Jeff Chaney
Sports Scene
MOUNT PLEASANT – Tyler Keselring is contributing on the mat again, and he’s making the most of the opportunity.
The former three-time Greenville state champion is a red-shirt freshman on the Central Michigan University wrestling team and is sharing time as the Chippewas’ starting 133-pounder with freshman Zach Horan.
In Central Michigan’s last home dual of the season February 16 versus Michigan State University, Keselring lined up with Spartan freshman Brandon Fifield and beat the former Leslie High School state champion 13-4.
That major decision victory helped the 25th-ranked Chippewas beat Michigan State 21-12 and improve to 14-8 on the season.
The Spartans fell to 3-11.
It was Central Michigan’s 11th straight win over Michigan State, and it takes a 14-13 lead in the series.
“I’m counted on again, and I like that,” Keselring said. “Last year I was just a freshman [wrestling unattached] and just getting matches. This year I’m counted on, and people want me to do well.”
With the win over Fifield, Keselring improved to 13-9. Fifield fell to 12-16.
“I’ve had a couple of good matches this year,” Keselring said. “But consistency has been a little off. I need to work on being more consistent.”
The non-conference dual between Central Michigan and Michigan State featured many former state champions and all-state Michigan wrestlers.
Michigan State 149-pound junior Dan Osterman of St. Johns beat Joey Kielbasa 7-6, giving the Spartans one of their four wins. The others came from 157-pound senior Anthony Jones of Highland Park, 174-pound senior Curran Jacobs of Owosso, and 197-pound red-shirt freshman Nick McDiarmid of Hartland.
The Chippewas also got an important major decision win from former three-time Rockford state champion Ben Bennett at 184 pounds.
Bennett is a two-time Mid-American Conference champion and All American, who improved to 27-3 with his win over Ian Hinton.
“Things are going really well now,” Bennett said. “I’m just trying to stay focused. I just want to peak for the MAC tournament and [NCAA Division I Championships.]
Central Michigan will compete at the MAC Championships March 4 at Athens, Ohio, while Michigan State will compete in the Big Ten Championships in West Lafayette, Indiana, March 3 and 4.
The NCAA Championships are March 15-17 in St. Louis.