Wisconsin Badgers
Michigan State Open
November 07, 2026 | Wrestling
Dennee and Leonard place first in East Lansing
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Five members of the Wisconsin wrestling team found a place on the podium at the Michigan State Open on Saturday.
At 165, Caleb Dennee took home first place in the Fresh/Soph division, going 5-0 on the day. Dennee secured a 13-4 major decision in the finals to secure the tournament title.
At 184, Eli Leonard took home first place in the Fresh/Soph division, going 4-0 on the day. Leonard's first wins as a Badger were in dominating fashion as he secured two tech falls and a major decision in the finals.
Heavyweights Connor Diemel and Cael Leisgang both took home second place finishes. Diemel went 4-1, taking second place in the Open division with a SV win in the quarterfinals. Leisgang took second place in the Fresh/Soph division going 3-1.
Heavyweight Hunter Vander Heiden picked up his first wins as a Badger, going 4-3 to take 6th place in the Fresh/Soph division.
Matt Hart and Frank Nitti each also received their first wins as a Badger.
Results:
Open Division:
141- Matt Hart, 2-2
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Hart def. Peyton (CUMB), TF 15-0
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Abbey (MICH) def. Hart, Dec. 5-3
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Hart def Ward (NIU), Dec. 6-4
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Frizer (IND) def. Hart, 8-1
149 - Elliott Biba, 2-2
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Biba def. Nugent (CMU), Dec. 10-3
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Biba def Tieffel (KST), Dec. 7-3
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Raney (OKST) def. Hart, Dec. 11-4
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Gosz (MSU) def. Hart, Dec. 15-8
149 - Simon Kruse, 0-2
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Manville (ASU) def. Kruse, TF 17-1
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Bahl (IND) def. Kruse, MD 10-2
157 - Royce Nilo, 0-2
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Cosby (MICH) def. Nilo, TF 19-4
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Desselle (OSU) def. Nilo, Dec. 5-1
157 - Lane Robinson, 0-2
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Jones (MSU) def. Robinson, Fall: 5:40
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O'Brien (NIU) def. Robinson, Dec. 7-3
184 - David Mitrovich, 0-2
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Mantanona (MICH) def. Mitrovich, TF 19-3
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Zuercher (Spartan Combat RTC) def. Mitrovich, Dec. 2-0
285 - Connor Diemel, 4-1 – 2nd place
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Diemel def. Simmerman (KENT), Dec. 4-1
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Diemel def. Morley (NW), Dec. 7-3
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Diemel def. Terrill (MSU), SV 4-1
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Diemel def. Lewis (VMI), Dec. 3-1
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Sahakain (MICH) def. Diemel, MD 10-2
Fresh/Soph division:
125 - Tyson Waughtel, 0-2
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Kapusta (Kent State) def. Waughtel, Dec. 10-7
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Schoettle (UNAT) def. Waughtel, Dec. 7-4
133 - Devin Bobzien, 1-2
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Bobzien def. Canali (EDIN), Fall: 2:41
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Sanati (ARMY) def. Bobzien, Dec. 7-1
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Denkins (ARMY) def. Bobzien, Dec. 8-6
149 - Frank Nitti, 2-2
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Hooiman (PUR) def. Nitti, Dec. 5-0
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Nitti def. Cikota (UNAT), Fall: 1:39
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Nitti def. Sloan (GV), Dec. 8-6
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Strand (NIU) def. Nitti, Dec. 11-0
157 - Tyson Imhoff, 1-2
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Imhoff def. Sims, Fall: 0:33
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Booth (MSU) def. Imhoff, Dec. 8-3
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Kodakov Gil (EDIN) def. Imhoff, Dec. 3-2
165 - Caleb Dennee, 5-0 — 1st place
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Dennee def. Meier (NWU), TF 18-2
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Dennee def. Giatis (FIND), Dec. 14-10
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Dennee def. Kelly (ISU), Dec. 10-8
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Dennee def. Wardlow (ASU), Dec. 9-7
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Dennee def. Weaver (PUR), MD 13-4
184 - Eli Leonard, 4-0 — 1st place
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Leonard def. Gerber (VMI), TF 22-7
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Leonard def. Knight (LE), TF 16-1
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Leonard def. Hawes (Army Prep), SV 4-1
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Leonard def. Clear (EDIN), MD 16-3
184 - David Malin
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Malin def. Garcia (LEC), Fall: 1:24
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Clear (EDIN) def. Malin, MD 9-0
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Malin def. Gerber (VMI), Dec. 8-5
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Meyers (GVSU) def. Malin, MD 10-1
285 - Cael Leisgang, 3-1 — 2nd place
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Leisgang def. Boger (NW), Dec. 2-1
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Leisgang def. Bender (NIU), Dec. 7-1
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Leisgang def. Whyte (KSU), Dec. 2-1
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Szuba (ASU) def. Leisgang, Fall: 1:31
285 - Hunter Vander Heiden, 4-3 – 6th place
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Tollison (MSU) def. Vander Heiden, Dec. 6-1
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Vander Heiden def. Valverde, TF 19-4
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Vander Heiden def. Walker (MICH), Dec. 0-5
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Vander Heiden def. Smith (GV), Fall: 6:25
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Vander Heiden def. McClellan (EDIN), Dec. 6-0
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Whyte (KSU) def. Vander Heiden
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Bender (NIU) def. Vander Heiden
285 - Humberto Valverde, 0-2
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Ceja (CUMB) def. Valverde, Dec. 6-1
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Vander Heiden (WISC) def. Valverde, TF 19-4
