Flashes Ambushed in Ann Arbor

Five-match losing streak costs Kent State in loss to #7 Michigan

By Ty Linder Kent State Athletic Communications

ANN ARBOR, Mich. The seventh-ranked Michigan Wolverines spotted Kent State a 7-0 lead, but a brutal five-match stretch proved to be the difference as the Flashes fell 26-14 in their dual meet opener Friday night.

After convincing wins from Nic Bedelyon (14-3) and Dan Mitcheff (7-3), the Flashes had silenced the home crowd at Cliff Keen Arena with a 7-0 lead. The 20^th-ranked Bedelyon never gave Jason Lara a chance in rolling up 14 points through the three periods. Although he allowed the first takedown of the match, Mitcheff was able to end his 133-pound match on a 7-1 scoring run to win 7-3.

“Both our guys lost to those two (Michigan) guys last year, Bedelyon at senior nationals and Mitcheff out in Las Vegas so it was nice to see them turn the scores around. They both wrestled real tough tonight,” head coach Jim Andrassy said.

Unfortunately for the Flashes, that was about as good as it was going to get. The Wolverines - fresh off a team championship at the Las Vegas Cliff Keen Invitational reeled off five straight wins in the middle weights to take an insurmountable 21-7 lead. During the five matches, Kent State was outscored by a combined score of 65-11. Only Drew Lashaway's 8-2 setback prevented the Wolverines from garnering more bonus points for either major decisions or tech falls.

“We knew they had some really experienced guys in the middle and we didn't send one senior out there tonight and I really thought all our guys competed hard,” Andrassy added.

Operating without potential NCAA qualifiers Kurt Gross and Obie Simpson, the Flashes' collective effort didn't go unnoticed.

“I think Jim has done a great job in bringing that program up to another level,” Michigan coach Joe McFarland said. “He's done a very good job recruiting and it won't be long until they are up there with Central Michigan. I was concerned coming in because I wanted to make sure my kids knew how tough Kent State is and how hard they were going to compete.”

The Flashes were able to win two of the meet's final three matches to go home on somewhat of a good note.

At 184 pounds, Eric Chine followed up his third place weekend at Penn State with a 9-4 triumph over Erich Smith. After a Michael Blackwell loss, Jermail Porter knocked off former Ohio prep state champion Matt Guhn by a final tally of 10-1. Porter was one of KSU's three place-winners at the Penn State Open recently, taking runner-up honors.

Kent State will have the remainder of the weekend off, followed by a week off due to the fall semester's final exams. The Flashes will next be in action on Sun. Dec. 16 at Lock Haven for the Lock Haven Duals.

Attendance:

651

Officials:

James Blanks

Phil Westheimer

Kent State 14 No. 7 Michigan 26 F

125 - Nic Bedelyon (KST) major dec. Jason Lara (UM) 14-3

133 - Dan Mitcheff (KST) dec. Chris Diehl (UM) 7-3

141 - Kellen Russell (UM) dec. Drew Lashaway (KST) 8-2

149 - Josh Churella (UM) TF. Jake Kyle (KST) 16-1

157 - Jeff Marsh (UM) major dec. Sli Bostelman (KST) 11-3

165 - Eric Tannenbaum (UM) TF John Pycraft (KST) 17-2

174 - Steve Luke (UM) major dec. Chris Estep (KST) 13-5

184 - Eric Chine (KST) dec. Erich Smith (UM) 9-4

197 - Anthony Biondo (UM) dec. Michael Blackwell (KST) 19-3

285 - Jermail Porter (KST) major dec. Matt Guhn (UM) 10-1

Flashes Ambushed in Ann Arbor

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