DePalma Reaches MAC Finals; Flashes in Fifth
3/5/2016 7:53:00 PM | Wrestling
Ypsilanti, Mich. – Seven Kent State wrestlers clinched top six finishes during day one of the Mid-American Conference Championships Saturday at Eastern Michigan's Convocation Center. Five Golden Flashes advanced to the semifinals, while senior Mike DePalma earned a spot in the finals.
DePalma came away with a 6-5 upset over top-seeded Lavion Mayes of Missouri in the semifinals. Just before the final whistle blew, DePalma rolled his way into a reversal and punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships. He will take on Central Michigan's Justin Oliver in Sunday's final.
"Mike's had three really good weeks of practice leading up to this," Head Coach Jim Andrassy said. "And when he's on, he's as good as anyone. Mike was pushing him hard throughout the match. (Mayes) was riding hips and Mike waited until the end with a really nice move, which was good timing."
In a 7-3 quarterfinal victory over Eastern Michigan's Nick Barber, DePalma tallied three takedowns. Leading 3-2 early in the third, DePalma spun around Barber on two occasions for takedowns in the final period.
Senior Ian Miller was leading his semifinal bout 2-1, before hitting his head on the mat. After a 15-minute break with numerous discussions and tests, the tournament doctor ruled Miller unable to continue due to neck and spine concerns.
Miller's bid to become a four-time MAC champion ended, but his status for Sunday is questionable. Miller methodically worked his shots and duck-unders to the tune of a 13-6 victory over Old Dominion's Devin Geoghegan in the quarterfinals.
Senior Tyler Buckwalter won his quarterfinal bout in dramatic fashion. Old Dominion's Seldon Wright led 8-4 in the third period, before a Buckwalter takedown made things interesting. Wright was hit for two stalling calls on bottom to make it 8-7.  With about eight seconds left, Buckwalter then tilted Wright to his back and got the pin with three seconds on the clock.
"Tyler had a bad start," Andrassy said. "Their guy just tried to hold onto a lead and Tyler just took advantage of it. And the pin is great for our team points."
Buckwalter dropped his semifinal bout against top-seeded Daniel Lewis of Missouri 12-0.
Redshirt freshman Kyle Conel topped  James Benjamin 9-6 in his quarterfinal bout. Conel's double leg shot turned into a four-point move early in the first. He later collected two more takedowns.
Conel built an early 4-1 lead in his semifinal against Ohio's Phil Wellington. But Wellington converted a six-point move in the third to clinch an 11-5 win.
Redshirt freshman and No. 7 seed Devin Nye pulled off a quarterfinal upset of Eastern Michigan's Gage Hutchison with a second period pin. Trailing 3-2 and starting the second from bottom, Nye reversed Hutchison to his back for a pin.
"Devin's just hard to handle and he kept moving," Andrassy said. "The next thing you know he's on top of the guy and he just dropped his weight on him. Devin's definitely gotten better as the year has gone on."
Coming off a long absence with a knee injury, Mack McGuire dropped his quarterfinal bout to Buffalo's Bryan Lantry 6-4. McGuire led 2-0 after the first, but was unable to maintain his pace.
McGuire bounced back with a second period pin of Northern Iowa's Josh Alber. Leading 2-1 and starting the second period from the bottom, McGuire put Alber on his hip with a Peterson and finished him with a half.
Jairod James dropped his quarterfinal against three-time MAC champion Cody Walters, but trailed only 1-0 after two periods.
James battled back against Buffalo's Muhamed McBryde with a 6-4 win. James needed two takedowns in the third for the win.
Del Vinas earned a pigtail round victory over Eastern Michigan's Armando Torres 3-2. Avenging an earlier season loss to Torres, Vinas rode out Torres for the entire third period and a pivotal riding time point.
Vinas dropped his next two bouts, including a 2-1 decision to Old Dominion's Brandon Jeske on riding time.
The Flashes sit in fifth place with 49 points.
Sunday's action begins at noon with the consolation semifinals at Eastern Michigan's Convocation Center.
Players Mentioned
