Wrestling Pillaged by Vikings, 22-13
1/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
KENT, Ohio -- The Kent State University wrestling team dropped three of the first four matches and could not recover in losing 22-13 to rival Cleveland State University Sunday (Jan. 4) at Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.
After falling behind 13-3, the Golden Flashes (1-6, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) trimmed the Vikings lead to 13-10 through six matches but Cleveland State (5-1, 0-1 Eastern Wrestling League) won three of the final four bouts to win its third straight in the series.
They outwrestled us in all aspects of the match, said Kent State head coach Jim Andrassy. We need to learn how to compete better. Were better than we showed, but we need to show that on the mat.
After Cleveland States Matt Kallai opened the match with an 8-2 win over redshirt freshman Ardian Ramadani (Garfield, N.J./Garfield) at 174 pounds, Flashes sophomore Alex Camargo (Brook Park, Ohio/Berea) took down Ron Howard with only three seconds remaining for a 5-4 victory that evened the match at 3-3.
But at 197 pounds, the Vikings Joe Phillips pinned junior-college transfer Nick Hiller (Greenville, Ohio/Ellsworth [Iowa] C.C.) in 3:29 for a 9-3 lead Cleveland State would not relinquish. Hiller had nearly pinned Phillips in the first period with a three-point near-fall, only to get pinned early in the second. Cleveland State heavyweight Russ Davie pushed the lead to 13-3 with a 9-0 shutout of redshirt freshman Willie Leonard (Chestertown, Md./Kent County).
Kent State then fought back in the lower weights behind brothers Drew and Jared Opfer (Sandusky, Ohio/St. Mary Central Catholic). Drew opened up an 11-0 lead over DeAngelo Penn after two periods en route to a 14-1 major decision at 125 pounds. Jared followed with a 7-2 decision over former KSU teammate Kevin Linich, who transferred to Cleveland State in the off-season.
At 141 pounds, Kent State senior Nate Daugherty (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) lost a 2-1 heartbreaker to Anthony Coleman, who won the match on the strength of 1:03 of riding time. The Vikings Matt DePolo then defeated KSU sophomore Jason Bake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) 7-3 at 149 pounds with takedowns in each of the three periods to give Cleveland State a 19-10 lead with only two matches remaining.
Flashes senior Mike Tolar (Parma, Ohio/Lakewood St. Edward) posted Kent States final victory of the match with a 3-1 decision over Jason Effner at 157 pounds, thanks to a second-period takedown. Cleveland States Matt Klinger concluded the match with an 8-2 victory over redshirt freshman Aaron Miller (Uniopolis, Ohio/Wapokoneta) at 165 pounds.
The Golden Flashes will return to action this Tuesday, Jan. 6, when they play host to Michigan State University at the M.A.C. Center. First bout is 7 p.m. EST.
Cleveland State 22, Kent State 13 KS CS174Matt Kallai (C) dec. Ardian Ramadani, 8-2 0 3184Alex Camargo (K) dec. Ron Howard, 5-4 3 3197Joe Phillips (C) pinned Nick Hiller, 3:29 3 9Hwt.Russ Davie (C) major dec. Willie Leonard, 9-0 3 13125Drew Opfer (K) major dec. DeAngelo Penn, 14-1 7 13133Jared Opfer (K) dec. Kevin Linich, 7-2 10 13141Anthony Coleman (C) dec. Nate Daugherty, 2-1 10 16149Matt DePolo (C) dec. Jason Bake, 7-3 10 19157Mike Tolar (K) dec. Jason Effner, 3-1 13 19165Matt Klinger (C) dec. Aaron Miller, 8-2 13 22Referees: Guy Trinetti & Joe Chesboro
Dane Goes Behind the Scenes with the Kent State Equipment Staff
Wednesday, May 13
Kent State Director of Track and Field Nathan Fanger Previews the 2026 MAC Outdoor Championship
Tuesday, May 12
Baseball Head Coach Jeff Duncan Recaps Senior Day Weekend and Looks on to the Final Weekend Series
Monday, May 11
Baseball Head Coach Jeff Duncan Previews Senior Weekend and the Upcoming Michigan Baseball Game
Wednesday, May 06
