KENT, Ohio -  Kent State’s winning streak came to an end Thursday night in a 27-6 loss to Ohio State at the M.A.C. Center.  Five matches were decided by two points or less and all five went in favor of the Buckeyes. 

“For us to be a team that’s comparable to Ohio State, we need to win those close ones,” Head Coach Jim Andrassy said.  “It doesn’t matter what the setting is, we have to learn how to win a close match.”

Sophomores Ian Miller and Tyler Buckwalter each had impressive outings in back-to-back wins for the Golden Flashes at 157 and 165.

Miller scored takedowns in each of the first two periods in a convincing 11-4 victory.  He converted a high crotch shot to a single to take a 2-0 lead.  A crowd-wowing duck under in the second gave him a 6-2 lead.  Miller earned a stalling point in the third and riding time as he improved 13-1 on the season.

Buckwalter trailed 5-1 in the second, before taking control of the match in a 9-5 win.  On the way to working out from the bottom position in the second, Buckwalter caught Grandominico in a cradle.  The four-point move tied the match 5-5.  An escape, takedown and riding time helped the first-year starter improve to 3-0 on the year.

The Flashes also had a strong comeback attempt from sophomore Michael DePalma against No. 18 Ian Paddock.  A five-point move in the first and an escape in the second gave Paddock a 6-0 lead.  Going directly from a takedown to a tilt, DePalma trimmed the lead to 6-4 and later 7-6 with another takedown in the second.  However, a Paddock reversal in the second halted the momentum in an 11-6 setback.

Sophomore Mack McGuire dropped a 3-1 overtime decision to No. 8 Johnni DiJulius.  McGuire rode DiJulius for the first 1:17 of the second and nearly turned him, which led to a riding time point.  But a reversal in the first tiebreaker made the difference for DiJulius.

Sophomore Cole Baxter put up a valiant effort in a 3-2 loss to No. 4 Nick Heflin. 

Sophomore Sam Wheeler also dropped a one-point decision 11-10, in a back-and-forth battle with No. 12 Kenny Courts.

A third period takedown made the difference at 174 as junior Caleb Marsh fell to No. 18 Mark Martin 4-2.

At heavyweight, Nick Tavenello’s second period takedown pushed him past Mimmo Lytle 3-1.

Midway through the night, Dustin Kilgore was greeted with a standing ovation by over 2,000 fans as he was presented with his national championship ring.

Kent State returns to action Jan. 1-2 at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga.

 

125 Nick Roberts (OSU) won by tech fall over Del Vinas (KSU) 4:34 16-0   133 Johnni DiJulius (OSU) won in tie breaker 1 over Mack McGuire (KSU) 3-1   141 Logan Stieber (OSU) won by major decision over Tyler Small (KSU) 10-0   149 Ian Paddock (OSU) won by decision over Mike Depalma (KSU) 11-6   157 Ian Miller (KSU) won by decision over Randall Languis (OSU) 11-4   165 Tyler Buckwalter (KSU) won by decision over Joe Grandominico (OSU) 9-5   174 Mark Martin (OSU) won by decision over Caleb Marsh (KSU) 4-2   184 Kenny Courts (OSU) won by decision over Sam Wheeler (KSU) 11-10   197 Nick Heflin (OSU) won by decision over Cole Baxter (KSU) 3-2   285 Nick Tavanello (OSU) won by decision over Mimmo Lytle (KSU) 3-1

 

 

Aaron Chimenti

Assistant Director, Athletic Communications

Contact for Football & Wrestling

Kent State University