Matmen to Host 21 Teams at KSU Open
2/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
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UPCOMING TOURNAMENT: The Golden Flashes (11-3-1, 1-0-1 MAC) will host the 2006 Kent State University Open Saturday, Feb. 4 at the M.A.C. Center Annex beginning at 9 a.m. Although KSUs regular starters will rest this weekend, 14 Golden Flash grapplers will participate in the open tournament. The double elimination event will recognize the top four places in 10 weight classes but team standings will not be kept. Over 200 wrestlers from more than 20 schools will compete.
LAST SEASONS KSU OPEN: Over 120 wrestlers representing 17 schools competed at the KSU Fieldhouse on Dec. 4, 2004. Kurt Gross (North Royalton/Padua Franciscan) won six straight matches on his way to a third place finish at 157 pounds. Heavyweight Jermail Porter (Akron/Firestone) and 174-pounder Eric Chine (Austintown, Ohio/Fitch) each placed fourth for the Blue and Gold.
RECENT RESULTS: Trailing 16-15 after seven matches, Kent State swept the final three bouts to knock off Pittsburgh 25-16 Sunday afternoon (Jan. 29) at the Fitzgerald Field House. The Golden Flashes extended their unbeaten streak to five matches with the road victory. Junior transfer Chad Sportelli (Easton, Pa./Easton/Nebraska) registered his fifth pin of the season just five days after being named MAC Wrestler of the Week. To start their weekend road trip, the Golden Flashes and No. 24 Northern Illinois battled to a 16-16 tie on Friday, Jan. 27. A one-point victory by junior Aaron Miller (Uniopolis/Wapakoneta) in the nights final match forced the tie as both teams remained unbeaten in MAC duals. Both squads earned four decision victories and one major decision. KSUs major came from junior Ardian Ramadani (Garfield, N.J./Garfield), who cruised past Dave Herrera 14-4. Kurt Gross and seniors Alex Camargo (Brook Park/Berea) and Drew Opfer (Sandusky/St. Marys) also claimed victories for the Flashes. Miller, Gross, Ramadani and Camargo all improved to 2-0 in MAC duals.
NEWS FLASHES: Alex Camargo earned career victory number 116 Sunday at Pittsburgh. He trails only Nick Nemeth, who compiled 121 career wins from 1998-2003 among KSUs all-time leaders... The one-two punch of Miller and Camargo at 174 and 184 is now a combined 51-8 on the year (Miller 26-5, Camargo 25-3) and 26-3 in dual meets... Miller leads the team in pins (6) and and is tied for the most major decisions with eight. Camargo leads the team in winning percentage (.893) and also has eight major decisions... Kurt Gross holds the third highest winnng percentage (.793) on the team begind Camargo and Miller.... Jermail Porter and Willie Leonard (Chestertown, Md./Kent County) have combined for 29 victories and nine pins at heavyweight... Sophomore Drew Lashaway (Bowling Green/Eastwood) returned last week at 141, after resting an injury... All three KSU home victories have been by double-digit margins... The Golden Flashes have won 22-of-30 individual matches at the M.A.C. Center this season...
STREAKS AND TRENDS: Kent State has now gone five straight dual meets without a loss for the second time this season. The Golden Flashes started the 2005-06 campaign 5-0... KSU has already claimed its eighth 10-win season in the last 10 years... Kurt Gross has won 10 consecutive matches at 157 ...Aaron Miller has won five straight... Alex Camargo has won nine of his last 10, Chad Sportelli has won 12 of his last 15 matches and Ardian Ramadani has won five of his last six... Ben Rings (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) is a perfect 5-0 in dual meets.
IN THE RANKINGS: For the fourth time in five weeks, Kent State received votes in the NWCA Top 25 Coaches Poll... KSU currently owns more victories this season than 19 Top 25 teams... According to the Jan. 31 NWCA Division I individual rankings, Alex Camargo is rated 16th at 184 pounds, and Chad Sportelli is 16th at 125... Camargo is rated 12th by Wrestling International Magazine...Three Golden Flashes earned top honors in the Jan. 31 Mid American Conference Coaches Poll and eight Flashes were ranked in the top three of their respective weight classes... Camargo (184) Aaron Miller (174) and Kurt Gross (157) each earned #1 rankings. Sportelli (125), 149-pounder Jason Bake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) , Drew Opfer (133), Ben Rings (197) and 165-pounder Jason McGee (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Cuyahoga Falls) all claimed the #3 spot.
MAC SUCCESS VS BIG TEN: Kent States 25-13 victory over Ohio State onJan. 7, was the third time a MAC team defeated a Big Ten team this season. On Dec. 11, Northern Illinois defeated No. 23 Wisconsin 18-17 and on Dec. 7, Central Michigan trounced No. 18 Michigan State 25-7.
UP NEXT: The Golden Flashes will host the University at Buffalo Saturday, Feb. 4 at the KSU Annex Gym. Over 300 wrestlers are expected to compete.
