Kent State University
Ohio
Flashes Host Ohio Friday; Visit Edinboro Sunday
1/13/2015 11:23:00 AM | Wrestling
After racking up 6,000 miles on bus trips this season, Kent State (5-7, 1-1) welcomes the opportunity to wrestle in front of its home crowd Friday night. Archrival Ohio (4-3, 0-2) comes to the M.A.C. Center in a key Mid-American Conference dual at 7p.m. Two days later, the Golden Flashes will visit No. 15 Edinboro (8-4) at McComb Fieldhouse.
Live Video, Audio and Scoring
Live video of the dual with Ohio can be seen free here. All of Kent State's home wrestling duals can be heard live on Golden Flashes Radio with Ty Linder through iHeartRadio. Live scoring can be followed on TrackWrestling.
The Rivalry
Dubbed in recent years as "The Grudge Match," the series dates back to 1929 and escalated into a rivalry just a few years later after Bobcat graduate Joe Begala took over as Kent State's head coach. The Golden Flashes lead the all-time series with Ohio 45-24, but the Bobcats earned a 21-16 victory last season in Athens, snapping Kent State's streak of nine straight victories.
Returning winners from last year's dual includes Mack McGuire, Tyler Small and Ian Miller. The last time the teams met at the M.A.C. Center (2013), Kent State won seven matches on the way to a 26-11 victory, including wins from McGuire and Caleb Marsh. Ohio's last win in Kent came in 2005. 
Dual Success
Since Head Coach Jim Andrassy's third season (2005-06), the Golden Flashes have gone 125-57-1 in dual meets and 38-12-1 in MAC dual meets. Kent State has won its home opener in each of the last six seasons.
The Opponents
Ohio is No. 3 in the January MAC rankings, with six Bobcats in the MAC's Top 3 spots. Ohio placed third at the Navy Classic this season with individual titles from Tywan Claxton (149) and Cody Walters (174). Last week, the Bobcats earned a convincing 42-5 victory over Clarion, winning 9-of-10 matches.
Edinboro is No. 5 in InterMat's Tournament rankings. Three Fighting Scots (A.J. Schopp, Mitchell Port, Dave Habat) are ranked in the Top 3. The Scots have notable dual meet wins over No. 10 Lehigh, No. 16 Michigan and No. 23 West Virginia. Edinboro recently settled for fourth place in the Gold Bracket of the Virginia Duals.
Quick Shots
- Kent State is No. 20 according to InterMat's Tournament Rankings and tied for No. 18 in Wrestling Insider NewsMagazine's Tournament Power Index. The Flashes are also No. 21 according to Wrestling Report.
- Six Flashes are currently ranked in the Top 28 spots according to Wrestling Report.
- Junior Tyler Buckwalter has won each of his last seven dual meets.
- Senior Tyler Small has won three open tournaments this season (EMU, Mercyhurst, Ashland). Small recently passed Nick Nemeth for fourth place with 123 career victories at Kent State.
- Junior Ian Miller ranks fourth among Kent State's career pin leaders with 31.
- Junior Mike DePalma leads the squad with 10 bonus-point victories this season.
Last Time Out
With a number of starters out with injuries, Kent State settled for a 1-3 finish at the Virginia Duals inside the Hampton Coliseum Jan. 9-10. The Golden Flashes topped The Citadel 23-9, but dropped matches to No. 6 Virginia Tech, Arizona State and Chattanooga.
Tyler Buckwalter went 4-0 on the weekend, while Mack McGuire and Cole Baxter each went 3-1 with a pin. Baxter's pin came against Virginia Tech's Jared Haught, who was No. 15 according to WrestlingReport. Tyler Small finished 2-1.
History vs. Edinboro
Edinboro leads the all-time series with Kent State 6-4, including victories in each of the last two seasons. The Scots have won three of the four meetings in Edinboro, including a 20-19 nail-biter in 2013 that featured a pair of overtime bouts. Last year in Kent, Ian Miller, Caleb Marsh and Cole Baxter all earned victories.
Projected Lineup vs. Ohio
125: Zac Hassan (8-10) or Sebastian Arroyo (1-2) vs. Del Vinas (9-17)
133: Kagan Squire (10-7) vs. Mack McGuire (20-8)
141: Joel Shump (9-9) vs. Tyler Small (27-5)
149: Tywan Claxton (19-2) vs. Mike DePalma (16-10)
157: Spartak Chino (12-6) vs. Andrew Candiello (2-9), Ian Miller (5-2) or Nate Valentine (7-13)
165: Harrison Hightower (17-6) vs. Tyler Buckwalter (18-11)
174: Cody Walters (20-1) vs. Jerald Spohn (19-15) or Mike Vollant (7-15)
184: Andrew Romanchik (19-8) vs. Charlie Keenan (9-8)
197: Phil Wellington (14-5) vs. Cole Baxter (14-6)
285: Zach Parker (9-9) or Jesse Webb (7-11) vs. Mimmo Lytle (20-12)
Projected Lineup vs. Edinboro
125: Kory Mines (22-6) vs. Del Vinas (9-17)
133: Anthony Rivera (3-8) vs. Mack McGuire (20-8)
141: Mitchell Port (24-0) vs. Tyler Small (27-5)
149: Dave Habat (23-1) vs. Mike DePalma (16-10)
157: Kasey Burnett-Davis (11-8) vs. Andrew Candiello (2-9), Ian Miller (5-2) or Nate Valentine (7-13)
165: Casey Fuller (14-10) vs. Tyler Buckwalter (18-11)
174: Patrick Jennings (21-8) vs. Jerald Spohn (19-15) or Mike Vollant (7-15)
184: Vic Avery (19-6) vs. Charlie Keenan (9-8)
197: Vince Pickett (12-12) vs. Cole Baxter (14-6)
285: Warren Bosch (10-15) vs. Mimmo Lytle (20-12)
Up Next
Kent State takes another long road trip next weekend, beginning with a Saturday matchup against NC State in Raleigh. The next day, the Golden Flashes head to Norfolk, Va., for a Mid-American Conference dual at Old Dominion.
In the Rankings
Amateur Wrestling News
15. Mack McGuire (133)
4. Ian Miller (157)
20. Caleb Marsh (174)
InterMat
17. Mack McGuire (133)
2. Ian Miller (157)
15. Caleb Marsh (174)
W.I.N.
16. Mack McGuire (133)
2. Ian Miller (157)
17. Caleb Marsh (174)
WrestlingReport
14. Mack McGuire (133)
27. Tyler Small (141)
2. Ian Miller (157)
19. Caleb Marsh (174)
26. Cole Baxter (197)
28. Mimmo Lytle (285)
The Open Mat
6. Ian Miller (157)
18. Caleb Marsh (174)
MAC Coaches Rankings (Jan.)
1. Mack McGuire (133)
4. Tyler Small (141)
4. Mike DePalma (149)
1. Ian Miller (157)
3. Caleb Marsh (174)
4. Mimmo Lytle (285)
2014-15 MAC January Team Rankings
1. Missouri (31.0)
2. Old Dominion (17.0)
3. Ohio (16.0)
4. Northern Iowa (14.0)
5. Kent State (13.0)
6. Central Michigan (3.0)
t-7. Northern Illinois (2.0)
t-7. Eastern Michigan (2.0)
9. Buffalo (1.0)
Players Mentioned
