KSU Opens Season This Weekend in Virginia; Dual with Iowa State to be Streamed Live
The Kent State wrestling team embarks on its 2010-11 season this weekend in Salem, Va. Saturday, the Golden Flashes face Chattanooga (2 p.m.) and perennial power Iowa State (4 p.m.) in dual meets. On Sunday, KSU returns to the Salem Civic Center for the Hokie Open. Ranked No. 21 in The Open Mat's Preseason Poll, this year's Kent State squad has given Head Coach Jim Andrassy reason to be optimistic.
"This is by far the most talent we've ever had in our room," Andrassy said. "Overall, this team is more athletic and has more depth than any team I've been a part of in my 20 years here."
VIDEO STREAMING
Saturday's dual meet against Iowa State will be streamed live on Gohiocasts.com and FloWrestling.com.
A LOOK AT IOWA STATE
The Cyclones were ranked No. 2 in the NWCA Coaches Poll throughout all of last season with their only dual meet losses (13-2) coming at the hands of national champion Iowa. Iowa State finished third at the 2010 NCAA Championships and has won seven national team titles since 1965. This season the Cyclones will be led by two-time All-American Jon Reader, who moved up to 174 from 165.
A LOOK AT CHATTANOOGA
The Mocs return eight starters and a pair of NCAA qualifiers from a team that went 11-7 in dual meets last season, including a 5-0 mark in the Southern Conference. Chattanooga is led by 2008 All-American and 2009 SoCon Wrestler of the Year Cody Cleveland at 141 pounds. Cleveland and all-conference selection Brandon Wright (165) were two of four Mocs with victories over Kent State wrestlers in last season's dual meet.
DUAL SERIES HISTORY
Iowa State came to the M.A.C. Center in January of 1975 and defeated KSU 29-7 in the only meeting between the two programs. Ron Gray, who coached the Golden Flashes from 1971-96, was a two-time national champion at Iowa State in 1958 and 1959.
The Golden Flashes and Mocs have met 10 times in dual meets dating back to 1987. KSU has won all five meetings in the past 10 years, including a 22-15 victory last season in Virginia. The Flashes hold a 9-1 all-time series lead with Chattanooga, whose only victory came in 1988.
DUAL SUCCESS
The Golden Flashes have won 22 of their last 26 duals and have a recent history of starting strong. Last year KSU won its first seven dual meets. The Flashes also won four of their first five duals to start the 2008-09 and 2007-08 seasons.
LAST YEAR AT HOKIE OPEN
Chase Skonieczny (141) won four straight matches, including a pin and a pair of shutouts on his way to a second place at last year's Hokie Open. Brendan Barlow (285) placed third, with his only loss being a one-point decision to a former national runner-up. Keith Witt (174) had a breakthrough performance winning his first four matches and placing fourth. Ross Tice (157) placed fourth, before making the permanent move up to 165. Brandonn Johnson (174), Sli Bostelman (165), Stevie Mitcheff (125) and Tommy Sasfy (149) all won three matches on the day.
KILGORE CLOSING IN ON 100
Junior Dustin Kilgore is quickly closing in on 100 career victories and would be the first Kent State wrestler to do so prior to his senior year. He enters the weekend with 97 wins and looks to become the 10th wrestler in school history to reach the century mark.
WEIGHT-BY-WEIGHT BREAKDOWN
125- Junior Nic Bedelyon will make his return after sitting out all of last season. He is ranked No. 4 by The Open Mat. The 2009 All-American went 29-11 as a true sophomore and "now looks better than ever," according to Andrassy. Sophomore transfer Prescott Garner, a former NCAA qualifer at Navy, is expected to get the start for Chattanooga. Iowa State has a pair of newcomers at 125 in Brandon Jones and Patrick Hunter. Bedelyon is expected to sit out the Hokie Open, but sophomore Stevie Mitcheff is expected to see action.
133- Sophomore Sean Collins takes over the starting role for the Flashes after two appearances in dual meets last year. Redshirt freshman Ben Cash is expected to make his varsity debut with the Cyclones, while Chattanooga will have a pair of freshman options. True freshman Tyler Small is expected to make his debut at the Hokie Open.
141- Sophomore Chase Skonieczny (21-17) will bring a full year of varsity experience to the mat this season. "More mentally tough," according to Andrassy, Skonieczny will have his hands full Saturday against All-Americans Chris Drouin of Iowa State and Cody Cleveland of Chattanooga.
149- Junior Marcel Clopton (8-7) cracked the starting lineup at the end of last season and defeated Tommy Sasfy at wrestle-offs to maintain his spot. Redshirt freshman T.J. Keklak will join Clopton and Sasfy at the Hokie Open. Saturday, Clopton will likely face former junior college national champion Nate Carr Jr. (Iowa State) and Southern Conference champion Dean Pavlou.
157- Sophomore Mallie Shuster (24-13) and senior Matt Cathell (6-1) could each see action Saturday. They will be joined by senior Sli Bostelman at the Hokie Open. Shuster went 13-6 in dual meets as a freshman. Cathell, a two-time NCAA qualifier spent his previous three seasons competing at 149. Iowa State will send out highly-touted redshirt freshman Trent Weatherman, while Chattanooga has a pair of solid options in sophomore Josh Condon and junior Dan Waddell.
165- Junior Ross Tice (28-14) is coming off a breakthrough season that ended with an NCAA Tournament appearance. Tice began last season at 157, where he went 6-2 at the Hokie Open. The Cyclones will likely send out No. 20 Andrew Sorenson, while the Mocs' Brandon Wright looks for a victory against KSU for the second straight year.
174- Redshirt freshman Brandonn Johnson and fifth-year senior Chris Estep could both see action Saturday. Johnson went 21-6 with 11 pins at open tournaments last season and defeated Estep in overtime in this year's wrestle-off. Estep was a two-year starter at 174 prior to suffering a season-ending injury at last year's Hokie Open. No. 5 Jon Reader of Iowa State was one match away from becoming a three-time All-American last season. Freshman Levi Clemons will make his debut for the Mocs.
184- Sophomores Keith Witt (23-14) and Casey Newburg (18-12) could both make appearances in Saturday's duals. Witt moved up a weight after qualifying for last season's NCAA Tournament. Newburg went 4-3 in duals last season and defeated Witt at wrestle-offs. Junior Jason McCroskey is a two-time NCAA qualifier at Chattanooga, while redshirt freshman Tyler Christiansen will make his debut for Iowa State.
197- Junior Dustin Kilgore (37-3) is ranked No. 3 by both Wrestling Insider NewsMagazine and The Open Mat following a seventh place finish at 184 pounds in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Since January of 2009, Kilgore has won in 30 straight dual meets. He will be tested by No. 10 Jerome Ward of Iowa State, who also moved up from 184 last season. Kilgore will be joined by senior Joe Tymoszczuk (6-2) and junior Ryan Buckner (12-11) at the Hokie Open.
285- Junior Brendan Barlow (33-9) is ranked No. 9 by W.I.N. following a 3-2 finish at last years' NCAA Tournament. In last year's dual with Chattanooga, Barlow defeated Matt Lettner in overtime. Lettner battled injuries last season, but is expected back Saturday. Junior Kyle Simonson takes over the starting role for the Cyclones, following the graduation of national champion David Zabriskie. Barlow will be joined by true freshman Kyle Obringer at the Hokie Open.
UP NEXT
The Golden Flashes will go head-to-head with three ACC teams on Saturday, Nov. 13 at the Hershey Duals in Hershey, Pa. KSU will take on Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Virginia.
