Stories courtesy of MAC Sports Information Departments
Kent State Wins MAC Regular Season Title
KENT, Ohio – Kent State’s seniors couldn’t have written a better script for their final competition at the M.A.C. Center Sunday. The Golden Flashes (12-4, 5-0 MAC) won eight matches, including victories by all four seniors in the lineup, downing Eastern Michigan (13-6, 2-2) 28-10. The victory capped off an undefeated conference season, extended Kent State’s winning streak to 10 and secured the Flashes’ second outright MAC title in the last four years.
“Step one is accomplished,” Jim Andrassy said. “And doing it at home is a great thing. Now we have to focus on some other things.”
Sunday’s step one began with a first period pin by senior Nic Bedelyon (Lewistown, Pa.). Already leading 5-0, Bedelyon got in on a shot, brought Jared Germaine’s leg up and turned it into a cradle from the standing position.
“I’ve got to open up, keep shooting and attacking,” Bedelyon said of the difference between Sunday and his other recent matches. “I feel like if I can get things going, our team’s going to do well.”
After Tyler Small (Littlestown, Pa.) scored an impressive 7-0 win over Corey Phillips, Marcel Clopton (Shaker Hts., Ohio) became the second senior to go out on a high note. With takedowns in all three periods, Clopton earned a 9-2 victory over Jaylyn Bohl, who was the No. 3 ranked 149-pounder in the MAC.
“What Marcel has done this weekend shows how much of a professional he is,” Andrassy said of Clopton being in the lineup for the first time all season. “It speaks volumes of what kind of kid he is. He’s always ready to go. And I’m really proud of him.”
Junior Mallie Shuster (Newville, Pa.) scored a critical reversal in the final seconds of the first period and another in the final minute of the match to top Aaron Sulzer 7-6. The win gave the Flashes a commanding 15-4 lead.
“Mallie’s as good as anyone in the conference,” Andrassy said.
Senior Ross Tice (Brookfield, Ohio) trailed Lester France 7-3 midway through the second period before hitting a five-point headlock. Tice scored another takedown in the third on his way to a 13-8 win.
Junior Casey Newburg (Union, Ohio) claimed his second major decision of the weekend and his eighth of the season with a 13-5 win over Phillip Joseph. Newburg piled up five takedowns and collected two stalling points.
Junior Keith Witt (Oak Harbor, Ohio) got in a on a first period shot for a takedown, which made the difference in a 4-2 victory over Nick Whitenburg.
Heavyweight Brendan Barlow (Westerville, Ohio) capped off a 4-for-4 day for Kent State’s senior class with a 3-2 win over Wes Schroeder. Barlow hoisted Schroeder up in the air for a key first period takedown.
Sunday was the first time the Flashes clinched an outright conference crown on their home mat since 1989.
Kent State will compete in the National Dual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 11 in Piscataway, N.J. The Flashes will be either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed at the six-team Regional and will find out who its first opponent will be on Monday.
Kent State 28 Eastern Michigan 10
125 - Nic Bedelyon (Kent State) over Jared Germaine (EMU) Fall 2:22
133 - Andrew Novak (EMU) over Stevie Mitcheff (Kent State) Maj. Dec. 13-5
141 - Tyler Small (Kent State) over Corey Phillips (EMU) Dec 7-0
149 – Marcel Clopton (Kent State) over Jaylyn Bohl (EMU) Dec. 9-2
157 – Mallie Shuster (Kent State) over Aaron Sulzer (EMU) Dec 7-6
165 – Ross Tice (Kent State) over Lester France (EMU) Dec 13-8
174 – Phillip Joseph (EMU) over Brandonn Johnson (Kent State) Fall 4:56
184 –Casey Newburg (Kent State) over Mike Curby (EMU) Maj. Dec 13-5
197 – Keith Witt (Kent State) over Nick Whitenburg (EMU) Dec 4-2
HWT - Brendan Barlow (Kent State) over Wes Schroeder (EMU) Dec 3-2
No. 25 Old Dominion Edges No. 22 Central Michigan, 18-17
NORFOLK, Va. - No. 25 Old Dominion won all four middleweight bouts, including a key fall at 174 pounds, to defeat No. 22 Central Michigan, 18-17, in a nonconference dual meet Sunday afternoon.
Bonus points were the difference, as the Monarchs picked up three courtesy of No. 15-ranked Te Edwards' fall in the 174-pound bout. Central Michigan was able to counter with just two bonus points, those coming from major decisions by Scott Mattingly and Ben Bennett at 141 and 184 pounds, respectively.
Central Michigan (13-6 overall, 4-1 MAC) opened up an early 10-0 lead with victories at 125, 133 and 141 pounds. No. 17 Joe Roth controlled the tempo in a 4-1 decision at 125 pounds, while Tyler Keselring had three takedowns in a 9-7 decision at 133 pounds.
Mattingly scored three takedowns and a third-period reversal to earn a 9-1 major decision over Taylor Moeder at 141 pounds. Mattingly's win extended the Chippewas' lead to 10-0, but Old Dominion (12-8 overall) responded with four straight victories to take a 15-10 lead.
Brennan Brumley edged Joey Kielbasa at 149 pounds, 4-1, while John Nicholson scored two takedowns in the final minute to defeat Donnie Corby, 5-3, at 157. The win was Nicholson's 12th straight to improve his record to 13-1 this season.
At 165 pounds, Central Michigan's Mike Ottinger took a 1-0 lead into the third period before Tristan Warner hit a five-point move from the bottom position to defeat the Chippewas' freshman, 5-2.
Edwards' pin at 174 pounds gave the Monarchs the lead. He was leading Central Michigan's Ryan Quinn 8-3 before scoring the fall 14 seconds into the third period.
No. 5-ranked Ben Bennett drew the Chippewas back within a point with an 8-0 major decision at 184 pounds. Two takedowns, two stalling penalties, an escape and riding time accounted for Bennett's eight points.
Old Dominion responded with Joe Budi's 6-3 decision over Chad Friend at 197 pounds. The decision extended the Monarchs' lead to 18-14 entering the final bout.
At heavyweight, Central Michigan's No. 17-ranked Peter Sturgeon rode out Grant Chapman in the second period, then escaped in the third period to earn a 2-0 decision.
Central Michigan is back on the road next weekend, visiting Cornell to compete in the regional round of the NWCA National Duals. Central Michigan and Cornell will be joined by American, Illinois, Oklahoma and Purdue at the six-team regional.
No. 25 Old Dominion 18, No. 22 Central Michigan 17
125: No. 17 Joe Roth (CMU) dec. Jerome Robinson, 4-1; CMU 3-0
133: Tyler Keselring (CMU) dec. Scott Festejo, 9-7; CMU 6-0
141: Scott Mattingly (CMU) maj. dec. Taylor Moeder, 9-1; CMU 10-0
149: Brennan Brumley (ODU) dec. Joey Kielbasa, 4-1; CMU 10-3
157: John Nicholson (ODU) dec. Donnie Corby, 5-3; CMU 10-6
165: Tristan Warner (ODU) dec. Mike Ottinger, 5-2; CMU 10-9
174: No. 15 Te Edwards (ODU) pin Ryan Quinn at 5:14; ODU 15-10
184: No. 5 Ben Bennett (CMU) maj. dec. Billy Curling, 8-0; ODU 15-14
197: Joe Budi (ODU) dec. Chad Friend, 6-3; ODU 18-14
285: No. 17 Peter Sturgeon (CMU) dec. Grant Chapman, 2-0; ODU 18-17