Bardezbain is Bright Spot for Flashes at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
12/1/2017 10:40:00 PM | Wrestling
LAS VEGAS – West Coast native Will Bardezbain (Chehalis, Wash.) led Kent State at the 36th annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational Friday and Saturday. Bardezbain won his first three matches of the 125-pound bracket, including an 18-15 thriller over No. 4 seed, Dalton Macri (North Carolina).
The Golden Flashes also had success in the lighter weights from junior Anthony Tutolo at 133. Tutolo drew an opening round bye, before defeating West Virginia's Matt Schmitt 6-4. He fell to No. 1 seed Stevan Micic (Michigan), but bounced back with a 5-1 win over Armando Torres (Eastern Michigan). A 5-3 loss ended Tutolo's bid for a top eight finish.
Redshirt freshman Nick Monico won his opening match over Oregon State's Kurt Mode 7-2. Monico finished 2-2 on the day with a 5-3 win over Nebraska-Kearney's Jacob Wasser.
Junior Isaac Bast claimed a consolation round victory over Cal Poly's Luke Wilson, before his tournament came to an end.
Junior Devin Nye recorded his fifth pin of the season against Matt Wagner of Air Force in the first period.
The Flashes other pin came from Bardezbain in the first period against Wyoming's Trent Olson. Bardezbain began his Friday with a 12-6 victory over Anthony DeCesare (Air Force). Stanford's Connor Schram, the No. 5 seed, handed Bardezbain his only loss on Friday, 4-1. No. 7 seed Louie Hayes of Virginia led Bardezbain 6-5 after one period Saturday, before recording a third period fall in the round of 12.
The 46-team field, loaded with 14 Top 25 teams, proved to be as good as advertised. Five Flashes came up winless in the tournament.
Kent State opens up Mid-American Conference competition Sunday, Dec. 10 at the M.A.C. Center, hosting Buffalo at 2 p.m.
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