Lansing Sun

Michigan State University's wrestling team is set to begin its 2024-25 season with a dual meet against American University in Washington, D.C. The match will take place on Saturday, November 2, at 1:00 p.m. and will be available for streaming on ESPN+. Head coach Roger Chandler expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming season, stating, "Looking forward to watching this team get into their first dual of the year and seeing how they have grown in competition since last season."

This event marks Michigan State's first opening-season dual since the 2015-16 season. The Spartans have faced American University twice in recent years, securing victories both times.

The probable lineup for Michigan State includes wrestlers across various weight classes such as Caleb Weiand at 125 pounds and Tristan Lujan or Andy Hampton at 133 pounds. Notably, Lujan is an NCAA qualifier returning for another season alongside other key wrestlers like Braden Stauffenberg and DJ Shannon.

American University enters the dual under the guidance of head coach Jason Borrelli. The team has shown consistent performance with eight dual wins in consecutive seasons. Wrestler Maximilian Leete stands out as a previous EIWA Championships placer and NCAA Tournament participant.

The last meeting between these teams occurred on January 5, 2024, when Michigan State won with a score of 28-12. Key matches included Maximillian Leete's victory over Andy Hampton and Jack Maida's win against Tristan Lujan.

Following this weekend's matchup, Michigan State will host the annual MSU Open next weekend in East Lansing.