Kent State University
Purdue
11/1/2026 5:19:00 PM | Wrestling
West Lafayette, Indiana- The Kent State Wrestling team posted a valiant effort in their season-opening dual on the road at Purdue on Sunday afternoon. The Boilermakers were able to come away with a 24-12, but the Flashes were able to secure four match victories.
Redshirt-junior Adan Benavidez was able to start the day off with a win for the blue and gold in the 125-pound division, as he was able to secure two takedowns in the final round for a 9-8 come-from-behind victory over Ashton Jackson.
Redshirt junior Nate Roth(149) and redshirt sophomore Reese Stephen(157) also provided close decision victories both by three points or less. Those two wins gave KSU a 9-8 lead heading into the intermission after five matches.
Redshirt junior Brentan Simmerman closed out the day with a win for the Flashes by hanging on in the final seconds to defeat Austin Richens by a score of 4-2, bringing the team score to a 12-point margin.
Kent State vs. Purdue Results (12-24)
125: Adan Benavidez (KENT) over Ashton Jackson (PUR) (Dec 9-8)
133: Vincent Paino (PUR) over Nick Molchak (KENT) (MD 11-2)
141: Isaiah Schaefer (PUR) over Landen Duncan (KENT) (MD 12-2)
149: Nate Roth (KENT) over Gavin Brown (PUR) (Dec 6-3)
157: Reese Stephen (KENT) over Brody Saccoccia (PUR) (Dec 4-2)
165: Joey Blaze (PUR) over Ty Deericks (KENT) (TF 21-5 5:41)
174: Brody Baumann (PUR) over Ethan Barr (KENT) (TF 19-4 3:42)
184: James Rowley (PUR) over JR Reed (KENT) (Dec 6-5)
197: Noah Weaver (PUR) over Trent Thomas (KENT) (Dec 18-12)
285: Brentan Simmerman (KENT) over Austin Richens (PUR) (Dec 4-2)
Up Next
The Flashes will follow their season-opening dual in West Lafayette with a visit to another Big Ten Campus next Saturday as the Flashes will participate in the annual two-division Michigan State Open. Action will begin starting at 9 A.M.
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