Kent State University
Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
Rooney Finishes Eighth to Lead Flashes in Vegas
12/7/2019 3:48:00 PM | Wrestling
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA-Â Tim Rooney finished eighth to lead Kent State in a loaded field at the annual Cliff Keen Invitational at the Las Vegas Convention Center.Â
Rooney had advanced to the quarterfinals in day one of the two-day event but fell to the bracket's second-ranked wrestler, Montorie Bridges of Wyoming. That dropped Rooney into the consolation bracket on Saturday. He matched up with Northern Iowa's Jack Skudlarczyk. Rooney would earn a 6-5 victory by decision over the UNI wrestler to move on in the bracket. Another wrester from the state of Iowa in Iowa State's Tood Small. Small would earn a narrow 6-4 victory to move on, and drop Rooney into the 7th place match. There he would rematch with Anthony Madrigal of Oklahoma, the sixth-ranked wrestler in the bracket. The two met as part of the Kent State Tri Meet earlier this season, Madrigal won that matchup 7-5 and would win the rematch as well, a narrow 3-1 decision.Â
The other wrestler in action on day two was heavyweight Spencer Berthold. Berthold had gone 2-1 on Friday to earn a spot in the consolation round. On Saturday, he met up with Virginia Tech's John Borst, the #10 wrestler in the bracket. Borst earned a 4-1 victory on Saturday and would go on to finish seventh.Â
As a team, Kent State earned 17.5 points to finish 22nd overall in a field that saw 13 of the top-25 teams competing in the 32-team field. The Golden Flashes are back in action next Saturday when they travel to CSU to compete in the Cleveland State Open. The opening rounds start at 9 a.m. next Saturday.Â
DAY ONE RECAP
Tim Rooney advanced into the quarterfinals in the 133-pound bracket to lead the Flashes to sit 16th out of 32 teams after day one in the loaded Cliff Keen Invitational.
After receiving a bye in the opening round of the championship bracket, Rooney, the seventh-ranked wrestler in the 133-pound tournament, Rooney avenged an earlier season loss. The senior defeated Tye Varnell of Edinboro by a 4-1 decision after falling to him as part of the Kent State tri-meet earlier this season. Rooney's Friday would end with a tough 6-4 decision setback to the nation's #7 wrestler at 133, Montorie Bridges of Wyoming.
Heavyweight Spencer Berthold is alive in the consolation bracket after a 2-1 showing on Friday. Berthold defeated Deonte Wilson of NC State with a fall in the second period to advance to the second round. There he fell victim to a fall to the bracket's second-ranked wrestler, Tate Orndorff of Utah Valley. The heavyweight's boom-or-bust day continued with a fall in his first consolation bracket match, defeating Blake Wolters of South Dakota State in the first period. Berthold will face John Borst of Virginia Tech in his first match on Saturday.
Tomas Gutierrez got the nod at 125 pounds and went 1-2 on Friday. He drew a tough opening match, drawing ninth-ranked Patrick McKee of Minnesota. After falling in the first round, Gutierrez rebounded to defeat Jake Gromacki of Clarion by a 6-4 decision. He then drew another ranked opponent, #7 Jace Koelzer of Northern Colorado, and bowed out in the consolation bracket's second round.
At 141, Cory Simpson drew a first-round bye before matching up with the bracket's #3 wrestler Mitch McKee of Minnesota. Simpson couldn't spring the upset and would be eliminated in the consolation bracket by Mike Blockhus of Northern Iowa.
Kody Komara drew a similar tough fate, dropping a tough opening-round decision to #8 Yahya Thomas of Northwester at 149 pounds. Komara bounced back with a strong victory over Teonte Wilson of Nebraska-Kearney before losing another tough decision to another ranked opponent, #11 Russ Rohlfing of Cal-Bakersfield.
Brady Chrisman went 1-2 on Friday for the Flashes at 157. Chrisman dropped his opening bout with Keaton Geerts of UNI before defeating Jerry Rubio of Utah Valley. Chrisman's tournament came to an end, losing a decision to Jacob Wright of Fresno State.
It was a tough day for Kade Byland. At 165, Byland came up on the wrong end of two decisions to wrestlers from Utah Valley and The Citadel, respectfully.
Andrew McNally sprung an upset at 174, defeating the #6 wrestler in the bracket in Dan Bullard of NC State. McNally was down in the third period but was able to get a fall with just 45 seconds remaining. Â A rematch with Anthony Mantanona of Oklahoma was next. Unfortunately, McNally couldn't even the score and dropped into the consolation bracket. His day would end with a tough 11-10 setback to Tyler Morland of Northwestern.
At 184 pounds, Tyler Bates tournament started with a defensive bout against Gavin Hoffman of Ohio State. Unfortunately, Hoffman would prevail in a 2-1 nail biter. He'd take out his frustration on Dan Benoit of the Citadel with a 9-3 victory by decision. Bates' day would end with a loss to Jack Jessen of Northwestern.
Colin McCracken was tripped up in his first match at 197 pounds by Ryan Reyes of Fresno State. He'd rebound nicely with a 4-3 victory by decision over Joe Correll of Michigan. McCracken would then face Dylan Reynolds of Edinboro for the second time this season. Reynolds would even the season series at a match each with a narrow 3-2 victory by decision.
Rooney and Berthold will look to advance in the consolation brackets at 133 and heavyweight, respectfully on Saturday. The wrestling gets started on Saturday at noon eastern.
Players Mentioned
