While several of Kent State's seniors struggled against their in-state rivals, the three underclassmen in the lineup came up with critical victories.
"I'm really proud of younger guys," Head Coach Jim Andrassy said. "For some reason, we had seniors that didn't look prepared and maybe came in overconfident."
The Bobcats (5-3) took three of the first four matches for a 9-3 lead, before a clutch third-period pin by Kyle Conel (Ashtabula, Ohio). Trailing No. 11 Phil Wellington 4-3 to start the third period, Conel escaped from bottom. With less than a minute left Conel got in on double leg shot that he converted into a bear hug, hip toss putting Wellington directly on his back.
"Kyle wrestled the perfect match," Andrassy said. "He shot twice and scored both times. He got out quickly from the bottom both times. I think he's won nine in a row and this was his biggest win yet."
Redshirt freshman Devin Nye (Springfield, Ohio) gave the Flashes the lead back with a 4-1 victory over Jesse Webb. After a scoreless first period, Nye rode out Webb for the entire second with an arm bar and a half. Nye escaped in the third and scored a late takedown for his first career MAC dual win.
"Devin beat him earlier in the year, but a dual like this is a whole different atmosphere," Andrassy said. "He's a freshman going up against a guy that took fourth at the MAC tournament last year, but he stayed poised and almost turned him."
Ohio got its big upset of the night at 133 as Cameron Kelly topped Mack McGuire (Upper St. Clair, Pa.) 9-2, giving the Bobcats a 15-12 lead. Ohio was also on pace to win a tiebreaking scenario, having taken five of the first eight matches.
With his team's back to the wall, sophomore Anthony Tutolo (Concord, Ohio) couldn't have picked a better time for his first career MAC dual victory, which came against Noah Forrider. Each wrestler earned an escape in regulation, but only Tutolo escaped in the tiebreaker period for a 2-1 win.
"Anthony's a smart kid wrestling above his weight class and he knows he has to find creative ways to win," Andrassy said. "And that's what he did tonight."
There was still work to be done in the final match. And Flashes' fans had to hold their breath once again as DePalma gave up the opening takedown to Nick Steed. But DePalma was dominant from that point forward with three four-point turns in the first period. A takedown early in the second clinched a 17-2 tech fall.
Senior Ian Miller (Oak Harbor, Ohio) began the night with a 5-2 decision over Spartak Chino, improving to 15-0 on the year.
Now 2-1 in conference duals, Kent State will visit Eastern Michigan Sunday at 4 p.m.
Results:
157: Ian Miller (KSU) over Spartak Chino (OU), dec. 5-2
165: Austin Reese (OU) over Tyler Buckwalter (KSU) dec. 8-3
174: Cody Walters (OU) over Mike Vollant (KSU), dec. 8-3
184: Andrew Romanchik (OU) over Cole Baxter (KSU), dec. 3-2
197: Kyle Conel (KSU) over Phil Wellington (OU), pin 6:28
285: Devin Nye (KSU) over Jesse Webb (OU), dec. 4-1
125: Shakur Laney (OU) over Del Vinas (KSU), dec. 3-1
133: Cameron Kelly (OU) over Mack McGuire (KSU), dec. 9-2
141: Anthony Tutolo (KSU) over Noah Forrider (OU), dec. 2-1 (TB)
149: Mike DePalma (KSU) over Nick Steed (OU), tech fall 17-2
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