DEKALB, Ill. - Kent State’s six individual wins gave the Golden Flashes a team tiebreaker point in a 19-18 victory over Northern Illinois Saturday inside Victor E. Court.  Drama built throughout the dual as each team won an overtime match and each side earned one-point victories in regulation.  

The Flashes (10-8, 4-2 MAC) won the first three matches from 125 to 141 and put together three straight decision victories from 165 to 184.  However, back-to back pins by the Huskies at 149 and 157 kept the dual too close for Kent State’s comfort.

Sophomore Alfredo Gray picked an opportune time to claim his first career Mid-American Conference dual victory, a 3-2 decision over Nick Harrison.  Gray’s first period takedown proved to be pivotal in both his match and the dual.  The Flashes were just 2-15 in dual meets at 125 and 0-5 in the MAC, heading into Saturday.

Sophomore Mack McGuire and junior Tyler Small kept things rolling with 13-9 and 9-6 decisions respectively.

A pair of first period pins put the Huskies on top 12-9 after five matches.  Sophomore Tyler Buckwalter tied the team score up 12-12 as his takedown in sudden victory, gave him an 8-6 win.

Junior Caleb Marsh was the most dominant of the Flashes throughout his match in a 7-2 win over Billy Chancey.

Sophomore Sam Wheeler held a 5-4 lead in the third period, before pulling away with a pair of takedowns in a 10-5 decision.

NIU ended its Senior Day with back-to-back victories at 197 and heavyweight, forcing the tiebreaker rules to come into effect.

“Too many of our guys are getting caught wrestling down to our opponents’ level,” Head Coach Jim Andrassy said.  “We need to forget about the opponent, dictate the pace and do what we do best.”

Kent State will face its highest ranked opponent of the season Sunday, visiting No. 5 Northern Iowa.

 

Results

125: Alfredo Gray (KSU) dec.  Nick Harrison (NIU) 3-2

133: Mack McGuire (KSU) dec. Nick Smith (NIU) 13-9

141: Tyler Small (KSU) dec. Tyler Argue (NIU) 9-6

149: Rob Jilliard (NIU) pin Mike DePalma (KSU) 0:46.

157: Andrew Morse (NIU) pin T.J. Keklak (KSU) 2:19

165: Tyler Buckwater (KSU) dec. Shaun’Qae McMurtry (NIU) 8-6 SV

174: Caleb Marsh (KSU) dec. Billy Chancey (NIU) 7-2

184: Sam Wheeler (KSU) dec. Caleb Busson (NIU) 10-5

197: Shawn Scott (NIU) dec. Cole Baxter (KSU) 6-4 SV

HWT: Jared Torrence (NIU) dec. Mimmo Lytle (KSU) 1-0

*Kent State wins on criteria (six wins to four)

 

 

Aaron Chimenti

Assistant Director, Athletic Communications

Contact for Football & Wrestling

Kent State University