Michigan State Wrestling Falls to No. 9 Minnesota in Big Ten Dual Finale

Weiand and Wisler earn wins for the Spartans in the 37-6 loss

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Michigan State wrestling was defeated by No. 9-ranked Minnesota, 37-6, in its final Big Ten dual of the season on Sunday at Maturi Pavilion. The Spartans move to 4-9 overall and 1-7 in Big Ten duals ahead of their final regular season match against Central Michigan. Redshirt sophomore Caleb Weiand (133 pounds) and redshirt junior Kael Wisler (197 pounds) earned wins for Michigan State in the loss.

Why it matters

The loss to Minnesota marks the end of Michigan State's Big Ten dual schedule, with the Spartans finishing the conference slate with a 1-7 record. This dual serves as a tune-up for the Spartans ahead of their final regular season match against in-state rival Central Michigan, as well as the upcoming Big Ten and NCAA Championships.

The details

Michigan State was overmatched by the ninth-ranked Golden Gophers, who won seven of the 10 bouts, including four straight bonus point victories from 141 to 165 pounds. Weiand earned a 4-2 decision over Minnesota's Blake Beissel at 133 pounds, while Wisler won a 5-2 tiebreaker decision over the Gophers' Gavin Nelson at 197 pounds. The Spartans were unable to overcome Minnesota's dominant performance across the majority of the weight classes.

  • The dual took place on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
  • Michigan State's final regular season match is scheduled for Friday, February 20, 2026 against Central Michigan.

The players

Caleb Weiand

A redshirt sophomore wrestler for Michigan State who earned a 4-2 decision victory over Minnesota's Blake Beissel at 133 pounds.

Kael Wisler

A redshirt junior wrestler for Michigan State who won a 5-2 tiebreaker decision over Minnesota's Gavin Nelson at 197 pounds.

Minnesota

The ninth-ranked wrestling team that defeated Michigan State 37-6 in the final Big Ten dual of the season.

Central Michigan

Michigan State's in-state rival that the Spartans will face in their final regular season match on February 20, 2026.

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What’s next

Michigan State will face Central Michigan in their final regular season dual on Friday, February 20, 2026.

The takeaway

While Michigan State was unable to overcome the ninth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers, the Spartans showed fight with individual wins from Caleb Weiand and Kael Wisler. This dual serves as a valuable learning experience for the Spartans ahead of the Big Ten and NCAA Championships, where they will look to build on their performances against top-ranked opponents.