Kilgore Claims No. 1 National Ranking & Wrestler of the Week Honors

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Kent State junior Dustin Kilgore (Berea, Ohio/Berea) was named Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Week Wednesday and moved into the No. 1 ranking at 197 pounds in numerous national polls.

InterMat, The Open Mat, D1CW and WrestlingReport.com all moved Kilgore into the No. 1 spot this week after he defeated the previous No. 1, Cam Simaz, Saturday at the Body Bar Invitational. Kilgore went 4-0 Saturday, beginning with a 19-2 technical fall over Clarion’s Clint Podish.

In the opening period of the quarterfinals, Kilgore pinned Binghamton’s Matt Berretta. The 2010 All-American then scored an 11-2 major decision over Buffalo’s Josh Peters in the semifinals, before topping Simaz 10-9 in the finals.

"It was one of the best upper weight matches I’ve ever seen," Head Coach Jim Andrassy said of the 197-pound final. "It was literally seven minutes of action. Dustin did a great job of controlling the match and going at his pace."

Kilgore is 13-0 on the year with five major decisions, three technical falls and one pin. He also carries a 35-match winning streak in dual meets.

Ranked No. 14 in the W.I.N. Tournament Power Index, the Golden Flashes (2-3) will take on No. 11 Missouri Dec. 5 in Columbia.