Kent State University
Ohio University
Flashes and Bobcats Carry Grudge into Friday Night
1/17/2019 9:27:00 PM | Wrestling
Mid-American Conference archrivals Kent State and Ohio will tangle in the annual Grudge Match Friday night at the Convocation Center in Athens. The Golden Flashes took back the trophy last season, as it changed hands for the fourth time since 2014.
Live video can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and live results can be followed on TrackWrestling.com.Â
Projected Matchups
125: Jake Ferri (11-12) or Tomas Gutierrez (10-11) vs. Shakur Laney (8-5) or Trevor Giallombardo (3-5)
133: Tim Rooney (18-9) vs. Mario Guillen (6-1)
141: Cory Simpson (14-20) vs. Cameron Kelly (7-2)
149: Kody Komara (16-20) vs. Alec Hagan (11-9)
157: Richard Jackson (7-16) vs. Zac Carson (12-5)
165: Isaac Bast (15-14) vs. Colt Yinger (10-4)
174: Dylan Barreiro (16-12) vs. Arsen Ashugyan (1-2)
184: Andrew McNally (24-5) vs. Hunter Yeargan (9-10)
197: Shane Mast (8-14) vs. Aaron Naples (8-7) or Derek Hillman (0-0)
285: Spencer Berthold (12-15) vs. Zack Parker (11-3)
The Rivalry
Dubbed in recent years as "The Grudge Match," the series with Ohio dates back to 1929 and escalated into a rivalry just a few years later after Bobcat graduate Joe Begala took over as Kent State's head coach. The Golden Flashes lead the all-time series with Ohio 48-25 and have won 12 of the last 14 meetings.Â
Last season, Kent State earned an 18-13 road victory at the Convocation Center. Four of the Flashes six wins came from current starters:  Jake Ferri, Tim Rooney, Isaac Bast and Dylan Barreiro.  The Bobcats last win came in 2017 at the M.A.C. Center.
Friday will mark the first time since 1972 the teams have met in back-to-back seasons in Athens.
McNally Exceeding Expectations
Sophomore 184-pounder Andrew McNally (Uniontown, Ohio) ranks fourth in the nation in pins against Division I opponents with 10, totaling 12 pins overall. A transfer from Eastern Michigan, McNally also leads the Flashes in wins (24), bonus-point victories (20) and major decisions (7). He was named MAC Wrestler of the Week for the second time this season on Dec. 20, after winning a 184-pound title at the Cleveland State Open.Â
McNally was also named MAC Wrestler of the Week on Nov. 7, after winning a Clarion Open title and going 8-0 in his opening weekend. In Kent State's win over Michigan State, McNally pinned previously undefeated Cameron Caffey, who is No. 15 in the latest InterMat rankings.
Quick Shots
- Senior Isaac Bast (165) and sophomore Dylan Barreiro (174) joined McNally with titles at the Clarion Open.
- Bast, the lone active senior on the team, leads the Flashes with 92 career victories.
- At the South Beach Duals, the Flashes topped a Big Ten opponent (Michigan State) for the first time since 2013.
- Five of the Flashes' losses have come against Top 11 opponents (Penn State, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin)
- Junior Tim Rooney won a 133-pound title at the Cougar Clash on Dec. 2.
- In November, Rooney was named MAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Week, after going 5-1 in a third place finish at the Navy Classic.
- Spencer Berthold (285) and Cory Simpson (141) each placed sixth at the Cleveland State Open after winning four consecutive consolation bracket matches.
- McNally, Bast and Kody Komara (149) all placed fourth at the Navy Classic.
- The NWCA honored Kent State for having the second highest grade point average in the nation last season at 3.497, trailing only Harvard.
- Since 2005-06 (Jim Andrassy's third season), Kent State is 164-100-1 in dual meets and 52-29-1 in MAC duals
- Freshman Tim Wallace has won a pair of open tournament crowns, competing unattached at 184. He's reached the finals three of the four tournaments he's competed in.
The Opponent
Ohio earned dual victories over Chattanooga and Appalachian State. The Bobcats finished sixth at the Navy Classic and eighth at the Southern Scuffle. Eight Bobcats were in the latest MAC Coaches Rankings, including junior 125-pounder Shakur Laney in the No. 1 spot. Junior 157-pounder Zac Carson and senior 141-pounder Cam Kelly both placed fourth at the Southern Scuffle Jan. 1-2. Senior heavyweight Zack Parker won an individual title at the Navy Classic.
Last Time Out
Kent State came up short against No. 24 Lock Haven, Chattanooga and Old Dominion Jan. 11-12 at the Virginia Duals. In a 26-15 loss against Lock Haven, three different Flashes (Cory Simpson, Kody Komara, Shane Mast) scored the only takedown of their respective matches, but lost.
MAC Rankings
Three Golden Flashes were in the latest (Jan. 10) MAC rankings:
No. 3 Isaac Bast, 165
No. 4 Dylan Barreiro, 174
No. 4 Andrew McNally, 184
Up Next
The Golden Flashes will host Buffalo on Saturday, Jan. 26, at the M.A.C. Center.
Players Mentioned
