Kent State University
Oklahoma State (Beauty & The Beast)
Flashes Host No. 1 Oklahoma State and Eastern Michigan
2/3/2017 10:13:00โฏAM | Wrestling
Dual meets against No. 1 Oklahoma State (Feb. 4) and Eastern Michigan (Feb. 5) will make up an eventful weekend for Kent State wrestling at the M.A.C. Center.ย
Saturday's Beauty and the Beast extravaganza includes Kent State's gymnastics team taking on West Virginia right next to the wrestling mat.ย Both competitions are set to begin at 2 p.m. ย Beauty and the Beast characters will be on hand for photos throughout the day. ย KSU wrestlers and gymnasts will be available afterward for autographs.
The Golden Flashes will get back on the mat the very next day with a Mid-American Conference showdown against Eastern Michigan in the final home dual of the season.ย Wrestling begins at noon.
Live Video and Audio
A live, free video stream of both Beauty and the Beast and Sunday's dual can be seen on Kent StateSports.com. Live audio of Sunday's dual can be heard on Golden Flashes Radio with Matt Miller on iHeartRadio.ย Live scoring can be followed on TrackWrestling.com.
All-Time Series
Kent State and Oklahoma State have met twice, both during NWCA National Dual tournaments.ย In 2013, the Cowboys came to the M.A.C. Center ranked No. 1.ย After two matches, the Golden Flashes jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but Oklahoma State ran away with a 34-10 victory.ย The Cowboys also topped the Flashes in 2006 in Cedar Falls, Iowa
Kent State has been dominant in its all-time series against Eastern Michigan, leading 44-1-1.ย The Eagles only win came in 1974, in a series that began in 1967.ย Last year, EMU led 14-6 after six matches, before Kent State came storming back for a 19-14 victory in Ypsilanti.ย Four of the Golden Flashes' six wins came down to the final seconds.ย The last time the teams met in Kent, the Flashes took seven matches in a 25-9 victory over EMU in front of a large Beauty & The Beast crowd in 2015.ย
Projected Lineup vs. Oklahoma State
125: Cory Simpson (9-17) vs. No. 12 Nick Piccininni (15-5) or Eli Hale (10-4)
133: Forfeit- No. 2 Kaid Brock (18-1)ย
141: Chance Driscoll (19-11) vs. No. 1 Dean Heil (19-0) or Boo Lewallenย (11-2)
149: Tim Rooney (16-18) vs. No. 2 Anthony Collica (13-1)ย
157: No. 30 Casey Sparkman (19-9) vs. No. 5 Joseph Smith (7-3) or Davey Dolan (12-4)ย
165: Isaac Bast (8-11) vs. No. 5 Chandler Rogers (14-3)
174: Jared Walker (14-16) vs. No. 4 Kyle Crutchmer (11-4) or Jordan Rogers (6-3)ย
184: Jerald Spohn (13-14) or Shane Mast (13-11) vs. No. 6 Nolan Boyd (14-3)
197: Stephen Suglio (17-14) vs. No. 4 Preston Weigel (13-4) or Derek White (17-6)
285: Devin Nye (15-15) vs. No. 7 Austin Schafer (18-1) or Tanner Allen (6-5)ย
Projected Lineup vs. Eastern Michigan
125: Cory Simpson (9-17) vs. No. 17 Noah Gonser (13-6)
133: No. 23 Anthony Tutolo (17-5) vs. Sa'Derian Perryย (10-8)ย
141: Chance Driscoll (19-11) vs. Kyle Springer (11-7)
149: Tim Rooney (16-18) vs. No. 27 Nick Barber (12-8)ย
157: No. 30 Casey Sparkman (19-9) vs. Zac Carson (8-7) or J.J. Wolfe (7-8)ย
165: Isaac Bast (8-11) vs. Devan Marry (8-7)
174: Jared Walker (14-16) vs. Jacob Davis (6-7)ย
184: Jerald Spohn (13-14) or Shane Mast (13-11) vs. Kayne MacCallum (6-10)
197: Stephen Suglio (17-14) vs. Derek Hillman (8-10)
285: Devin Nye (15-15) vs. No. 17 Gage Hutchison (22-9)ย
*NCAA Coaches Panel rankings
Dual Success
Since Head Coach Jim Andrassy's third season (2005-06), the Golden Flashes have gone 145-77 in dual meets and 48-20-1 in MAC dual meets.ย Since 2005-06, Kent State is 43-4-1 against the MAC combination of Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois and Ohio.
Junior 141-pounder Chance Driscoll is 10-2 in duals on the season.ย
The Opponents
The Cowboys (10-0) begin their weekend with a Friday night dual at No. 24 Edinboro.ย Six of Oklahoma State's dual wins have been by 30 or more points.ย Seven of the Cowboys' 10 wins have come against Top 25 teams, including a 24-11 victory over No. 3 Iowa. One month ago, Oklahoma State won the Southern Scuffle in convincing fashion with 198 points and nine top three finishes.ย Missouri was second with 126 points.ย Seven Cowboys are currently ranked in the Top five of the NCAA Coaches Panel.
The Eagles (5-5, 1-4 MAC) begin their weekend with a Friday night dual at Buffalo after an 11-day break from competition.ย EMU's dual wins include Clarion and Old Dominion.ย Three Eagles are ranked in the latest MAC Coaches Poll.ย Redshirt freshman 125-pounder Noah Goner and junior 141-pounder Kyle Springer are both No. 3.ย Junior heavyweight Gage Hutchison is No. 2 after placing fourth at this year's Midlands Championships.ย Gonser placed fifth at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.
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Quick Shots
- Saturday will be Kent State's fourth Beauty and the Beast event in five years.ย The Flashes' wrestling and gymnastics' teams have earned sweeps in each of the first three.
- Devin Nye recorded his team-leading seventh pin at the Virginia Duals, while Casey Sparkman notched his seventh tech fall.
- The Flashes' eight straight years with at least one All-American is the 10thย longest active streak in the nation.
- The Golden Flashes do not have a single senior on their roster
- Kent State concluded its 2015-16 season with a 16thย place finish at the NCAA Championships and two All-Americans.
- The NWCA honored Kent State for having the fifth highest grade point average in the nation last season at 3.325.
- Nine Flashes placed in the Top 6 spots at the Navy Classic (Nov. 19).
- The Flashes finished second of 15 teams at the Lock Haven Classic (Dec. 19) that included four top four finishes.
Three Scholar Athletes of the Week
Junior Chance Driscoll (Aurora, Ohio) recently gave Kent State wrestling its third Mid-American Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Week honor in just over a month's span.ย The 141-pounder went 4-0 at the Virginia Duals.ย An economics major, Driscoll carries a 3.63 cumulative grade point average.ย
Two weeks earlier, redshirt freshman Tim Rooney earned MAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Week honors.ย An exercise science major, Rooney carries a 3.9 cumulative grade point average.
The award also went to sophomore Anthony Tutolo in December.ย A communications major, Tutolo carries a 3.6 cumulative grade point average.
Flashes Welcome Transfer
Freshman 125-pounder Harry Feuer joined the Golden Flashes last month.ย Feuer was a three-time state place winner in high school and spent the fall semester at Notre Dame College.
Up Next
Kent State heads to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, next Sunday to take on No. 17 Central Michigan.
Players Mentioned
