Flashes Add 10 Wrestlers for 2017-18
4/25/2017 4:05:00 PM | Wrestling
Kent State will welcome 10 new members to its wrestling program for the 2017-18 season. Ranging from 125 to heavyweight, the incoming class includes wrestlers from five different states.
"We spread out our recruiting a bit and tried to get guys that really want to be here," Head Coach Jim Andrassy said.  "It's a well-rounded class that fits a lot of our needs. We've got some tough kids in this group that we're really anxious to work with."
Jake Ferri of (Billerica, Mass.) of Shawsheen Valley Technical High School will compete at 125 pounds. Ferri became Shawsheen's first back-to-back New England title winner in program history. He went 59-1 as a senior, surpassing 200 career victories. Ferri was named Commonwealth Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Year this past March. Before moving up to 113 as senior, he went 51-0 as a junior at 106 pounds.
"Jake's really strong for his size but will need to get bigger," Andrassy said. "He wrestles well in all positions."Â
Colin Schuster (Mason, Ohio) of Mason High School will see action at 125 or 133. Schuster placed third at the state tournament as a junior at 120 pounds. It was his second time on the podium at the state championships. Schuster also went 3-0 at the Division I Ohio State Dual Meet Championships in February.
"We're hoping Colin can compete for a starting job right away," Andrassy said.Â
Nick Henneman (Oregon, Ohio) of Oregon Clay High School is expected to compete at 133 or 141. Henneman made it to the state tournament's podium three times, including a pair of fourth place finishes. He won a 138-pound title at the Grizzly Invitational. Henneman was a 2016 section champion and a three-time Three Rivers Athletic Conference champion.
"Nick's a tough kid and he's really good on the mat," Andrassy said. "He throws in really good arm bars and gets a lot of pins from them."Â
Raphael Rodriguez (Boise, Idaho) of Bishop Kelly will also give the Golden Flashes depth at 133 and 141. Believed to be the first Kent State recruit from Idaho, Rodriguez is a three-time state place winner, finishing as high as third.
"Ralphie is here for our aeronautics program," Andrassy said. "He found us and liked our program. And his academics are off the charts."
Jake Martinez (Newark, Ohio) Licking Valley High School will compete at either 141 or 149. Martinez became a three-time state place winner after finishing third this past season at 138. In 2016, he won 51 matches and finished as the state runner-up. Martinez was a four-time state qualifier, beginning his career at 106 pounds. He placed eighth at the Super 32 tournament in North Carolina.  Â
"Jake's good all-around wrestler and is really good on his feet," Andrassy said.Â
Kody Komara (Freedom, Pa.) of Freedom Area High School will compete at 149 or 157 pounds. Komara was a three-time state place winner, including a pair of third place finishes in his junior and senior seasons. Competing at 120 as a freshman and 145 as a senior, he piled up 156 victories in four seasons. Komara placed in the top three at the WPIAL Championships in each of his four seasons.
"Kody's got a lot of talent and he's a gritty kid," Andrassy said.Â
Jake Hinkson (Wexford, Pa.) of North Allegheny High School will compete for the Golden Flashes at either 149 or 157 pounds. Hinkson was a three-time state place winner, finishing as high as fourth this past season at 145. He was a two-time section champion. A four-year starter, he began his career at North Allegheny competing at 132. Hinkson piled up over 130 career victories.
"Jake's a savvy wrestler," Andrassy said. "He reminds us of a Mack McGuire the way can get out of tough positions. He's got a really good single leg and he wrestled for one of the better programs in Pennsylvania."
Colin McCracken (Waynesburg, Pa.) of Waynesburg Central High School is expected to see action at 184 or 197.  A three-time section champion, McCracken placed third at the state championships as a senior at 195 pounds. He won 147 career matches, including a 43-6 mark this past season. McCracken placed third at the renowned Powerade Tournament.
"Colin is a 4.0 student and will likely be valedictorian," Andrassy said. "He comes from a great storied program that has produced national champions. He's a smart wrestler and really tough on top. He doesn't let guys out."
Spencer Berthold (Grafton, Ohio) of Midview High School will also compete at heavyweight. Berthold was the state runner-up at 220 pounds this past March, becoming the first state finalist from Midview since 1985. He was also runner-up at the Bill Dies Memorial Tournament.
"We think Spencer can grow into the weight class and still be pretty active," Andrassy said. "He can move and shoot."
Billy Bolia (Fairport, N.Y.) of Fairport High School will compete at heavyweight. Bolia won a state title this past March, capping off a perfect 47-0 season. He was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the 2017 Lockport Wrestling Tournament. Bolia also placed at the state tournament as a junior at 220 pounds.
"He's very active for a heavyweight and shoots a lot," Andrassy said. "He's not your typical heavyweight. He's explosive. We think he can make an impact right away."
Six wrestlers in the class will be receiving partial academic scholarships.
In each of the last two seasons, Kent State has been recognized by the National Wrestling Coaches Association for having one of the top five team grade point averages in the nation.
Players Mentioned
