The #21 ranked Kent State wrestling team defeated Eastern Michigan 28-10 on Wednesday evening in Ypsilanti, Michigan in the Mid-American Conference opener for the Golden Flashes.
KSU jumped out to a 6-0 lead as senior Chad Sportelli (Easton, Pa./Easton) won his 125 pound match by forfeit. Sportelli entered the match ranked 16th nationally at 125 pounds.
The Golden Flashes won the next two matches to take a 12-0 lead. Sophomore Danny Mitcheff (Lorain, Ohio/Elyria) defeated Chris Jenkins 3-1 at 133 pounds. Classmate Clint Sponseller (Glenmount, Ohio/West Holmes) registered an 8-3 win over Zack Donofrio at 141 pounds.
Eastern Michigan won its first match with a 6-4 decision at 149 pounds.
Junior Kurt Gross (North Royalton, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) scored a 9-3 decision at 157 pounds over Cory Mancuso to increase the KSU lead to 15-3.
EMU scored a 12-2 major decision at 165 pounds to close the gap at 15-7.
KSU scored a major decision of its own as senior Aaron Miller (Uniopolis, Ohio/Wapakoneta) defeated Don Funk 16-4 at 174 pounds.
Sophomore Eric Chine (Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch), who is ranked 20th nationally at 184 pounds, scored a 2-1 decision over John McClure to make the score 22-7.
Eastern Michigan won its final match of the evening as Tony Lyssiotis scored a 6-5 win at 197 pounds.
Sophomore Jermail Porter (Akron, Ohio/Firestone), currently ranked 20th nationally, pinned Charlie Walker in 2:56 to complete the scoring at 28-10
Kent State (10-1, 1-0 MAC) travels to Ashland, Ohio to compete at the Wendy's Duals beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 21 at Ashland University.
