Michigan-Michigan State match up kicks off action packed weekend

Michigan Grappler

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WEEKEND COLLEGE PREVIEW

FEATURED MATCH - #12 Michigan vs Michigan State
Friday 1/24, Cliff Keen Arena, Ann Arbor, 7pm

Anytime that Michigan and MSU meet up in anything it is significant, and while most experts would agree that the Wolverines are the heavy favorites coming in off their emotional win over #2 Minnesota last weekend, you still have to expect a dogfight when rivals meet.

Coon-McClure
The match of the night will once again feature True Freshman Adam Coon, coming off his heroic win over 2x NCAA Champ Tony Nelson of Minnesota last Sunday, Coon will now square off with another giant in Mike McClure of MSU. McClure is the #9 285lber in the country and will provide yet another big test for the diaper dandy Coon, who is yet to lose in his college career.

In-State presence
While Michigan and Michigan State have both excelled in pulling in big name out-of-state guys over the last decade, this year's dual remains mostly an in-state show with 14 of the 20 projected wrestlers hailing from the Glove. Youtsey-Lyon, Yates-Nash, Zeerip-Nash, Heald-McDiarmid, and Coon-McClure are all Michigan on Michigan matchups. Surprisingly enough, none of them have much of a history with each other worth mentioning.

Projected Matchups
125 - Conor Youtsey (Michigan) vs Brenan Lyon (MSU)
133 - Rossi Bruno (Michigan) vs Garth Yenter (MSU)
141 - #14 Steve Dutton (MIchigan) vs Brian Gibbs (MSU)
149 - #7 Eric Grajales (MIchigan) vs Nick Trimble (MSU)
157 - #14 Brian Murphy (Michigan) vs Roger Wildmo (MSU)
165 - #7 Dan Yates (Michigan) vs Bobby Nash (MSU)
174 - Collin Zeerip (Michigan) vs Kevin Nash (MSU)
184 - Domenic Abounader (Michigan) vs #18 John Rizgallah (MSU)
197 - Chris Heald (Michigan) vs Nick McDiaramid (MSU)
285 - #1 Adam Coon (Michigan) vs #9 Mike McClure (MSU)

The Rundown
Michigan's lightweights are going to be too much for the Spartans and will likely put this dual away, however, there are some potentially good matchups up top and if Sparty can pull out a few tough ones, the final score could be closer than many would expect.

125-165 should be all Michigan, with some potential bonus points at a few spots. 174-285 are all toss-up matches that could probably go either way, with MSU favored at 184 & 197.

The silver lining for Michigan State could be the opportunity to knock off Adam Coon. McClure has been one of the elite heavyweights for the past few years in the country, and as a 5th year senior monster athlete heavyweight, he will not be afraid to step in the circle with the hot freshman and get after it.

WHAT ELSE TO WATCH FOR....

Michigan State vs #15 Illinois
Sunday 1/26, Jenison Fieldhouse, East Lansing, 2pm

Matches to Watch:
165- Jackson Morse (ILL) vs Bobby Nash (MSU) - Lowell native Morse has been rolling this year, currently ranked 12th, and will be back in his homestate for the first time this season.
184 - John Rizgallah (MSU) vs Nikko Reyes (ILL) - Rizgallah, ranked #18, is having another strong season and while Reyes in unranked, the former California State Champ is no slouch and will provide a great style matchup with Rizgallah.

Central Michigan vs Kent State
Sunday, 1/26, Kent, OH, 2pm

Matches to Watch
133 - Joe Roth CMU) vs Mack McGuire (KSU) - The Flashes have ranked grapplers in nearly ever weight, so the Chipps will need to knock a few off to win this dual and this is one they need and will be counting on #15 Roth to take out #20 McGuire.

157 - Luke Smith (CMU) vs Ian Miller (KSU) - Smith has been hot as of late with two nice wins last weekend including a dominant win over Spartak Chino of Ohio. He will face a big test Sunday with #7 Miller and if he can pull of the upset it will likely seal the Flashes' fate.