Flashes Ranked 18th in First Coaches Poll
11/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
After a 2-0 start in dual meet competition and a strong showing at the Hokie Open, the Kent State wrestling team was tabbed No. 18 in the first National Wrestling Coaches Association/USA Today Division I Team Coaches Poll. Also released this week were individual rankings from Division 1 College Wrestling, which included six Golden Flashes.
According to D1CW sophomore Dustin Kilgore is No. 8 at 184 pounds following a 2-0 weekend. Also benefitting from a 2-0 weekend was senior Danny Mitcheff, who was ranked ninth at 133.
Junior transfer Matt Cathell did not see action over the weekend, but is rated 10th at 149. Redshirt freshman Mallie Shuster (157) defeated a ranked opponent over the weekend to help earn him the No. 17 spot.
Redshirt freshman Chase Skonieczny is 22nd at 141 pounds after going 4-0 at the Hokie Open. Sophomore heavyweight Brendan Barlow gained a No. 24 ranking following his performance at the Hokie Open. Barlow went 3-1 after dropping a 3-2 nail-biter to national runner-up Konrad Dudziak of Duke.
Defending national champion Iowa earned the top slot in the NWCA poll, while several of KSU's opponents earned spots in the Top 25, including No. 24 Virginia Tech, who the Flashes defeated 20-18 on Saturday (Nov. 7). Mid-American Conference rival Central Michigan was 11th. Wendy's Dual opponent Maryland was just ahead of the Chippewas at No. 9 and Michigan, who comes to the M.A.C. Center on Dec. 13, was ranked 23rd.
The Flashes return to action Saturday (Nov. 14) at the Oklahoma Gold Tournament in Brockport, N.Y.
