After one of the best seasons in modern school history, the Kent State wrestling team will continue to raise its standards. The mission of the 2009-10 squad and Head Coach Jim Andrassy - win a Mid-American Conference championship and be among the top 10 teams in the country.
"Those are things we think we have the ability to do," Andrassy said. "Everything has to fall perfect. Our young guys have to develop the way that we think they can and our older guys have to continue developing like they have. Right now, expectations on the outside are that we're a top 20 team, but our goal is to be a top 10 team at the end of the year."
The loss of four senior starters, including three national qualifiers, would be reason for concern on many teams. However, Andrassy believes the young talent on his latest team could make for improvements in several weight classes. By season's end, that top to bottom talent could make for the most accomplished team he's been a part of.
"The way we have our schedule set up is good for our young guys," Andrassy said."We are going to be challenged right off the get go. They can learn how to wrestle against this competition in the beginning of the year and figure out what it's going to take to be on that national level.
"At the end of the year, if we have 10 guys qualify for the national tournament, I wouldn't be surprised," Andrassy added."We have some very good young kids that could step in here. I think we have a better team than we had last year, but it may take some experience during the season to show it. If you look at our weaker spots from last year, we've improved in every one of them. On paper, all our guys could compete for MAC championships and guys that place second and third, could get wild cards with the way our schedule is. We don't have the experience right now, but it's something we'll get."
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Two-time national qualifier and 2009 All-American Nic Bedelyon had offseason shoulder surgery and will miss at least the 2009 portion of the season. His status will be reevaluated in January. Bedelyon was named MAC Freshman of the Year following his rookie campaign and went 5-0 in MAC duals last season.
Redshirt freshman Stevie Mitcheff and sophomore Troy Opfer will compete for the starting nod to begin the season. Opfer went 21-14 last season and tied for the team lead with eight pins. He also placed in the top five at four open tournaments. Mitcheff went 3-3 last year before an injury held him out for the rest of the season. Both had solid first seasons according to Andrassy, but need to get stronger, gain confidence and continue to develop.
"I'm hoping one of these guys steps up, takes over and becomes a top 20 kid," Andrassy said."If that's the case, we may rest Nic for the rest of the season."
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Three-time national qualifier Danny Mitcheff was just one point away from All-American status last season and could be the Flashes' top candidate for being among the nation's very best this season. Mitcheff already has 97 career victories to go along with a 2009 MAC title.
"Danny is a top 10 guy coming into the year," Andrassy said."I think he's the best kid on our team skill wise and he comes into this year with a little bit better mind-set knowing that it's his last year to reach his goal of being an All-American. He's done everything right so far and now he has to continue what he started four years ago."
Redshirt freshman Sean Collins will also compete for time at 133 after going 11-10 in his first season. Collins had a pair of top five finishes at open tournaments last year.
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The leading candidate for the starting spot will be redshirt freshman Chase Skonieczny, who finished 8-2 last season. Skonieczny, who won the Michigan State Open last year, will be pushed by redshirt sophomore Marcel Clopton, who finished 13-5 a year ago. Redshirt freshman Steve Stapleton will also be competing for time at 141, where Andrassy is happy with the team's depth.
"Chase came out of high school as the number one ranked 135-pounder in the country," Andrassy said. "This year, he should step right in at 141, and hopefully continue with the success he had in high school. Chase will learn and do everything he can to get to the national tournament. Even if Chase is our starter, we may use Marcel at times just to give Chase a break as we try to keep him healthy for the end of the year."
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Transferring in from Delaware State to assume a starting role will be Matt Cathell.A two-time NCAA qualifier, Cathell is ranked 12th in the nation coming off a 16-2 sophomore year with the Hornets. His only losses last year came at the NCAA Tournament.
"I think he's going to be in much better shape and he's going to learn a lot more," Andrassy said."As a coaching staff, we have to make sure he's healthy, well-conditioned and feeling good about himself at the end of the year."
Clopton could also battle for time at 149 along with redshirt freshman Tommy Sasfy. In addition, true freshmen Lou Greco and T.J. Keklak will compete for spots at both 149 and 157.
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Last season's starter Ross Tice will be pushed by redshirt freshman Mallie Shuster. Tice, a redshirt sophomore, went 18-16 last season and 3-2 in MAC duals. He showed improvement during his first season with a stretch of six straight dual meet wins from Jan.10 - Feb.7.Shuster finished 44-10 in all college tournaments with four pins. He captured first place at both the Cleveland State and Ashland Harris Opens.
"It's one of those weight classes where I feel pretty comfortable that one of these guys is going to emerge, and we're going to be a better team because of it," Andrassy said."Right now, we're going with Ross, but we think Mallie had a very good year in both open and freestyle events. So, he got a lot of matches in and a lot of experience, but now he has to do it for real. We saw a lot of good things out of him, but he's got to beat out Ross to be our starter."
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MAC Tournament runner-up and senior Obie Simpson is the returning starter. Simpson placed sixth at the Southern Scuffle and went 3-2 in MAC duals. Competition will come from redshirt junior Sli Bostelman, who was team's starter at 157 during his first two seasons. Bostelman went 18-9 in open tournaments last season at 165, winning the Ashland Harris Open.Nic
"On paper, I think Obie is our best guy based on what he did for us last year," Andrassy said. "Sli could be the starter there too.It is going to be one of those things where we'll figure out who the best guy is."
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Redshirt junior Chris Estep is the incumbent, but he will be pressed by redshirt freshmen Keith Witt and Casey Newburg. Estep finished third at last season's MAC Tournament and sixth at both the Oklahoma Gold and Body Bar Tournaments. Witt recorded four first period pins in 10 matches wrestled last season and captured a pair of second places. Newburg went 13-6 in his first season and placed in the top five of three different tournaments.
"I think 174 is a very similar situation to what we have at 157," Andrassy said."Whoever emerges from that weight class will be better than what we had last year. If it's Chris, he'll be better just because he'll be getting pushed on a daily basis. It's a weight class that was a concern for us last year, but with three guys now in the mix there, I'm real excited to see who emerges. Chris is a great athlete that just hasn't put it all together on the mat yet.I think that those two guys are really going to push him or one of them is going to get past him."
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Redshirt sophomore Dustin Kilgore returns as the starter. Last season, Kilgore won championships at the MAC Tournament, Oklahoma Gold and Southern Scuffle. He was the fifth seed at last year's NCAA Tournament and finished the year with a 33-5 mark.
Kilgore also tied for the team lead with eight pins and earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors. Witt, Newburg, and Estep could all see action at 184.
"Dustin's accomplishments last year really speak for themselves," Andrassy said."We expect more big things out of him this year,"
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Redshirt freshman Adam Cogar could quickly fill the void left by the graduation of Eric Chine. Cogar finished 20-2 last season in all college competition winning titles at the Cleveland State, Michigan State, Edinboro and Kent State Opens. He brings an eight-match winning streak into the 2009-10 season. Kilgore could see time at 197 along with redshirt sophomore Ryan Buckner.
"I'm very excited about Adam this year," Andrassy said."In the future, I think he could be one of the best 197-pounders in the country. We're looking to get him good experience heading into the end of the year and hopefully he'll be winning a MAC Championship. It's his goal to get to the national tournament."
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Redshirt sophomore Brendan Barlow will be called be upon to fill the shoes of All-American Jermail Porter. Barlow went 20-6 last season finishing first at the Ashland Harris Open and the Cleveland State Open.He placed second at the Body Bar Tournament and seventh at the Southern Scuffle.
"Brendan came in as the second best heavyweight recruit in the country and learned a lot behind Jermail the last two years," Andrassy said. "I think he's only going to get better. He beat several national qualifiers and a few ranked kids last year. On paper he's probably the second best heavyweight in the conference right now and I think he can be a top 20 guy right away. His goal is to win a national title before he's done here."
Courtesy: Tom Cammett/Diamond Images, Inc.
