Kent State University
University of Missouri
Missouri Finishes Strong in Dual Win Over Flashes
12/20/2015 5:33:00 PM | Wrestling
No. 4 Missouri won the final five weight classes in a 35-12 victory over Kent State Sunday afternoon inside the M.A.C. Center. A win by redshirt freshman Casey Sparkman (Massillon, Ohio) gave the Golden Flashes (5-2, 1-1 MAC) a 12-6 lead at the midway point, before the Tigers (5-0, 3-0 MAC) unleashed four pins in the last five bouts.
Sparkman took advantage of his first career MAC dual opportunity with a 7-2 decision over Blake Pepper at 157. Sparkman scored takedowns in all three periods to extend the Flashes' lead. Senior Ian Miller sat out with a knee injury.
Senior Del Vinas won by forfeit to start the afternoon at 125.
In a battle two highly-ranked wrestlers at 133, Mack McGuire (Upper St. Clair, Pa.) came away with an 8-5 victory over Zach Synon. A takedown late in the first period and a buzzer-beating reversal in the second gave McGuire a 4-0 lead. Synon came back with two takedowns in the third and a stalling point to tie the match 5-5. With a little over a minute of riding time logged, Synon let McGuire up and would later regret it. McGuire got in on a shot and came around the corner, bringing the M.A.C. Center crowd to its feet.
Joining Sparkman in his first career conference dual was Anthony Tutolo at 141. Tutolo began the second period with an escape for a 1-0 lead, but Matt Manley worked a six-point move on his way to 10-1 major decision.
For a nearly four minutes, senior Cole Baxter went toe-to-toe with No. 5 Willie Miklus, before being pinned in the second. Trailing 4-1 to start the second, Baxter escaped and converted a takedown to tie the match 4-4. Baxter then got caught riding too high from the top position as Miklus transitioned a reversal into a pinning combination.
The Tigers put together first period pins at 165, 197 and 285.
Kent State returns to action Dec. 29 at the Lock Haven Invitational.
Missouri 35 Kent State 12
125: Del Vinas(KSU) won by forfeit
133: Mack McGuire (KSU) over Zach Synon (UM), dec. 8-5
141: Matt Manley (UM) over Anthony Tutolo (KSU), maj. dec. 10-1
149: Lavion Mayes (UM) over Mike DePalma (KSU), dec. 9-3
157: Casey Sparkman (KSU) over Blake Pepper (UM), dec. 7-2
165: Daniel Lewis (UM) over Tyler Buckwalter (KSU), pin 2:30
174: Blaise Butler (UM) over Mike Vollant (KSU), maj. dec. 14-5
184: Willie Miklus (UM) over Cole Baxter (KSU), pin 3:55
197: J'Den Cox (UM) over Jerald Spohn (KSU), pin 1:02
285: James Romero (UM) over Devin Nye (KSU), pin 0:58
Players Mentioned
