Kent State University
MAC Championships
Komara Crowned Champ, McCracken Heads to NCAAs, Flashes 7th at MAC Championships
3/5/2022 7:21:00 PM | Wrestling
ATHENS, OHIO- Kody Komara pinned Marcus Robinson in the 149-pound title match, highlighting a strong finish to the MAC Championships on Saturday at Ohio University.
While Komara earned the fall and the conference crown, he will be joined at the NCAA tournament in Detroit by Colin McCracken who finished second at 184 pounds. Jake Ferri earned a third-place finish at 125 pounds and has a strong case for an at-large bid.
Komara got Robinson in the precarious position in the second period and while Robinson fought valiantly, Komara was able to secure the pin and the victory at the 4:02 mark. Komara went 3-0 in the tournament and is 16-11 overall.
McCracken lost his title bout to Brit Wilson of Northern Illinois, a top-15 wrestler at 184 pounds. After an upset in the third-place match, McCracken took on Kyle Davis of George Mason for a true second place. McCracken had a takedown and a two-point nearfall in the first period and never looked back in a 9-4 victory. With his true second place title, he earned the second automatic bid to nationals.
Ferri earned his way into the third-place match with a last-second win over Oscar Sanchez of Ohio. Ferri got a takedown with just 17 seconds left to go up 3-1 and all Sanchez could manage was an escape, giving Ferri a 3-2 win. It was another classic in the third-place match, as he took on Brock Bergelin of Central Michigan. The wrestlers traded takedowns and escapes through regulation with Ferri getting the equalizer with 37 seconds left in regulation. In the extra period, Ferri again struck for two and captured a spot on the podium.
Tyler Bates and Louis Newell also placed at the Championships. Bates finished fifth after getting a 3-2 win over Cody Mulligan of Edinboro. Bates used a first-period takedown and a third period escape to win the low-scoring bout. Newell wrestled to a seventh-place finish after defeating Kaden Cassidy of George Mason. Newell got takedowns in the first and the third and had the riding time advantage in a 5-3 victory.
As a team, Kent State finished seventh overall with 71.5 points overall. Lock Haven took home the overall title with Central Michigan finishing second and Northern Illinois third. Komara and McCracken will begin preparation for the national tournament, at-large bids will be announced early next week.
125
Jake Ferri (26-9) placed 3rd (4-1)
- Champ. Round 1 - Jake Ferri (Kent State) 26-9 won by decision over Bryce West (Northern Illinois) 16-15 (Dec 10-3)
- Quarterfinal - Jake Ferri (Kent State) 26-9 won by decision over Austin Macias (SIU Edwardsville) 3-14 (Dec 12-7)
- Semifinal - Anthony Noto (Lock Haven) 30-1 won by decision over Jake Ferri (Kent State) 26-9 (Dec 7-6)
- Cons. Semi - Jake Ferri (Kent State) 26-9 won by decision over Oscar Sanchez (Ohio) 19-11 (Dec 3-2)
- 3rd Place Match - Jake Ferri (Kent State) 26-9 won in sudden victory - 1 over Brock Bergelin (Central Michigan) 21-11 (SV-1 7-5)
133
Brendon Fenton (14-12) (1-2)
- Champ. Round 1 - Brendon Fenton (Kent State) 14-12 won by decision over Mikey Kaminski (Northern Illinois) 6-11 (Dec 4-2)
- Quarterfinal - Gable Strickland (Lock Haven) 19-13 won by tech fall over Brendon Fenton (Kent State) 14-12 (TF-1.5 5:00 (16-1))
- Cons. Round 2 - Aaron Schulist (SIU Edwardsville) 2-4 won by tech fall over Brendon Fenton (Kent State) 14-12 (TF-1.5 4:55 (18-2))
141
Louis Newell (20-18) placed 7th (2-2)ÂÂÂÂ
- Champ. Round 1 - Seth Koleno (Clarion) 29-9 won by decision over Louis Newell (Kent State) 20-18 (Dec 4-2)
- Cons. Round 1 - Louis Newell (Kent State) 20-18 received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 - Louis Newell (Kent State) 20-18 won by decision over Ben Freeman (Buffalo) 15-14 (Dec 4-2)
- Cons. Round 3 - Jaivon Jones (Northern Illinois) 17-16 won by decision over Louis Newell (Kent State) 20-18 (Dec 1-0)
- 7th Place Match - Louis Newell (Kent State) 20-18 won by decision over Kaden Cassidy (George Mason) 17-8 (Dec 5-3)
149
Kody Komara (16-11) placed 1st (3-0)
- Champ. Round 1 - Kody Komara (Kent State) 16-11 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal - KoÂdy Komara (Kent State) 16-11 won by decision over Dashawn Farber (Lock Haven) 15-15 (Dec 6-3)
- Semifinal - Kody Komara (Kent State) 16-11 won by injury default over Alex Madrigal (George Mason) 20-6 (Inj. 5:34)
- 1st Place Match - Kody Komara (Kent State) 16-11 won by fall over Marcus Robinson (Cleveland State) 18-4 (Fall 4:02)
157
Robert Pryhocki (7-14) (0-2)
- Champ. Round 1 - Cole McComas (Rider) 4-12 won in sudden victory - 1 over Robert Pryhocki (Kent State) 7-14 (SV-1 8-6)
- Cons. Round 1 - Robert Pryhocki (Kent State) 7-14 received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 - Anthony Gibson (Northern Illinois) 20-13 won by fall over Robert Pryhocki (Kent State) 7-14 (Fall 2:41)
165
Brady Chrisman (16-15) placed 8th (2-3)
- Champ. Round 1 - Brady Chrisman (Kent State) 16-15 won by decision over Sean O`Dwyer (Ohio) 3-11 (Dec 10-3)
- Quarterfinal - Riley Smucker (Cleveland State) 21-4 won by decision over Brady Chrisman (Kent State) 16-15 (Dec 3-1)
- Cons. Round 2 - Brady Chrisman (Kent State) 16-15 won by decision over Cardeionte Wilson (SIU Edwardsville) 8-11 (Dec 6-4)
- Cons. Round 3 - Joe Casey (Rider) 4-4 won by decision over Brady Chrisman (Kent State) 16-15 (Dec 7-3)
- 7th Place Match - Kolby Ho (Clarion) 16-9 won by medical forfeit over Brady Chrisman (Kent State) 16-15 (M. For.)
174
Michael Ferre (11-17) (1-2)
- Champ. Round 1 - Michael Ferre (Kent State) 11-17 won by decision over Kevin Gschwendtner (SIU Edwardsville) 10-17 (Dec 4-2)
- Quarterfinal - Mason Kauffman (Northern Illinois) 21-9 won by decision over Michael Ferre (Kent State) 11-17 (Dec 5-4)
- Cons. Round 2 - Anthony Rice (Cleveland State) 5-18 won by decision over Michael Ferre (Kent State) 11-17 (Dec 3-2)
184
Colin McCracken (15-9) placed 2nd (3-1)
- Champ. Round 1 - Colin McCracken (Kent State) 15-9 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal - Colin McCracken (Kent State) 15-9 won in sudden victory - 1 over Sergio Villalobos (SIU Edwardsville) 8-16 (SV-1 4-2)
- Semifinal - Colin McCracken (Kent State) 15-9 won in sudden victory - 1 over DeAndre Nassar (Cleveland State) 17-6 (SV-1 3-1)
- 1st Place Match - Brit Wilson (Northern Illinois) 25-4 won by major decision over ColinMcCracken (Kent State) 15-9 (MD 8-0)
- True second - Colin McCracken (Kent State) 14-8 won by decision over Kyle Davis (George Mason) 9-7 (Dec 9-4)
197
Tyler Bates (15-16) placed 5th (3-2)
- Champ. Round 1 - Tyler Bates (Kent State) 15-16 won by decision over Tristin Guaman (Northern Illinois) 10-18 (Dec 3-1)
- Quarterfinal - Tyler Bates (Kent State) 15-16 won in sudden victory - 2 over Aaron Bolo (Central Michigan) 16-8 (SV-2 3-2)
- Semifinal - Benjamin Smith (Cleveland State) 20-4 won by decision over Tyler Bates (Kent State) 15-16 (Dec 6-3)
- Cons. Semi - Ryan Yarnell (SIU Edwardsville) 9-14 won by decision over Tyler Bates (Kent State) 15-16 (Dec 2-0)
- 5th Place Match - Tyler Bates (Kent State) 15-16 won by decision over Cody Mulligan (Edinboro) 22-10 (Dec 3-2)
285
Jacob Cover (13-18) (1-2)
- Champ. Round 1 - Isaac Reid (Lock Haven) 25-4 won by decision over Jacob Cover (Kent State) 13-18 (Dec 10-3)
- Cons. Round 1 - Jacob Cover (Kent State) 13-18 won by decision over Daniel Bucknavich (Cleveland State) 5-11 (Dec 6-5)
- Cons. Round 2 - Tobin Cahill (Buffalo) 15-15 won by decision over Jacob Cover (Kent State) 13-18 (Dec 7-2)
Players Mentioned
