Michigan State wrestling is set to face challenging opponents in upcoming Big Ten duals. The Spartans will first compete against top-ranked Penn State at University Park, Pennsylvania on Friday, January 10, before returning home to face Maryland at Jenison Field House on Sunday, January 12. The match against Penn State will be nationally televised on the Big Ten Network, while the Maryland dual will stream on B1G+.
Currently holding a 2-1 record in dual meets this season, Michigan State has previously secured victories over American and Ohio but saw their non-conference winning streak halted by Cal State Bakersfield. The Spartans have struggled in recent Big Ten duals with a 2-6 record over the past two seasons but managed upsets against ranked teams Wisconsin and Illinois last year.
Historically, Michigan State has faced challenges against Penn State with an all-time record of 9-25. Their last win against the Nittany Lions occurred in 2005. In contrast, they hold a more favorable series history against Maryland with a 7-3 record since their first meeting in 1968.
Penn State’s lineup features several highly ranked wrestlers according to InterMat rankings, including Mitchell Mesenbrink and Carter Starocci who are both top-ranked in their weight classes. Maryland’s team also boasts competitive wrestlers like Ethen Miller and Seth Nevills who remain undefeated this season.
In preparation for these matches, Michigan State recently competed at the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships where they finished 13th out of 25 teams. Notable performances included Marty Larkin and Max Vanadia who both placed seventh in their respective categories.
Looking ahead, Michigan State will host Buffalo for a non-conference dual next week as they continue their wrestling season at Jenison Field House.
