Redshirt sophomores Noah Gonser (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc), and Zac Carson (Akron, Ohio-Lake), and redshirt senior Gage Hutchison (Buchanan, Mich.-Buchanan) all had 2-0 days to lead Eastern, including pins from both Gonser and Carson in the MSU bout, which proved to be the difference maker in the final team score.
Eastern Michigan 12, Clarion 18
Eastern Michigan began the afternoon with a tightly contested, 18-12, setback at the hands of Clarion (10-6, 4-2 EWL). EMU won four matches, as all 10 bouts resulted in decisions, including one sudden victory for CU.
To start the dual, EMU dropped the 125 pounds match in a thrilling triple overtime bout. After going back-and-forth the entire match, Clarion's wrestler secured a decisive takedown in sudden victory number two.
EMU answered back at 133 lbs. with Gonser. He led 2-0 after one with an early takedown. He picked up a stalling point into the third and held on in the neutral position in the third to get Eastern on the board with the 3-0 decision. Clarion retook the lead at 141 lbs. as their undefeated nationally ranked grappler won by 9-5 decision, putting it at 6-3 after three.
The Eagles looked they were going to spring ahead at 149 lbs. as redshirt senior Kyle Springer (New Boston, Mich.-Davenport Assumption (Indiana)) put on another clinic, racking up the points on his way to a 16-6 lead into the third period. Clarion's wrestler battled back though, getting a bunch of near fall points in the third, to take the match, 22-17, and extend Clarion's lead to 9-3 in the dual.
After a late takedown at 157 lbs. pushed Eastern Michigan's deficit to 12-3, Carson got the Eagles back on track. Using a pair of first-period takedowns and a third period escape, Carson won his fifth straight match with a 5-2 decision at 165 lbs.
Clarion's lead grew to 15-6 with a back-and-forth 12-9 decision at 174 lbs, but redshirt junior Kayne MacCallum (Green Oaks, Ill.-Libertyville) bounced back with a win at 184 lbs. Fighting off shots, MacCallum made the most of his own, yielding just one escape en route to a 6-1 decision.
A third-period rally by redshirt junior Derek Hillman (Woodhaven, Mich.-Woodhaven) fell short in the 197 lbs. match, putting the dual out of reach, 18-9, with the heavyweight bout to go.
Redshirt senior and No. 21-ranked Gage Hutchison (Buchanan, Mich.-Buchanan) got to work quickly in the final bout, jumping out to a 7-2 lead as he overpowered Clarion true freshman Toby Cahill through the first two periods. Cahill worked for an escape in the third, but Hutchison responded with a takedown with 30 seconds remaining. Tacking on a riding point after having racked up nearly three minutes on top, Hutchison wrapped up a 10-3 decision as EMU dropped the dual, 18-12.
Eastern Michigan 21, Michigan State 19
Eastern Michigan spoiled Senior Day for Michigan State, using a pair of pins to knock off the Spartans, 21-19. EMU and MSU split the bouts 5-5, but falls at 133 lbs. and 165 lbs. gave Eastern the win.
Gonser picked up his second win of the day at 133 lbs. Controlling the match from the start, he turned what looked to be a decision into a pin in the third period, just his second of the season and first in dual action this year, to put EMU in front, 6-5. The win completed his dual record at 8-6 for the season.
Michigan State reclaimed the lead with back-to-back decisions at 141 lbs. and 149 lbs. and a technical fall at 157 lbs., to make the score 16-6 with five bouts in the books.
Eastern Michigan came out of the break with a bang as Carson registered his fourth fall of the season. After racking up near fall points, Carson flipped MSU's Austin Hiles to his back and held him for the pin at 165 lbs. The win cut Michigan State's lead to 16-12 heading into the 174 lbs. match. The win completed Carson's dual season at a sterling 12-4, as he moved to 19-10 on the season with his sixth straight victory.
Redshirt sophomore Andrew McNally (Uniontown, Ohio-Lake) cut into the Spartans lead even more, using a two-point near fall in the second period to secure an 8-5 decision. McNally's 16th win of the season pulled EMU within one, 16-15, with three bouts to go.
MSU regained control of the team score at 184 lbs., 19-15, but redshirt junior Derek Hillman (Woodhaven, Mich.-Woodhaven) battled at 197 lbs. to once again bring EMU within one, 19-18. Racking up riding time, Hillman took a 2-1 lead into the second period. Despite extending his lead in the second, a third-period rally by MSU's Nick May evened the score at five apiece. Ultimately, it was Hillman's early riding time that proved to be the difference, as he took the match by decision, 6-5.
In the decisive match with the dual on the line, a stalling call gave Michigan State's Christian Rebottaro a 1-0 lead into the third. Beginning the final period in the down position with riding time in his favor, Hutchison escaped almost immediately to even the score at one. From there, the Buchanan, Mich. native fought off shot after shot to take the match, 2-1, and give EMU a 21-19 come-from-behind dual win. The win capped Hutchison's dual career, as he finished 17-6 (11-3) on the season, and his career dual mark at 39-21.
With the dual season complete, Eastern Michigan turns its sights toward the Mid-American Conference Championships, March 3-4, in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Eastern Michigan 12, Clarion 18
125: Gavin Park (Clarion) over Tomas Gutierrez (EMU) (SV-2 8-6)
133: Noah Gonser (EMU) over Roshaun Cooley (Clarion) (Dec 3-0)
141: No. 5 Brock Zacherl (Clarion) over Sa'Derian Perry (EMU) (Dec 9-5)
149: Taylor Ortz (Clarion) over No. 29 Kyle Springer (EMU) (Dec 22-17)
157: Mac Tanner (Clarion) over J.J. Wolfe (EMU) (Dec 5-4)
165: Zac Carson (EMU) over Max Wohlabaugh (Clarion) (Dec 5-2)
174: Dom Rigous (Clarion) over Andrew McNally (EMU) (Dec 12-9)
184: Kayne MacCallum (EMU) dec. Taylor Cahill (Clarion) (Dec 6-1)
197: Dustin Conti (Clarion) over Derek Hillman (EMU) (Dec 9-5)
HWT: No. 21 Gage Hutchison (EMU) over Toby Cahill (Clarion) (Dec 10-3)
Eastern Michigan 21, Michigan State 19
125: No. 17 Rayvon Foley over Tomas Gutierrez (EMU) (TF 19-3)
133: Noah Gonser (EMU) over Logan Griffin (MSU) (Fall 6:45)
141: No. 23 Javier Gasca (MSU) over Sa'Derian Perry (EMU) (Dec 5-2)
149: Austin Eicher (MSU) over No. 29 Kyle Springer (EMU) (Dec 7-0)
157: Jake Tucker (MSU) over J.J. Wolfe (EMU) (TF 19-4)
165: Zac Carson (EMU) over Austin Hiles (MSU) (Fall 4:29)
174: Andrew McNally (EMU) over Logan Ritchie (MSU) (Dec 9-5)
184: Shwan Snadaia (MSU) over Kayne MacCallum (EMU) (Dec 13-8)
197: Derek Hillman (EMU) over Nick May (MSU) (Dec 6-5)
HWT: No. 21 Gage Hutchison (EMU) over Christian Rebottaro (MSU) (Dec 2-1)
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