pound senior Kyle Bounds, who lost by one against Illinois’ Joe Barczak.

Following a 1-7 finish in the Big Ten last season, the Spartans showed signs of improvement during their first weekend, especially in Friday night’s losing effort. MSU mustered a 16-12 advantage with two matches remaining before dropping the final two matches against some of the Gophers’ best wrestlers.

The Fighting Illini featured five wrestlers ranked in the top 20 of their weight class, but the Spartans will need better efforts during the next couple weeks as they continue a brutal Big Ten schedule.

The Spartans (6-3-1) travel Friday to Michigan before visiting No. 1 Iowa on Sunday.

“We’re right there,” Gomez said after Friday’s match. “(Minnesota) was ranked in the top five in the country. … We gave a good effort.”

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