Kent State University
Binghamton University
Flashes Host Binghamton in Final Dual Saturday
2/22/2019 10:45:00 AM | Wrestling
Free, live video can be seen on Boxcast, while live audio can be heard on Golden Flashes Radio on iHeart Radio with Matt Miller. Live results can be followed on TrackWrestling.com.
Senior Night
Prior to the opening match, Kent State's lone senior Isaac Bast will be recognized. Bast will be looking for his 94th career victory when he steps on the mat for the final time at the M.A.C. Center. Â
Two-for-One
Fans who come to Kent State's women's basketball game Saturday at 2 p.m. against Ohio, can stay inside the M.A.C. Center and see both events with one ticket.
Projected Matchups
125: Jake Ferri (12-16) vs. Audey Ashkar (11-7)
133: Tim Rooney (20-12) vs. Zach Trampe (10-1)
141: Cory Simpson (15-24) vs. Anthony Sparacio (22-9)
149: Kody Komara (18-23) vs. Kevin Kelly (3-9)
157: Richard Jackson (7-20) vs. Christopher Barker (10-11)
165: Isaac Bast (16-18) vs. Matt Swanson (6-10)
174: Kade Byland (9-17) vs. Vincent DePrez (18-9)
184: Andrew McNally (29-5) vs. Lou DePrez (24-4)
197: Shane Mast (10-17) vs. Anthony DePrez (5-11) or Alex Melikian (5-12)
285: Spencer Berthold (15-17) vs. Joe Doyle (15-14)
The Opponent
The Bearcats come into the Saturday winning eight straight duals, after starting the season 0-3. Â They have faced one other MAC opponent on the season, losing to Buffalo 29-10. Saturday evening will be the Bearcats second matchup of the day, as they visit Cleveland State at 1 p.m. Binghamton will then immediately hop on a bus and drive south to Kent for their 6 p.m. dual against the Flashes. Â Redshirt freshman 184-pounder Lou Deprez placed third at the Southern Scuffle, while senior 174-pounder Vincent Deprez placed eighth.
McNally Exceeding Expectations
Sophomore 184-pounder Andrew McNally (Uniontown, Ohio) ranks fifth in the nation in pins with 12. A transfer from Eastern Michigan, McNally also leads the Flashes in wins (29), bonus-point victories (23) and major decisions (9). In the Feb. 14 NCAA Coaches Rankings, McNally was No. 18 at 184. He was named MAC Wrestler of the Week on Dec. 20, after winning a 184-pound title at the Cleveland State Open.Â
McNally is currently on an 11-match winning streak. He 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. 16 in the latest Coaches rankings.
Quick Shots
- Isaac Bast (165) joined McNally with a title at the Clarion Open.
- Prior to the Buffalo dual, Bast was presented with the Jerry Petrofes Memorial Endowed Scholarship.
- 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 15 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. The fourth-year junior carries a 3.833 GPA.
- Spencer Berthold (285) and Cory Simpson (141) each placed sixth at the Cleveland State Open after winning four consecutive consolation bracket matches.
- Berthold now has nine pins on the season, including one at Cleveland State, completing a Kent State comeback in the final three bouts of the dual to overcome a 20-9 deficit.
- 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 165-104-1 in dual meets.
History vs. Binghamton
In the only meeting between the two programs, Kent State defeated Binghamton 41-3 on Dec. 8, 2002, at the M.A.C. Center.Â
Last Time Out
Kent State mounted a furious comeback against Northern Illinois last weekend after going down 19-0, but fell 22-13 to the Huskies. In the 184-pound match, Andrew McNally took home a 13-3 major decision victory and then in the 197, Shane Mast won a thrilling overtime matchup 7-3 over Max Ihry. Â Spencer Berthold was able to secure a heavyweight pin to put the score at 19-13 before the Huskies won the final bout.
Up Next
The Golden Flashes will compete in the Mid-American Conference Championships March 8-9, at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Players Mentioned
