Wisconsin Badgers
Michigan State Open
Four Badgers claim crowns at Michigan State Open
November 11, 2023 | Wrestling
Badgers see 22 wrestlers compete in East Lansing
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Wisconsin wrestling's bus to the 2023 Michigan State Open was full as the 19th-ranked Badgers saw 22 wrestlers compete on Saturday in the tournament.
Held at Jenisen Field House in East Lansing, Michigan, Wisconsin had four wrestlers claim crowns in their weight classes, while 10 earned places on the podium overall.
In the Freshman/Sophomore division, sophomore Nicolar Rivera finished first with a 4-0 record at 133 pounds. He defeated teammate and true freshman Zan Fugitt for the title in a close 10-6 decision to cap the day. Fellow true freshman Luke Condon dominated his weight class at 174. Condon was undefeated on the day with three victories by tech fall and one pin. He sealed his first-place honor with a 20-3 tech fall over Rollie Denker of Michigan State.
Freshman Royce Nilo (157) and sophomore Michael Talshahar (197) both placed fifth to finish on the podium in the first major tournament action of the year.
True to form, Wisconsin's two returning double All-Americans both secured crowns in East Lansing. Eric Barnett finished 3-0 at 125, clinching a 5-3 decision in a hard-fought title match with a reversal in the closing seconds against Central Michigan's Sean Spidle. Teammate Dean Hamiti was a force of destruction on the mat, finishing 4-0 with as many bonus-point wins. Hamiti earned two pins, a major decision and then a 15-0 tech fall to win the title against the home team's Caleb Fish.
Joseph Zargo, ranked No. 15, advanced to the tournament's 149-pound final and the UW junior finished second overall with a 3-1 record. Zargo was down 5-3 in the second period against Central Michigan's 13th-ranked Corbyn Munson, but Munson turned him for the pin at 5:32 to win the match. Zargo earned two decisions, including a 2-1 victory over Oklahoma's 17th-ranked Willie McDougald, and a major decision earlier in the day in his new weight class after competing at 141 for the Badgers the past two seasons.
Teammates Cody Goebel (157) and Shane Liegel (184) both finished on the podium, placing 4th and 6th respectively in their brackets.
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Lineup & Results
Freshman/Sophomore Division
Zan Fugitt - 133 pounds - 3-1 - 2nd Place
Champ. Round 1: Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin) over Brady Vogt (Grand Valley State) • TF 17-1 4:37
Quarterfinal: Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin) over Mason Feudale (Grand Valley State) • TF 17-1 3:42
Semifinal: Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin) over Andrew Austin (Central Michigan) • Dec 6-4
1st Place Match: Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) over Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin) • Dec 10-6
Simon Kruse - 133 pounds - 0-2
Champ. Round 1: Simon Kruse (Wisconsin) • Bye
Quarterfinal: Jaden Crumpler (Michigan State) over Simon Kruse (Wisconsin) • TF 18-2 4:46
Cons. Round 2: Collin Twigg (Grand Valley State) over Simon Kruse (Wisconsin) • Maj 13-1
Nicolar Rivera - 133 pounds - 4-0 - 1st Place
Champ. Round 1: Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) over Lane Huizar (Grand Valley State) • TF 15-0 2:30
Quarterfinal: Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) over Luis Bazan (Northwestern) • Maj 12-4
Semifinal: Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) over Jaden Crumpler (Michigan State) • TF 15-0 3:55
1st Place Match: Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) over Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin) • Dec 10-6
Felix Lettini - 141 pounds - 1-2
Champ. Round 1: Kellan Aure (Central Michigan) over Felix Lettini (Wisconsin) • Maj 9-1
Cons. Round 1: Felix Lettini (Wisconsin) • Bye
Cons. Round 2: Felix Lettini (Wisconsin) over Lucas Nagle (Davenport ) • Fall 2:57
Cons. Round 3: Jak Keller (Grand Valley State) over Felix Lettini (Wisconsin) • SV-1 11-8
Danny Sheen - 149 pounds - 0-2
Champ. Round 1: Danny Sheen (Wisconsin) • Bye
Quarterfinal: Louden Stradling (Central Michigan) over Danny Sheen (Wisconsin) • Dec 4-3
Cons. Round 2: Collin Arch (Northern Illinois) over Danny Sheen (Wisconsin) • MFF
Royce Nilo - 157 pounds - 3-2 - 5th Place
Champ. Round 1: Royce Nilo (Wisconsin) over Brett Smith (Northern Illinois) • Dec 4-2
Quarterfinal: Royce Nilo (Wisconsin) over Maclain Morency (Grand Valley State) • Maj 10-1
Semifinal: Jacob Bostelman (Northwestern) over Royce Nilo (Wisconsin) • Dec 4-2
Cons. Semi: Brett Smith (Northern Illinois) over Royce Nilo (Wisconsin) • Maj 8-0
5th Place Match: Royce Nilo (Wisconsin) over Zachary Jacobs (Albion College) • TF 17-0 4:23
Luke Condon - 174 pounds - 4-0 - 1st Place
Champ. Round 1: Luke Condon (Wisconsin) over Brayden Bobo (Grand Valley State) • TF 18-1 3:30
Quarterfinal: Luke Condon (Wisconsin) over Tanner Reed (Findlay) • Fall 1:58
Semifinal: Luke Condon (Wisconsin) over Connor Owens (Michigan) • TF 27-8 5:57
1st Place Match: Lucas Condon (Wisconsin) over Rollie Denker (Michigan State) • TF 20-3 4:45
Michael Talshahar - 197 pounds - 3-2 - 5th Place
Champ. Round 1: Michael Talshahar (Wisconsin) over Evan Wakefield (Davenport ) • Fall 1:01
Quarterfinal: Demond Harrison (Albion College) over Michael Talshahar (Wisconsin) • Dec 4-2
Cons. Round 2: Michael Talshahar (Wisconsin) • Bye
Cons. Round 3: Michael Talshahar (Wisconsin) over Andrew Ward (UofM Club Wrestling) • Fall 2:19
Cons. Semi: Sean Carroll (Northern Illinois) over Michael Tal-Shahar (Wisconsin) • SV-1 4-1
5th Place Match: Michael Tal-Shahar (Wisconsin) over Jase Grundy (Mott CC) • TF 20-3 5:15
Open Division
#5 Eric Barnett - 125 pounds - 3-0 - 1st Place
Quarterfinal: #5 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) over Christian Tanefeu (Michigan) • Dec 5-0
Semifinal: #5 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) over Drew Heethuis (Princeton) • Dec 11-6
1st Place Match: #5 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) over Sean Spidle (Central Michigan) • Dec 5-3
Aidan Medora - 149 pounds - 2-2
Champ. Round 1: Aidan Medora (Wisconsin) over Brody Kemper (Unattached) • Fall 1:39
Quarterfinal: Corbyn Munson (Central Michigan) over Aidan Medora (Wisconsin) • Dec 8-1
Cons. Round 2: Aidan Medora (Wisconsin) over Mason Kleinberg (Findlay) • Dec 7-6
Cons. Round 3: Samuel Cartella (Northwestern) over Aidan Medora (Wisconsin) • Dec 10-3
#15 Joseph Zargo - 149 pounds - 3-1 - 2nd Place
Champ. Round 1: #15 Joseph Zargo (Wisconsin) over Samuel Cartella (Northwestern) • Dec 13-7
Quarterfinal: #15 Joseph Zargo (Wisconsin) over Trenton Wachter (Central Michigan) • Maj 15-6
Semifinal: #15 Joseph Zargo (Wisconsin) over #17 Willie McDougald (Oklahoma) • Dec 2-1
1st Place Match: #13 Corbyn Munson (Central Michigan) over #15 Joseph Zargo (Wisconsin) • Fall 5:32
Cody Goebel - 157 pounds - 4-2 - 4th Place
Champ. Round 1: John Wiley (Oklahoma) over Cody Goebel (Wisconsin) • TF 21-4 5:42
Cons. Round 1: Cody Goebel (Wisconsin) over Kavan Troy (Northern Illinois) • Dec 13-7
Cons. Round 2: Cody Goebel (Wisconsin) over Alec Rees (Northern Illinois) • Dec 2-0
Cons. Round 3: Cody Goebel (Wisconsin) over Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) • Fall 3:39
Cons. Semi: Cody Goebel (Wisconsin) over John Wiley (Oklahoma) • MFF
3rd Place Match: Zack Mattin (Michigan) over Cody Goebel (Wisconsin) • Dec 9-3
Luke Mechler - 157 pounds - 2-2
Champ. Round 1: Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) over Jared Hill (Oklahoma) • Dec 5-4
Quarterfinal: Zack Mattin (Michigan) over Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) • Dec 5-1
Cons. Round 2: Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) over Aiden Smith (Northern Illinois) • Fall 5:55
Cons. Round 3: Cody Goebel (Wisconsin) over Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) • Fall 3:39
Gavin Model - 157 pounds - 1-2
Champ. Round 1: Gavin Model (Wisconsin) over Caden Jacobs (Grand Valley State) • Fall 0:00*
Quarterfinal: Johnny Lovett (Central Michigan) over Gavin Model (Wisconsin) • Dec 3-1
Cons. Round 2: Jared Hill (Oklahoma) over Gavin Model (Wisconsin) • Dec 8-2
* time of this pin not available due to technical issue at tournament
Graham Calhoun - 165 pounds - 0-2
Champ. Round 1: Mannix Morgan (Oklahoma) over Graham Calhoun (Wisconsin) • Dec 10-9
Cons. Round 1: Jake Evans (Northern Illinois) over Graham Calhoun (Wisconsin) • SV-1 5-2
#4 Dean Hamiti - 165 pounds - 4-0 - 1st Place
Champ. Round 1: #4 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) over Tyler Swiderski (Central Michigan) • Fall 2:21
Quarterfinal: #4 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) over Beau Mantanona (Michigan) • Fall 1:47
Semifinal: #4 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) over Cael Carlson (Oklahoma) • Maj 11-1
1st Place Match: #4 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) over Caleb Fish (Michigan State) • TF 15-0 5:50
Cale Anderson - 174 pounds - 2-2
Champ. Round 1: Cale Anderson (Wisconsin) • Bye
Champ. Round 2: Cale Anderson (Wisconsin) over Ricardo Salinas (Northern Illinois) • Maj 11-2
Quarterfinal: #17 Alex Cramer (Central Michigan) over Cale Anderson (Wisconsin) • Dec 8-7
Cons. Round 4: Cale Anderson (Wisconsin) over Joshua Knudten (Michigan) • Dec 14-13
Cons. Round 5: Ceasar Garza (Michigan State) over Cale Anderson (Wisconsin) • Dec 9-2
Josh Otto - 174 pounds - 1-2
Champ. Round 1: Josh Otto (Wisconsin) • Bye
Champ. Round 2: Tate Picklo (Oklahoma) over Josh Otto (Wisconsin) • Dec 9-4
Cons. Round 2: Josh Otto (Wisconsin) • Bye
Cons. Round 3: Josh Otto (Wisconsin) over Ryan Boucher (Michigan State) • Dec 4-2
Cons. Round 4: DJ Shannon (Michigan State) over Josh Otto (Wisconsin) • Dec 5-4
Shane Liegel - 184 pounds - 2-3
Champ. Round 1: Shane Liegel (Wisconsin) over Carson Berryhill (Oklahoma) • Maj 12-4
Quarterfinal: Shane Liegel (Wisconsin) over Adrien Cramer (Central Michigan) • Maj 16-6
Semifinal: Jaden Bullock (Michigan) over Shane Liegel (Wisconsin) • TF 16-1 5:00
Cons. Semi: Matt Zuber (Northern Illinois) over Shane Liegel (Wisconsin) • Maj 15-4
5th Place Match: Cody Brenner (Central Michigan) over Shane Liegel (Wisconsin) • MFF
Brooks Empey - 197 pounds - 0-2
Champ. Round 1: Ira Jenkins (Michigan) over Brooks Empey (Wisconsin) • TF 15-0 4:19
Cons. Round 1: Jacob Christensen (Northern Illinois) over Brooks Empey (Wisconsin) • Dec 5-1
Isaac Klarkowski - 285 pounds - 0-2
Champ. Round 1: Josh Heindselman (Oklahoma) over Issac Klarkowski (Wisconsin) • TF 19-3 2:17
Cons. Round 1: Issac Klarkowski (Wisconsin) over () • Bye
Cons. Round 2: Jordan Sommers (Northern Illinois) over Issac Klarkowski (Wisconsin) • Maj 16-2
Gannon Rosenfeld - 285 pounds - 1-2
Champ. Round 1: Josh Terrill (Michigan State) over Gannon Rosenfeld (Wisconsin) • Maj 13-1
Cons. Round 1: Gannon Rosenfeld (Wisconsin) over Jayson Roy (UofM Club Wrestling) • Dec 6-2
Cons. Round 2: Hogan Swenski (Ohio State) over Gannon Rosenfeld (Wisconsin) • Dec 4-1
