The MSU wrestling team is entering its holiday break on a high note after placing fifth out of 28 teams in the Reno Tournament of Champions on Sunday.
The Spartans accrued 66 points and four wrestlers earned individual titles throughout the day’s action. Junior 149-pounder Dan Osterman and senior 165-pounder David Cheza placed third, with both wrestlers going 6-1.
Osterman won his first three matches of the day before falling in a 3-1 decision to Binghamton’s third-seeded Donnie Vinson. However, he was able to rally in the next three to claim the third place title.
A Binghamton wrestler derailed the hopes of another Spartan, fourth-seed senior 157-pounder Anthony Jones, Jr., who made it to the semifinals before dropping a 10-1 major decision against James Lister. Jones would finish fourth in the 157 pound bracket.
A couple of Spartans started off strong, but were unable to continue due to injury. Senior 197-pounder Tyler Dickinson won his first match in a 12-4 major decision over Arizona State’s Luke McPeek before having to forfeit with an injury and junior heavyweight Steve Andrus was forced to forfeit in the fifth round, ending his day with a 4-2 record.
The Spartans will have a couple weeks before returning to the mat against defending national champion Penn State on Jan. 8, 2012 in Battle Creek.
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