CMU Wins 4 Nail-Biters in 21-13 Downing of Flashes
2/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
KENT, Ohio - Two overtime wins for Central Michigan and a pair of one-point wins in regulation made the difference for the Chippewas in a 21-13 victory over Kent State Sunday afternoon at the M.A.C. Center. The Golden Flashes trailed by just two points (15-13), before CMU ended the dual with back-to-back overtime wins at 197 and heavyweight.
"They're a better team than us right now and we've got to figure ways to close that margin in the next two weeks," Head Coach Jim Andrassy said. "There were a lot of close matches and our guys fought hard."
Dustin Kilgore (184) was completely dominant in a 11-3 major decision over Dillon Kern to bring the Flashes within two. Kilgore (30-1) scored five takedowns with ease and earned a riding time point for his 30th win of the season and eighth major decision.
"I wanted to dominate, but wrestle smart as well and it worked out," Kilgore said of his match. "We've got to look and see what mistakes we made, work off of them and turn it into something positive now."
A one-minute sudden victory was not enough to settle 1-1 ties at 197 and 285. Eric Simaz (197) scored an escape in the tiebreaker period and rode out Adam Cogar for 30 seconds to hold on for a 2-1 win. Cogar's aggressive approach from his feet in the third period helped earn a stalling point, but several near takedowns could not be finished off..
Brendan Barlow (285) escaped from Jarod Trice in the tiebreaker, but was taken down immediately after in a 4-2 setback. Trice, who is ranked No. 3 by InterMat, improved 22-1 on the year.
In the most anticipated match of the day, Danny Mitcheff (133) scored the bout's only takedown, but Scotti Sentes tallied two escapes and a riding time point in a 3-2 win.
Riding time also made the difference at 141 as Chase Skonieczny pulled a 5-4 upset over Conor Beebe. Skonieczny (19-15) rode out Beebe in the second and earned four points in the third with a reversal, an escape and a penalty point for locking hands.
"We all know Chase is good, but he hasn't had a lot of confidence lately," Andrassy said. "This match is going to help that going into the MAC Tournament. He wrestled hard for seven minutes today and that's why he won."
At 149, Tony D'Alie led Matt Cathell 6-2 in the third period after D'Allie scored a reversal. Cathell then hit a Peterson-like roll, held D'Allie down and slowly lowered him to his shoulders.
"If you relax on him for a second, things like that happen," Andrassy said of Cathell. 'He's very hard to handle and he proved it right there."
Cathell, who was competing in his first match since Dec. 13, was disappointed in the way he wrestled for two periods.
"I got lucky and pulled it out in the end," Cathell said. "I just tried to keep moving to give myself a chance later in the period. Once I turned him, I just tried to tighten it up and I heard the official slap the mat."
With KSU leading 9-6, Steve Brown shifted the momentum back with the first of three straight CMU victories at 157. Brown scored a key takedown near the boundary with less than 30 seconds to go in a 3-2 win over Mallie Shuster. Shuster escaped with 13 seconds left, but could not set up a clean shot.
Ross Tice then dropped a 5-0 decision to Tyler Grayson at 165. Keith Witt (174) scored a late reversal in a 9-3 loss to No. 10 Ben Bennett.
The Chippewas, who are ranked as high as sixth in national polls, claimed their 11th MAC regular season title in 12 years.
The Golden Flashes will get their shot at redemption March 6-7 at the MAC Tournament in Mount Pleasa
Kent State (15-4, 4-1 MAC) 13
Central Michigan (17-2, 5-0 MAC) 21
125- Matt Steintrager (CM) dec. Troy Opfer, 5-0 0-3
133- Scotti Sentes (CM) Danny Mitcheff, 3-2 0-6
141- Chase Skonieczny (KS) dec. Conor Beebe, 5-4 3-6
149- Matt Cathell (KS) pinned. Tony D'Alie, 6:02 9-6
157- Steve Brown (CM) dec. Mallie Shuster, 3-2 9-9
165- Tyler Grayson (CM) dec. Ross Tice, 5-0 9-12
174: Ben Bennett (CM) dec. Keith Witt, 9-3 9-15
184: Dustin Kilgore (KS) maj. dec. Dillon Kern, 11-3 13-15
197: Eric Simaz (CM) Adam Cogar, 2-1 OT 13-18
285: Jarod Trice (CM) dec. Brendan Barlow, 4-2 OT 13-21
Officials: Frederick Feeney, Gary Berkowitz
Attendance: 882
