Golden Pride Wrestling Club Finds Success at University Nationals
5/31/2013 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
AKRON, Ohio- Led by Ian Miller, several Kent State wrestlers showed promise at the 2013 ASICS University Nationals May 24-25 inside Stile Athletics Field House. Miller placed fourth among 70 wrestlers in the 74KG bracket, while recent graduate Dustin Kilgore placed second at 96 KG.
Last year's champion at 70 KG (154 lbs), Miller went up a weight class (163 lbs) in an attempt to earn a spot on the U.S. World Team. He went 5-2 on the day with four tech falls and held a large lead in his third place match, before being pinned.
"I think he would have won the lower weight class (70KG) easily," Jim Andrassy said of Miller facing bigger and stronger opponents than what he's used to. "He was winning his third place match by nine points and almost had the tech fall and ended up getting thrown and pinned…which happens in freestyle. To place in the top four in that weight, which is probably one of the tougher weight classes was a pretty good thing for a guy that's a 157-pounder."
Miller also showed his potential in a semifinals loss to former Hodge Trophy winner David Taylor.
"It was actually a very good match," Andrassy said. "Ian was scoring points, which many guys don't do against Taylor."
Kilgore went 5-1 with four tech falls and a pin, but could not repeat as champion. He dropped his best-of-three final to Micah Burak 10-6 and 5-2.
"There's no doubt he can be better than what he was in the finals," Andrassy said of Kilgore. He just hasn't been wrestling as well as he has in the past. He's just got to figure it out. In his wins he was dominant, but Burak has been his kryptonite."
Tyler Buckwalter went 3-2, competing at 79 KG (174 lbs) with a tech fall.
"We're trying to get Tyler bigger so he can have an opportunity to wrestle 174 next year," Andrassy said. "He was never a freestyle wrestler until this year so he's come along quickly."
Mimmo Lytle, Clay Wenger and Jacob Schultz all went 2-2 on the weekend. Alfredo Gray earned a notable victory over Dominic Parisi, who advanced to the Round of 12 at this year's NCAA Championships.
