Lansing Sun

Michigan State's wrestling team faced a challenging match against Indiana on Friday night at Jenison Field House, resulting in a 35-3 defeat. Despite the loss, redshirt freshman Clayton Jones III secured a decision victory for the Spartans.

The outcome leaves Michigan State with an overall record of 3-4 and 0-3 in Big Ten duals this season. Meanwhile, Indiana improved to 6-2 overall and holds a 2-2 record in conference play. The Spartans are set to compete again on Sunday, January 26, when they host Nebraska.

The evening began with a close contest at the 125-pound weight class. Redshirt freshman Caleb Weiand led initially but ultimately lost to Jacob Moran from Indiana after Moran executed a decisive takedown near the end of the match.

Indiana gained momentum with wins at both the 133 and 141-pound bouts before Jones achieved his victory against Aidan Torres at 149 pounds. Jones used strategic moves throughout the match to maintain his lead and secure Michigan State's sole win of the night.

Subsequent matches were closely contested but ended unfavorably for Michigan State. At 165 pounds, Jay Nivison nearly upset Tyler Lillard but was pinned during sudden victory overtime. Ceasar Garza also held an early lead over Derek Gilcher at 174 pounds but was defeated following a late maneuver by Gilcher.

A notable matchup occurred at the 197-pound class between two ranked wrestlers: Gage Sollars from Indiana and Remy Cotton from Michigan State. Despite Cotton's initial advantage, Sollars claimed victory through tactical scoring and riding time points.

Indiana earned additional bonus points in other weight classes, contributing to their comprehensive win over Michigan State.