Kent State University
Eastern Michigan
Flashes Come to Life in Front of Big Beauty & The Beast Crowd
1/30/2015 10:09:00 PM | Wrestling
KENT, Ohio - Kent State improved to 3-2 in Mid-American Conference duals with a 25-9 victory over Eastern Michigan Friday night at the M.A.C. Center. With over 2,000 in attendance, the Golden Flashes made it a Beauty & The Beast sweep for the third straight year as Kent State's gymnastics team defeated Pittsburgh.
"One of our goals is beat all of the core MAC schools, and so far we're on track to do that," Head Coach Jim Andrassy said of the Flashes' wins over Eastern Michigan, Ohio and Buffalo.
After splitting the first four matches, Ian Miller started a string of four straight Kent State victories with a 19-4 technical fall over Brandon Zeerip. Miller kept the gas pedal down throughout the third period, scored a takedown with under five seconds left and rode Zeerip out to secure the tech fall with riding time.
"Ian just overwhelms his opponents," Andrassy said. "He and Tyler Small both worked real hard to get us extra team points."
Small beat the final buzzer with a reversal to secure a 9-1 major decision. After a second period reversal, Small immediately locked up a cradle that turned into a three-point near fall for a 7-0 lead.
Junior Tyler Buckwalter found himself in a back-and-forth battle that was tied 5-5, before pulling away with a 9-5 victory. Both wrestlers recorded three-point near falls in the first period.
Junior Caleb Marsh had a huge first period in his 12-2 major decision over Kanye MacCallum. In his first match in over a month, Marsh turned MacCallum with a bow-and-arrow three times in the first, racking up nine near fall points.
Scrappy redshirt freshman Jerald Spohn overcame a 3-2 deficit after a period to down Mike Curby 6-4.
"Jerald still makes a lot of mistakes, but he works so hard, it wins him matches," Andrassy said.
Sophomore Mimmo Lytle improved to 5-0 in MAC duals with a 9-3 victory over Gage Hutchison. Lytle broke things open with a third period reversal, before building up riding time.
"Any time you can score nine points as a heavyweight, you're putting yourself in great position to win," Andrassy said.
Junior Del Vinas started the night with a 6-4 victory against Blake Caudill. Vinas scored takedowns in the second and third periods, erasing a two-point deficit early in the second.
"Del was still a little hesitant," Andrassy said. "I think he could have scored a lot more."
Junior Mack McGuire suffered his first conference loss, a 4-2 setback to Vincent Pizzuto in overtime. Pizzuto locked up a cradle from the neutral position and scooted behind McGuire for the takedown.
The Golden Flashes (7-10) will look for another conference victory Sunday visiting rival Central Michigan at 2 p.m.
Kent State 25 Eastern Michigan 9
125: Del Vinas (KSU) ) won by decision over Blake Caudill (EMU, 6-4
133: Vincent Pizzuto (EMU) won by decision over Mack McGuire (KSU), 4-2 SV
141: Tyler Small (KSU) won by major decision over Michael Shaw (EMU), 9-1
149: Nicholas Barber (EMU) won by decision over Mike DePalma (KSU), 10-4
157: Ian Miller (KSU) won by major decision over Brandon Zeerip (EMU), 19-4
165: Tyler Buckwalter (KSU) won by decision over Devan Marry (EMU), 9-5
174: Caleb Marsh (KSU) won by major decision over Kanye MacCallum (EMU), 12-2
184: Jerald Spohn (KSU) won by decision over Mike Curby (EMU) 6-4
197: Anthony Abro (EMU) won by decision over Cole Baxter (KSU), 8-5
285: Mimmo Lytle (KSU) won by decision over Gage Hutchison (EMU), 9-3
Players Mentioned
