The 15th-ranked Nebraska wrestling squad capped of its weekend trip to the Great Lakes State with a dominating 35-6 victory against Michigan State in East Lansing Sunday afternoon.
The Huskers (8-4, 6-2) won eight of the 10 matches against the Spartans (5-9, 1-7), including five by way of bonus points.
Nebraska sophomore David Jensen made his return to the lineup at heavyweight, following an ankle injury that sidelined him for the past four duals. Jensen kicked off the scoring for the Huskers with a 6-1 decision in the opening match of the dual.
After Michigan State tied the team score with a decision of its own at 125 pounds, Nebraska built an early lead with back-to-back pin falls at 133 and 141 pounds.
True freshman No. 19 Jason Renteria, who has struggled with weight issues throughout the season, improved his record to 4-1 after he pinned Logan Griffin of Michigan State in 1:29.
Redshirt freshman No. 14 Chad Red Jr. earned his fifth pin fall of the season, sticking Javier Gasca’s back to the mat in 4:46.
Nebraska continued its string of wins at 149 pounds, as sophomore Collin Purinton picked up his first dual win of the season. Purinton, who was a starter for the Huskers last season, made just his third dual appearance on Sunday. He defeated Austin Eicher by decision 14-8 to give Nebraska an 18-3 lead prior to the intermission.
Following the halftime break, junior Tyler Berger, ranked eighth at 157 pounds for the Huskers, scored Nebraska’s third pin fall of the day, pinning Michigan State’s Jake Tucker in 4:23.
The bonus-point victories continued for the Huskers at 165 pounds. Sophomore transfer Isaiah White, ranked No. 12 in his weight class for Nebraska, defeated Austin Hiles by major decision 14-6. White’s major decision victory was his fourth of the season.
Michigan State got back on the board at 174 pounds, as sophomore Logan Ritchie defeated redshirt freshman Beau Breske by decision 8-3.
The Huskers extended their lead after yet another bonus-point victory at 184 pounds. Redshirt freshman No. 7 Taylor Venz defeated Shwan Shadaia by major decision, 11-1.
The victory was Venz’s 18th of the season and 13th by way of bonus points, four more than the next closest starter. Senior Colton McCrystal (149) has nine bonus point victories this season.
Fresh off an upset victory against No. 11 Kevin Beazley of Michigan on Friday, Nebraska redshirt freshman Eric Schultz continued his quest to break into the InterMat rankings with a 9-6 decision against Nick May in the final match of the dual.
Schultz is 14-6 on the season, with four losses against opponents ranked inside the top 10 of the InterMat rankings.
Nebraska continues its four-dual road stint with its final Big Ten dual on Feb. 9 against No. 20 Wisconsin at 7 p.m.
Match Results
HWT: David Jensen (NEB) dec. Christian Rebottaro (MSU), 6-1 (NEB 3, MSU 0)
125: Rayvon Foley (MSU) dec. Mitchell Maginnis (NEB), 6-3 (NEB 3, MSU 3)
133: #19 Jason Renteria (NEB) pin Logan Griffin (MSU), 1:29 (NEB 9, MSU 3)
141: #14 Chad Red Jr. (NEB) pin Javier Gasca (MSU), 4:46 (NEB 15, MSU 3)
149: Collin Purinton (NEB) dec. Austin Eicher (MSU), 14-8 (NEB 18, MSU 3)
157: #8 Tyler Berger (NEB) pin Jake Tucker (MSU), 4:23 (NEB 24, MSU 3)
165: #12 Isaiah White (NEB) major dec. Austin Hiles (MSU), 14-6 (NEB 28, MSU 3)
174: Logan Ritchie (MSU) dec. Beau Breske (NEB), 8-3 (NEB 28, MSU 6)
184: #7 Taylor Venz (NEB) major dec. Shwan Shadaia (MSU), 11-1 (NEB 32, MSU 6)
197: Eric Schultz (NEB) dec. Nick May (MSU), 9-6 (NEB 35, MSU 6)
