Spartans travel to Michigan, No. 1 Iowa in weekend dual matches

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After showing toughness against higher-ranked opponents in its first Big Ten weekend, the MSU wrestling team hopes to follow up its performance by collecting wins this weekend at Michigan and No. 1 Iowa.

The Spartans battled No. 5 Minnesota to the final match, falling 18-16 against the Golden Gophers, then lost Sunday against No. 20 Illinois, 23-12. Still, MSU is hoping to build off the Minnesota performance and bring the same intensity this weekend.

The Spartans (6-3-1) expect hostile road environments, but are embracing the challenge of their first Big Ten road weekend.

“Our dual with (U-M) is a very intense and passionate event,” head coach Tom Minkel said. “There’s just a certain level of competition that rises above that of normal foes or opponents. Part of that is the easy travel for both teams. When you wrestle Michigan, half the crowd is ours, and half the crowd is theirs.

“And part two is that some of the rivalry goes back to high school, and there are some elements of that too.”

U-M marks as the only remaining unranked opponent on the Spartans’ schedule, although the Wolverines still will present challenges.

U-M enters with a 4-9 record, but six of their losses have come against ranked opponents. The Wolverines dropped matches against Iowa and Minnesota, 36-0 and 30-6, respectively, last weekend, but defeated the Spartans, 28-7, last season. Top-ranked Iowa dealt No. 2 Iowa State both of its losses this season and is coming off a 41-6 victory against No. 25 Purdue.

If the atmosphere at U-M seems frightening, Iowa’s home building surely will provide a challenge for MSU as 10,000-plus fans regularly attend the Hawkeyes’ meets in one of the premier wrestling states in the country.

Nevertheless, the Spartans held their own against the Hawkeyes last year, falling 22-15 at Jenison Field House.

“They have a very loyal and vocal following,” Minkel said of the Hawkeyes. “It’s a tough place to compete — they run you very hard.”

The Spartans’ schedule doesn’t get any easier in the coming weeks, as they face No. 11 Central Michigan and No. 25 Purdue next weekend. Their remaining dual meets are against ranked opponents.

No. 1-ranked 133-pound senior Franklin Gomez’s 28-match win streak should receive a test this weekend as Gomez is scheduled to face Iowa’s No. 6 Daniel Dennis, who dealt Gomez one of his two dual losses last season.

Gomez’s win streak dates back to last season’s national championship run and has featured several dominant performances, such as Sunday’s pin against Illinois’ Daryl Thomas.

No. 13 149-pound sophomore David Cheza, who was named Big Ten Co-Wrestler of the Week, also will look to extend his win streak this weekend, which stands at six. Cheza is 17-7 on the season after defeating two ranked opponents during the weekend.

No matter what happens in those weight classes, the Spartans would be happy with two good showings and getting in the win column this weekend.

“Michigan is tough. They’re a rival, and it’s an in-state dual,” 141-pound freshman Dan Osterman said.

“I’m excited. It’ll be a good test, and Iowa’s atmosphere is going to be crazy, and they’re really going to test our team.”

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