Kent State University
Southern Scuffle
Flashes to Face Nation's Best at Southern Scuffle
12/30/2014 10:16:00 AM | Wrestling
Kent State begins the new year at the 2015 Defense Soap and Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle, Thursday and Friday inside Chattanooga's McKenzie Arena. Billed as the top regular season tournament in the nation, the 31-team field is loaded with many of the nation's best wrestlers, including 13 of the 25 teams in the latest NWCA Coaches Poll. Action starts at 9 a.m. on both days, with Friday's finals slated for 7 p.m.
The Golden Flashes toughest test of the season will come off a 13-day break from competition. Fifteen Kent State wrestlers will take on a field that includes 29 All-Americans, six NCAA finalists and three Top 3 teams, including defending NCAA champion Penn State. Three Mid-American Conference rivals will also be in Chattanooga (No. 5 Missouri, Buffalo, Central Michigan).
Live Video and Live Scoring
Live video of the entire tournament can be seen with a subscription to FloWrestling. Live scoring can be followed on TrackWrestling.
Scuffle Pre-seeds
8. Mack McGuire (133)
9. Tyler Small (141)
9. Mike DePalma (149)
2. Ian Miller (157)
12. Cole Baxter (197)
Quick Shots
- Kent State is No. 20 according to InterMat's Tournament Rankings and 23rd in Wrestling Insider NewsMagazine's Tournament Power Index. The Flashes are No. 21 according to Wrestling Report.
- Six Flashes are currently ranked in the Top 33 according to Wrestling Report and four are ranked in the top 17 spots according to InterMat.
- Mack McGuire has won his last nine matches and was named MAC Wrestler of the Week on Nov. 26.
- Senior Tyler Small (21-2) has won three open tournaments this season (EMU, Mercyhurst, Ashland). Small's 117 career victories rank seventh among Kent State's all-time leaders.
- Junior Ian Miller (157) recorded his 31st career pin at Buffalo. Miller is in fourth place among Kent State's career pin leaders.
- Senior Caleb Marsh will be out of action with an injury.
- Junior Mike DePalma leads the squad with nine bonus-point victories this season.
Scuffle History & Last Season
The Golden Flashes will be making their ninth appearance at the Southern Scuffle and their second showing in Chattanooga. The Flashes' highest finish came in 2008, placing third among 28 squads at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Kent State finished seventh of 35 teams at last year's Southern Scuffle. With 73.5 team points, the Golden Flashes finished ahead of five Top 25 teams. Returning place winners include a runner-up finish from Ian Miller, a sixth place from Tyler Small and a seventh place from Mack McGuire. Del Vinas won four matches. Penn State won the star-studded field followed by Oklahoma State and Minnesota.
Weight-by-Weight Previews
125-133
141-149
157-165
174-184
197-285
Last Time Out
A 26-14 loss to No. 5 Missouri was followed by a 36-6 victory over SIU Edwardsville and a 31-6 win over South Dakota State on Dec. 19. Mack McGuire, Ian Miller, Tyler Buckwalter and Mimmo Lytle all went 3-0. Buckwalter's unbeaten day came after starting the season 0-5 in dual meets. Senior 141-pounder Tyler Small made his return to the lineup, going 2-1, while freshman 125-pounder Drew Dickson earned his first career dual win.
Dual Success
Since Head Coach Jim Andrassy's third season (2005-06), the Golden Flashes have gone 124-54-1 in dual meets and 38-12-1 in MAC dual meets.
In the Rankings
Amateur Wrestling News
14. Mack McGuire (133)
11. Mike DePalma (149)
3. Ian Miller (157)
18. Caleb Marsh (174)
InterMat
14. Mack McGuire (133)
20. Mike DePalma (149)
3. Ian Miller (157)
17. Caleb Marsh (174)
W.I.N.
17. Mack McGuire (133)
3. Ian Miller (157)
18. Caleb Marsh (174)
WrestlingReport
15. Mack McGuire (133)
21. Tyler Small (141)
3. Ian Miller (157)
16. Caleb Marsh (174)
21. Cole Baxter (197)
33. Mimmo Lytle (285)
The Open Mat
16. Mack McGuire (133)
4. Ian Miller (157)
20. Caleb Marsh (174)
MAC Coaches Rankings (Dec.)
1. Mack McGuire (133)
t-4. Tyler Small (141)
4. Mike DePalma (149)
1. Ian Miller (157)
3. Caleb Marsh (174)
4. Mimmo Lytle (285)
2014-15 MAC December Team Rankings
1. Missouri (31.0)
2. Old Dominion (16.5)
3. Northern Iowa (16.0)
4. Ohio (15.0)
5. Kent State (12.5)
6. Northern Illinois (3.0)
7. Central Michigan (2.5)
8. Eastern Michigan (2.5)
9. Buffalo (1.0)
Players Mentioned
