In a gripping showdown at Jenison Field House, Michigan State wrestling put up a valiant effort on Senior Night but ultimately fell short against Central Michigan, 19-15. Both teams claimed five matches each, but the decisive moment came at 165 pounds, where Central Michigan secured a pin in overtime.
The Spartans closed out their regular season with a 4-10 record, while Central Michigan improved to 10-6.
The evening kicked off with Nick Corday delivering a strong performance for Michigan State. Corday surged to a 7-0 lead in the first period against Archer Anderson, showcasing his dominance with a takedown and near-fall points. Although Anderson mounted a comeback, Corday held on for a 10-8 victory, thanks to a crucial riding-time point.
Central Michigan quickly leveled the score with Andrew Austin's 9-4 decision over Caleb Weiand at 133 pounds. They then pulled ahead as Nick Blackburn secured a 9-1 major decision over Jace Morgan at 141 pounds, giving CMU a 7-3 lead.
Evan Gosz reignited the Spartans' hopes at 149 pounds, breaking a 1-1 deadlock with a dramatic late takedown against Jimmy Nugent, earning a 4-1 decision.
At 157 pounds, Darius Marines held a slim 7-6 lead heading into the third period. However, a takedown by No. 21 Mason Shrader shifted the momentum, resulting in an 11-7 decision for CMU and a 10-6 lead at intermission.
The pivotal moment of the night came at 165 pounds. DJ Shannon battled Chandler Amaker into overtime, with the score tied at 1. In a tense sudden victory period, Amaker managed to pin Shannon with just 6.7 seconds left, extending CMU's lead to 16-6.
Connor O'Neill, wrestling his final match at Jenison Field House, delivered a gritty 2-0 victory over Cody Brenner at 174 pounds. O'Neill's escape point and riding-time advantage secured the win, narrowing CMU's lead to 16-9.
CMU's Wyatt Ferguson edged out Ryan Boucher at 184 pounds with a 2-1 decision. However, No. 22 Kael Wisler kept MSU in the fight with a 3-2 victory over Luke Cochran at 197 pounds, thanks to a slim riding-time edge in the tiebreakers.
In the heavyweight clash of ranked wrestlers, No. 33 Josh Terrill of Michigan State outlasted No. 29 Bryan Caves, 4-2, providing a strong finish for the Spartans.
Before the match, Michigan State honored its seniors, including Braden Stauffenberg, DJ Shannon, and Connor O'Neill. The Spartans now look ahead to the Big Ten Championships at Penn State on March 7-8.