Kent State University
University of Northern Iowa
Several Strong Individual Efforts in Loss to No. 18 Northern Iowa
1/29/2017 5:05:00 PM | Wrestling
No. 18 Northern Iowa improved to 6-0 in Mid-American Conference duals with a 31-16 victory over Kent State Sunday afternoon at the M.A.C. Center. Â Each team earned a forfeit, while the Panthers took 5-of-8 matches.
"I liked the effort," Head Coach Jim Andrassy said. "But you can't get pinned and expect your team to have a chance to win the dual."
Junior Chance Driscoll closed out a strong weekend with a 5-1 victory over Tyler Willers, moving to 10-2 in duals this season. Driscoll scored on a well-executed, single-leg takedown in the first, a quick reversal to start the second and a riding time point for his efforts on top in the third.
"Chance has come a long way since he started three years ago," Andrassy said. "He's by far the hardest working kid on our team. If everyone gave the effort he does, I could walk out this place smiling after every dual."
Sophomore Casey Sparkman completed three different shots for takedowns in a 7-3 win over Paden Moore. Sparkman's first score came on a double leg just before time expired in the opening period. Leading 3-1 early in the third, he converted another shot at the edge of mat, while keeping his back foot in bounds.
Two matches later, the Flashes got an impressive effort from redshirt freshman Jared Walker, who dropped a 6-4 decision to No. 10 Taylor Lujan. Wrestling up a weight class, Walker got the opening takedown and came close to finishing off takedowns on two other occasions.
Kent State's biggest win of the day came from junior Stephen Suglio, who earned a 12-1 major decision over Jacob Holschlag. Scoreless after one period, Suglio caught Holschlag riding high and immediately followed a reversal with a four-point tilt. Holschlag chose top to start the third and Suglio repeated his efforts with another reversal and tilt.
"Stephen's wrestled really well in his last three matches now," Andrassy said.
The M.A.C. Center hosts Beauty & The Beast Saturday, Feb. 4 as No. 1 Oklahoma State makes its second trip to Kent, Ohio in five seasons. As wrestling action happens on one side of the gym, Kent State's gymnastics team will compete against West Virginia in the unique event.
Northern Iowa 31 Kent State 16
125: Jay Schwarm (UNI) over Cory Simpson (KSU) pin 1:38
133: Josh Alber (UNI) won by forfeit
141: Chance Driscoll (KSU) over Tyler Willers (UNI) dec. 5-2
149: Max Thomsen (UNI) over Tim Rooney (KSU) pin 4:48
157: Casey Sparkman (KSU) over Paden Moore (UNI) dec. 7-3
165: Bryce Steiert (UNI) over Isaac Bast pin 4:23
174: Taylor Lujan (UNI) over Jared Walker (KSU) dec. 6-4
184: Drew Foster (UNI) over Jerald Spohn (KSU) maj. dec. 14-1
197: Stephen Suglio (KSU) over Jacob Holschlag (UNI) maj. dec. 12-1
285: Devin Nye (KSU) won by forfeit
Players Mentioned
