4x Qualifier Saldate to Transfer to Michigan

Just two days after hitting the transfer portal, Chase Saldate has announced his transfer destination. He’ll stay in Michigan and change colors moving from Michigan State to the maize and blue of the Wolverines. 

Saldate, a four-time national qualifier at 157 lbs for the Spartans, will use his final year of eligibility wrestling for the University of Michigan. 

The 2022-23 season was Saldate’s best as he finished fifth in the Big Ten and advanced to the NCAA Round of 12 after earning the 11th seed. 

After four years at MSU, Saldate sports an 82-33 record. He recently went 25-8 at the 2024 NCAA Championships, losing a pair of 4-3 matches to Big Ten rivals. In the regular season, Saldate was seventh at the Midlands and a finalist at the Black Knight Invite. During the regular season, Saldate nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year when he pushed the eventual undefeated NCAA champion, Levi Haines, into tiebreakers. 

Coming out of high school, Saldate was ranked #14 overall in the Class of 2020 after making a pair of California state finals - winning his senior season. Before his senior year, Saldate won a belt at the Super 32 and during the regular season, he was a champion at the Reno Tournament of Champions and the Doc Buchanan. 

Michigan is losing two-time All-American Will Lewan at 157 lbs, so Saldate could step in and replace his former rival. There has also been some talk that Saldate would like to move up to 165 lbs. While Saldate only has a year of eligibility remaining, he does have a redshirt available, as well.