KENT, Ohio- An injury default at the 157-pound weight class created a difference-making, nine-point swing in Central Michigan’s 21-12 victory over Kent State Sunday inside the M.A.C. Center.  The remaining matches resulted in five decisions for the Chippewas (8-6, 4-2) and four decisions for the Golden Flashes (8-8, 2-2).

 

“The first three matches and 165, they (CMU) took advantage of everything we did,” Head Coach Jim Andrassy said.  “We did all the wrestling and they got all of their scoring off of our moves.”

 

Following three Central Michigan wins, sophomore Michael Depalma put the Flashes on the board with an 11-6 victory over Scott Mattingly.  DePalma came out active on his feet and kept up a fast-paced offense with five takedowns.  He also racked up 2:45 in riding time.

 

Momentum briefly continued going Kent State’s way as sophomore Ian Miller jumped out to a 4-1 lead over Luke Smith after one period.  Miller led 4-2 in the third period with riding time, before a sudden arm injury prevented him from finishing.

 

“If Ian wins his match it’s a 15-15 tie,” Andrassy said.  “We thought there was a good chance the other matches would end up the way they did.  But that’s wrestling…injuries happen.”

 

The Flashes’ biggest highlight of the afternoon came at 184 pounds.  Sophomore Sam Wheeler was nearly pinned in the first period and trailed 6-0 to start the second.  Wheeler battled back to convert four takedowns, force a stalling point and erase Craig Kelliher’s riding time for a 9-8 victory.

 

“Sam’s wrestled that kid about seven times and he’s never lost to him,” Andrassy said.  “Sam just kept the pressure on.  He showed a lot of fight by not getting pinned and he showed a lot of fight by coming back and winning.  It shows a lot of character on him.”

 

Sophomore Cole Baxter followed with a 5-1 win at 197.  All of Baxter’s scoring came in the first with a takedown and a three-point turn.

 

Redshirt freshman Mimmo Lytle made it three straight Kent State victories with a 3-1 win to end the dual.  Lytle broke a 1-1 tie late in the third period with a double-leg takedown.

 

“We’re young, but the season isn’t young anymore,” Andrassy said.  ‘So there’s some things we need to correct and we need to correct them fast.”

 

The Flashes will compete in the third of five straight MAC duals Friday at Eastern Michigan.

 

 

125	Corey Keener (CMU) won by decision over Alfredo Gray (KSU) 8-3
133	Joe Roth (CMU) won by decision over Mackenzie McGuire (KSU) 3-1
141	Zach Horan (CMU) won by decision over Tyler Small (KSU) 5-1
149	Michael Depalma (Kent State) won by decision over Scott Mattingly (CMU) 11-6
157	Luke Smith (CMU) won by injury default over Ian Miller (KSU) 5:31
165	Nick Becker (CMU) won by decision over Tyler Buckwalter (KSU) 5-1
174	Mike Ottinger (CMU) won by decision over Caleb Marsh (KSU) 2-1
184	Sam Wheeler (KSU) won by decision over Craig Kelliher (CMU) 9-8
197	Cole Baxter (KSU) won by decision over Jackson Lewis (CMU) 5-1
285	Mimmo Lytle (KSU) won by decision over Adam Robinson (CMU) 3-1

 

 

 

 

Aaron Chimenti

Assistant Director, Athletic Communications

Contact for Football & Wrestling

Kent State University