10/30/2026 11:42:00 AM | Wrestling
West LaFayette, Indiana- The Kent State Wrestling team will hit the mat for year two of the Golden Era under Head Coach Josh Moore and his staff Fred Garcia, Devin Schrider and Kyle Conel. Their first challenge will be a trip to Purdue to take on the Boilermakers of the Big Ten on Sunday at Holloway Gymnasium for a 1 P.M. start.
It will also be a return to Purdue for Kent State Assistant Coach Devin Schroder. Schroder spent six seasons with the Boilermakers from 2016-2022. In that time he was a four-time national qualifier and finished top 20 in program history in wins with 96.
The Team
In 2025-2026, the Flashes showed much improvement with the team's most dual wins in eight seasons. Kent State also defeated their rival Ohio to win the Grudge match Trophy for the first time in five years.
They also produced their fair share of individual success, producing three MAC-placers, and two national qualifiers in Blake Schaffer and returner Chris Earnest. Before his time in Cleveland, Earnest won the first Mid-American Conference Championships for the Flashes in four years in the 165-pound division.
This year the blue and gold bring in a good mix of returners from last year's team and newcomers to the squad. Eight of the 10 representatives for Kent State at the MAC Championships in 2026 will be back, which include MAC-placer Nick Molchak, Landen Duncan, Silas Stits, Reese Stephen, Chris Earnest, Ethan Barr, Ronnie Dimmerling and Brentan Simmerman.
Ten newcomers will also don a Flashes singlet for the first time highlighted by a stellar freshman class loaded with nationally ranked talent out of high school. That class includes Jordan Fincher, Connor Peterson, Jake Landis, Colin Whyte, Nico Kapusta and Aiden Milam.
Transferring into the program this year includes Dylan Russo, who was a representative for the Wisconsin Badgers at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships. JR Reed(Cleveland State), Tyler Adams(Navy) and Tommy Reed(Cleveland State/Glenville State) also look to make noise at KSU this season.
Scouting Purdue
The Boilermakers enter the 2026 season with a talented squad that is their youngest in 20 years. A season ago, the Boilermakers finished with a dual record of 9-7 ranked inside the top 20 for a good chunk of the season.
Representing Purdue at the 165-pound division this year will be one of the national-title favorites in Joey Blaze. Blaze comes into 2026 ranked No. 3 as a two-time All-American, finishing sixth last year and second two years ago.
At 141 pounds, Isaiah Schaefer will be the likely representative for the Boilermakers as he comes in with a national ranking of 23rd. Brody Baumann and James Rowley are other names to watch for at 174 and 184 pounds respectively, each checking in in the top 25 nationally in their respective classes.
Series History
Sunday's dual will be the 11th all-time meeting between the Flashes and the Boilermakers. The very first came way back in 1930, while Purdue currently holds the series lead by a count of 7-3.
It will also be the first visit to Purdue for KSU since 1939. The last meeting came in 2025 where the Boilermakers came away with the win in Kent. KSU last beat Purdue back in 2011 by a score of 17-15 in Ashland, Ohio.
Projected Lineups
Kent State vs. Ohio
125: Adan Benavidez/Nico Kapusta vs. Ashton Jackson/Isaiah Quintero
133: #20 Nick Molchak vs. Vincent Paino/Zach Stewart
141: Tyler Adams/Landen Duncan/Con. Peterson vs. #23 Isaiah Schaefer/Tylin Thrine
149: Nate Roth vs. Gavin Brown/Cole Solomey
157: Reese Stephen/JT Chance vs. Brody Saccoccia/Wyatt Krejsa
165: Ty Deericks/#26 Chris Earnest vs. #3 Joey Blaze/Noah Weaver
174: Ethan Barr/Braxton Quaintance vs. #22 Brody Baumann/Xavier Smith
184: JR Reed/Mason Higley vs. James Rowley/Aidan Costello
197: Trent Thomas/Dylan Russo vs. Noah Weaver/Quinn Herbert
285: Brent Simmerman/Colin Whyte/Corey Boerio vs. Austin Richens/Dominic Burgett
Up Next
After opening up the season on the road against Purdue, the Flashes will next head to another Big Ten campus next Sunday. They will compete in the two-division Michigan State Open starting at 9 A.M.
Follow Kent State Wrestling
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