Kent State University
Ohio
Flashes Welcome in Bobcats for Annual Grudge Match
2/8/2024 4:29:00 PM | Wrestling
KENT- The Golden Flashes start a season-ending home stand this Friday night in the annual Grudge Match with conference rival Ohio with a 7 p.m. start time inside the MAC.
The Flashes come into the match winners of three of their last four duals including a 37-5 drubbing of Bloomsburg last Saturday. Blake Schaffer picked up win number 20 of the season in the win over the Huskies, doing so in dominant fashion with a 23-6 technical fall. His match with freshman Austin Starr will be one to watch, Starr was ranked third in the MAC standings while Schaffer ranks fourth. Billy Meiszner is not far behind with 18 victories on the season, including four of his last five matches.
Ohio comes into the dual ranked third in the last MAC wrestling rankings and are 5-5 overall on the season and 1-3 in MAC duals. The Bobcats' strength comes in the middleweights as each of their starters from 157-197 are ranked in the top three in the Mid-American Conference. A trio of wrestlers Payton Keller (157), Garrett Thompson (165) and Sal Perrine (174) are all ranked in the Wrestle Stat top-20 nationally.
This will be the 77th meeting all time between the two longstanding conference rivals. Kent State owns a 49-27 advantage all-time in the series.
Tomorrow's Grudge Match will have several promotions and specials, starting with a happy hour with discounted concessions starting at 6 pm. There will also be a Kent State Wrestling tank top giveaway that matches the Flashes' wrestling singlet. There will also be free boneless wings as well as a Greek Night competition between the Greek Organizations. The organization with the highest attendance will get a championship belt.
Friday's dual will also be streamed for free with Dan Griffin and Tom Evans on the call, stats will also be available through Wrestle Stat. Links will be available on the wrestling schedule page. Both team's projected lineups are also available below.
Kent State will stay at home next Friday, welcoming in Central Michigan for another conference dual. The action starts at 7 p.m. inside the MAC Center.
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125Â Â Â Â Â Â Adam Benevidez - FR
           Ryan Meek - FR         Â
133Â Â Â Â Â Â Pablo Castro FR
           Mason Brugh FR    Â
141Â Â Â Â Â Â Billy Meiszner FR
           Aidan Waszak JR     Â
149Â Â Â Â Â Matt Ryan JR
           Derek Raike FR #28     Â
157Â Â Â Â Â Â Keegan Knapp SO
           Payton Keller SO #13          Â
165Â Â Â Â Â Â Aaron Ferguson SO
           Garrett Thompson SO #12     Â
174Â Â Â Â Â Â AJ Burkhart SR
           Sal Perrine Jr #16    Â
184Â Â Â Â Â Â Kyle Snider FR
           Zayne Lehman JR #26     Â
197Â Â Â Â Â Â Blake Schaffer SO
           Austin Starr FR    Â
285Â Â Â Â Â Josh Boggan FR
           Jordan Greer SR
          Â
Players Mentioned
