Flashes Edge Purdue and Tear Apart Campbell at Wendy's Duals
1/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
ASHLAND, Ohio - No. 17 Kent State continued its recent roll with a 17-15 victory over No. 21 Purdue, before piling up 56 points against Campbell Saturday at the Wendy's Duals inside Ashland University's Kates Gymnasium. In a split of 10 matches with the Boilermakers, the Golden Flashes (9-5) gained bonus points from senior Matt Cathell (157) and junior Dustin Kilgore (197), who each recorded major decisions.
"Dustin wrestled really well against another Top 10 guy today," Head Coach Jim Andrassy said. "We could have wrestled better at a few weights today, but Purdue's a tough team and we got the wins when we needed them."
The Flashes began their day against Purdue at 125 pounds. Junior Nic Bedelyon jumped out to a 6-1 lead with a pair of takedowns and a reversal in his 7-4 victory over Camden Eppert.
Purdue's Akif Ehren overcame Tyler Small's opening takedown and downed the true freshman 8-5. With the team score tied 3-3, Jake Fleckenstein (141) gave the Boilermakers the lead with a 7-3 win over Chase Skonieczny.
In a pivotal 149-pound match, junior Marcel Clopton defeated Tommy Churchard 5-3. In the opening period, Clopton picked up Churchard with a double leg and performed a balancing act to stay in the circle and finish his takedown as he held his lead the rest of the way.
Senior Matt Cathell worked his roll to perfection in an 11-0 major decision over Sam Patacsil. After a scoreless first period, Cathell's reversal set up his first roll and a three-point near fall. He hit the same roll twice more in the third period, giving the Flashes a 10-6 team lead.
Ross Tice's signature tilt made the difference in his 6-4 win over Kyle Mosier at 165.
No. 10 Luke Manuel topped redshirt freshman Brandonn Johnson 6-2. Johnson got in on Manuel's legs with several shots, but was unable to finish.
The Boilermakers got the lead back down to one point (13-12) after A.J. Kissel claimed a 3-0 decision over Casey Newburg (184).
Kilgore put together an impressive first period in a 13-3 major decision over No. 9 Logan Brown. After scoring the opening takedown, Kilgore turned Brown with a near-side cradle for three back points, followed by a three-quarter nelson for two more. With two wins on the day, Kilgore passed Nick Nemeth for third place on Kent State's career win list with 122.
After six overtime sessions, Roger Vukobratovich nipped Brendan Barlow in the second tiebreaker, with a few extra seconds of riding time. Each wrestler scored one escape in regulation and two escapes in overtime. Vukobratovich was never warned for stalling, despite never taking a full shot throughout the match.
"Brendan's got to get past the calls and continue to wrestle his match," Andrassy said.
The Flashes had no trouble with Campbell at any weight class. After Bedelyon coasted to a 12-4 major decision, Small stuck Gabe Gardner in the second period with a cradle. Skonieczny then put Brad Merriman on his back three times in a 17-1 technical fall.
Cathell tossed Jake Fose to his back from the neutral position and recorded his sixth fall of the year just over one minute into the match. Tice followed with a series of tilts in his 19-4 technical fall, his third of the season.
Johnson, Newburg and Barlow piled up the Flashes' third, fourth and fifth pins of the dual. The Flashes came up just four points short of the maximum 60.
KSU has now won seven of its last eight duals. Its 56- (-1) victory over the Fighting Camels was its first shutout of a Division I opponent since 2005.
The Golden Flashes (9-5) open Mid-American Conference competition Friday, Jan. 21, hosting Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. in the M.A.C. Center.
Kent State 17, Purdue 15
125: Nic Bedelyon (KS) dec. Camden Eppert, 7-4
133: Akif Eren (P) dec. Tyler Small, 8-5
141: Jake Fleckenstein (P) dec. Chase Skonieczny, 7-3
149: Marcel Clopton (KS) dec. Tommy Chuchard, 5-3
157: Matt Cathell (KS) maj. dec. Sam Patacsil, 11-0
165: Ross Tice (KS) dec. Kyle Mosier, 6-4
174: Luke Manuel (P) dec. Brandonn Johnson, 6-2
184: A.J. Kissel (P) dec. Casey Newburg, 3-0
197: Dustin Kilgore (KS) maj. dec. Logan Brown, 13-3
285: Roger Vukobratovich dec. Brendan Barlow, 3-3 TB2 Riding Time
Kent State 56 Campbell -1
125: Nic Bedelyon (KS) maj. dec. Tanner Bidelspach, 12-4
133: Tyler Small (KS) pin Gabe Gardner 4:25
141: Chase Skonieczny (KS) tech fall Brad Merriman, 17-1
149: Marcel Clopton won by forfeit
157: Matt Cathell (KS) pin Jake Fose, 1:09
165: Ross Tice (KS) tech fall Ryan Ham, 19-4
174: Brandonn Johnson pin Peter Comis, 5:14
184: Casey Newburg pin John Merickel, 1:06
197: Dustin Kilgore (KS) won by forfeit
285: Brendan Barlow pin Parker Burns, 2:46
Team point deducted for unsportsmanlike conduct at 174
