Vikings Lose Heartbreaker to Kent State, 23-20

Vikings Lose Heartbreaker to Kent State, 23-20

QUICK HITS

  • Three Vikings registered pins against their Kent State opponents
  • Redshirt freshman Brady Barnett had a pin at 149 pounds, his team-leading eighth of the season
  • Barnett improved his season mark to 16-7
  • Redshirt sophomore Nico O'Dor picked up his 22nd win of the season with a pin at 157 pounds
  • Barnett and O'Dor have each won three straight dual matches
  • Redshirt sophomore Colton Carroll posted his first fall of the season with his win at 174 pounds
  • Redshirt sophomore Ryan Ford improved to 11-4 with a one-point win at 165 pounds

MATCH STORY

The Cleveland State University wrestling team nearly pulled off an upset over visiting Kent State, but the Golden Flashes won the final three bouts to claim a 23-20 victory Friday evening inside Woodling Gymnasium.

CSU came close to winning bouts at two of the final three weight classes, which would have effectively clinched the dual in favor of the hosts, but on both occasions, Kent State stayed alive.

The Golden Flashes took a 3-0 lead in the second period to start the night at 125 pounds and held on for a 5-3 decision.

The bout at 133 was tied, 2-2, going into the final period, but CSU was unable to score in the final stanza and dropped a decision. Cleveland State had a lead going into the third period at 141 but was unable to see out the victory.

Redshirt freshman Brady Barnett got CSU going in a big way at 149 pounds. Despite the Golden Flashes scoring first with a takedown, Barnett flipped the tables just past the two-minute mark to collect a pin.

Redshirt sophomore Nico O'Dor wore down his opponent at 157 pounds to give CSU the lead. He had built a 5-0 lead after two periods and led, 11-3, late in the bout when he was able to overcome the final hurdle and post the pin.

Redshirt sophomore Ryan Ford was able to come out on top in a back-and-forth affair at 165. He led, 2-1, after one and trailed, 4-3, after two periods. With the score tied, 4-4, Ford used a takedown late in the bout to take the lead. He stayed in the top position long enough to decrease his opponents' riding time advantage to less than one minute, which proved to be the difference as Ford claimed a one-point win.

Redshirt sophomore Colton Carroll posted CSU's third pin of the night as well as the quickest one for the Vikings on the evening. He pinned his foe in under two minutes as CSU won its fourth straight bout at 174 pounds.

Facing a tough foe at 184 pounds, junior Chris Morrow came agonizingly close to grabbing CSU's fourth pin of the night. He had his foe scrambling on his back in the second period, and eventually collected four near-fall points, but could not finish the pin. His opponent went on to post a reversal and claim the win in a high-scoring affair.

The 197-pound bout was tied, 2-2, after two periods, but the Kent State wrestler made it across the finish line with a 6-5 win, barely hanging on in the final moments as he was called for stalling.

The dual hung in the balance entering the heavyweight bout, and the Golden Flashes claimed victory in the final match to notch a come-from-behind win.

Cleveland State will be right back in action Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Edinboro Open.

Kent State 23, Cleveland State 20
125: Jake Ferri (KSU) over Cameron Lathem (CSU) - 5-3 dec. | KSU leads, 3-0
133: Tim Rooney (KSU) over Armando Torres (CSU) - 6-2 dec. | KSU leads, 6-0
141: Cory Simpson (KSU) over Sam Matzek (CSU) - 9-6 dec. | KSU leads, 9-0
149: Brady Barnett (CSU) over Kody Komara (KSU) - Fall 2:16 | KSU leads, 9-6
One team point deducted from CSU for unsportsmanlike conduct at conclusion of 149-pound bout
157: Nico O'Dor (CSU) over Joe Andrassy (KSU) - Fall 6:43 | CSU leads, 11-9
165: Ryan Ford (CSU) over Isaac Bast (KSU) - 6-5 dec. | CSU leads, 14-9
174: Colton Carroll (CSU) over Kade Byland (KSU) - Fall 1:50 | CSU leads, 20-9
184: Andrew McNally (KSU) over Chris Morrow (CSU) - 25-10 TF 6:05 | CSU leads, 20-14
197: Shane Mast (KSU) over Ben Smith (CSU) - 6-5 dec. | CSU leads, 20-17
285: Spencer Berthhold (KSU) over Collin Kelly (CSU) - Fall 1:41 | KSU wins, 23-20