The Kent State wrestling team opens its home schedule on Friday (1/26) evening when the Northern Illinois University Huskies invade the M.A.C. Center for a 7:05 match.
Each squad boasts a quartet of wrestlers who are ranked amongst the top 20 nationally. For Kent State, senior Chad Sportelli (Easton, Pa./Easton) is ranked 19th at 125 pounds. Classmate Ardian Ramadani (Garfield, N.J./Garfield) currently ranks 20th at 197 pounds. Sophomore Eric Chine (Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch) ranks 20th at 184 pounds. Classmate Jermail Porter (Akron, Ohio/Firestone) is ranked 19th at heavyweight.
Northern Illinois enters the match at the top of the Mid-American Conference standings at 2-0. The Huskies have an overall record of 2-2.
This is the 21st meeting between the MAC rivals. KSU holds a 13-5-2 advantage over NIU all-time. Last season, these two conference foes battled to a 16-16 tie in DeKalb, Illinois.
Kent State (12-1, 1-0 MAC) welcomes the University of Pittsburgh to the M.A.C. Center for a 2:05 p.m. match on Sunday (1/28).
