Kent State University
Central Michigan
Comeback Bid Falls Short at Central Michigan
2/5/2023 4:12:00 PM | Wrestling
MOUNT PLEASANT, MI- The Golden Flashes were led by Jacob Cover's second win of the weekend but a comeback at Central Michigan would fall short in a 22-15 setback.
Enrique Munguia dominated the early going in his match at 165 pounds, the starter match for the day. Munguia got an early take down and kept control, earning over 90 seconds of riding time. In the final stages of the first period, Hubbard flipped the script, recording a reversal and leveraged it into a pin fall as time expired in the first.
At 174 pounds, Michael Ferree battled well against a red-hot Alec Cramer who had come with a double-digit win streak. Ferree was able to land a pair of takedowns and a pair of escapes. However, Cramer stayed hot, earning one more takedown and escape to earn the 9-6 decision. It was a defensive battle at 184 pounds and Ben Cushman and Tyler Bates went scoreless into the third period. Cushman earned an escape to start the third but Bates quickly countered with a takedown. A Cushman escape capped the scoring in regulation and the pair went to extra time tied at two. In the first extra period, Cushman was able to land a shot on Bates and earned the walk-off takedown for the 4-2 win.
Blake Schaffer's match with Cameron Wood started similarly to Bates' match at 184. After a scoreless first, Schaffer countered a shot by Wood with a takedown of his own and was able to turn it into a four-point near fall. After a Wood reversal made it 6-3, Schaffer fought out of the down position in the third, preventing a Wood takedown, securing the escape and a 7-3 victory.
At heavyweight, Cover dominated the second period, earning the full two minutes of riding time. Cover was awarded a stalling point in the second period to lead 1-0 and made it 2-0 after a third-period escape. The riding time made it 3-0 and Cover showcased top-notch defensive wrestling to secure the shutout and the victory.
Sean Spidle jumped out early on Jake Ferri in the first period at the 125 bout. Spidle landed an early takedown and controlled riding time for over two minutes in the opener. Spidle got the early escape in the second and Ferri countered with a takedown to make it 3-2. A second escape and takedown for the Chippewa made it 6-2 after two. Ferri went neutral to start the third and recorded a takedown to make it 6-4, the wrestlers then traded a takedown and reversal to make it 8-6. A flurry of takedowns and escapes would ensue over the final minute. Ferri would land his final takedown of the day to tie it at 12 but had to surrender the escape due to Spidle's riding time bonus. Ferri couldn't find the equalizer in a 15-12 setback.
Matt Ellis got the start at 133 for the Flashes and responded with a pair of first-period takedowns to build a 4-1 lead. That is all Ellis would need, he'd pad the lead with a third-period escape and secure a 5-3 win.
The matches at 141 and 149 had similar endings. Louis Newell got into a back-and-forth match with Mason Breece. In the third period, Newell found himself down 7-6 but had the riding time bonus. Needing an escape to preserve the riding time and secure a needed point, Newell gambled and Breece took advantage. Breece secured a four-point nearfall to put the match out of reach with an 11-6 victory. At 149, Kody Komara needed to jump start his offense after falling down 4-1 in the third period. Johnny Lovett took advantage and put the match out of reach with a late-period near fall. With the match secured in favor of Central Michigan, Corbyn Munson forfeited the 157 match to Keegan Knapp.
Kent State will wrap up the regular season this weekend with a pair of duals. First up is the last leg of a three-dual road trip, a quick trip up to Cleveland State on Thursday night. The in-state rivalry is set for a 7 p.m. start.
Central Michigan 22, Kent State 15
125 pounds: Sean Spidle (C) dec. Jake Ferri, 15-12
133: Matt Ellis (K) dec. Vince Perez, 5-3
141: Mason Breece (C) dec. Louis Newell, 11-6
149: Johnny Lovett (C) major dec. Kody Komara, 10-1
157: Keegan Kemp (K) won by forfeit
165: Tracy Hubbard (C) pinned Enrique Munguia, 3:00
174: Alex Cramer (C) dec. Michael Ferree, 9-6
184: Ben Cushman (C) dec. Tyler Bates, 4-2, SV-1
197: Blake Schaffer (K) dec. Cameron Wood, 7-3
285: Jacob Cover (K) dec. Simon Lato, 3-0
Players Mentioned
