The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

That was ugly and reminded me of some matches I saw during Romano's last year.

James is no longer listed on the roster. I imagine the AD pushed for his removal after his disqualification during the OU match. I don't think this was a coach's decision because I've seen my fair share of similar behavior at KSU and elsewhere with discipline no more severe than a match or 2 suspension. A dismissal is quite harsh.

I'm growing increasingly concerned about what has taken place this season. After such a successful season last year, there was bound to be some backslide in the team's performance. However, some other issues may point to something more problematic: losing 2 significant recruits, a 1/3 roster reduction, the awkward transition from Moore to Hill as head assistant coach, a dismissal of another wrestler (who can forget the PC hit job on Wheeler) for questionable cause. The problems seem to be increasing.

I'm honestly surprised Wheeler was never charged with being the second gunman on the grassy knoll.

I know we lost six seniors last year. But for years we recruited a freshman or two who could step in and contribute at least after their red shirt year. Kilgore, Miller, Small, McGuire,etc. While those wrestlers were moving through and becoming All Americans the program was suppose to gain momentum and improve recruiting. It really hasn't. The suspension of Wheeler and James tells me the AD isn't happy with this program and that Andrusky might be going the way of Lindsay and Morrow.

(01-25-2017 02:11 AM)JimJoyce Wrote:  I'm honestly surprised Wheeler was never charged with being the second gunman on the grassy knoll.

(01-25-2017 08:57 AM)burden Wrote:  I know we lost six seniors last year. But for years we recruited a freshman or two who could step in and contribute at least after their red shirt year. Kilgore, Miller, Small, McGuire,etc. While those wrestlers were moving through and becoming All Americans the program was suppose to gain momentum and improve recruiting. It really hasn't. The suspension of Wheeler and James tells me the AD isn't happy with this program and that Andrusky might be going the way of Lindsay and Morrow.

Or worse - the elimination of the sport. As we saw at CSU and elsewhere, ADs love to axe wrestling programs. Given his actions in regard to the rape allegation originating with the softball team, I don't trust our AD. That and the Wheeler fiasco tell me that truth isn't always a consideration for him.

Was his contract extended?

I never thought of that but you could be right. I can hear the speech right now. As far as I know the contract has not been renewed but Danny sure inferred it was coming and he usually won't say things like that unless he knows for sure.

That was painful to watch. I didn't see much improvement from the OU match. At least Driscoll, Spohn, and Nye won. The bus is in the ditch.

The only questions left are can we beat EMU (and win at least 1 MAC meet) and will Tutolo be healthy enough to give us one guy to root for. I'm not optimistic on either.

We lost to Northern Iowa, 31-16.

#18 UNI 31, KSU 16
125 - Jay Schwarm (UNI) pinned Cory Simpson (KSU), 1:38
133 - #10 Josh Alber (UNI) won by forfeit
141 - Chance Driscoll (KSU) dec. Tyler Willers (UNI), 5-2
149 - #8 Max Thomsen (UNI) pinned Tim Rooney (KSU), 4:48
157 - #30 Casey Sparkman (KSU) dec. Paden Moore (UNI), 7-3
165 - #10 Bryce Steiert (UNI) pinned Isaac Bast (KSU), 4:23
174 - #10 Taylor Lujan (UNI) dec. Jared Walker (KSU), 6-4
184 - #14 Drew Foster (UNI) maj. dec. Jerald Spohn (KSU), 14-1
197 - Stephen Suglio (KSU) maj. dec. Jacob Holschlag (UNI), 12-1
285 - Devin Nye (KSU) won by forfeit

At least Driscoll is having a good year.

I don't know much about anything but I find it so hard to believe in this day and age of collegiate wrestling that you'd ever have to forfeit a weight class. I mean we literally GAVE our opponents 12 points this weekend because Tutulo can't go at 133. Bump a 125 up to fill that hole! Get these guys some experience. I just don't get it.

(01-29-2017 06:12 PM)JimJoyce Wrote:  I don't know much about anything but I find it so hard to believe in this day and age of collegiate wrestling that you'd ever have to forfeit a weight class. I mean we literally GAVE our opponents 12 points this weekend because Tutulo can't go at 133. Bump a 125 up to fill that hole! Get these guys some experience. I just don't get it.

I agree. However, I'm not sure they have anyone left at 125/133 other than Simpson. Tutolo is injured. Beard quit. They probably don't want to use a year of eligibility for the Norte Dame transfer. Ethan McCoy wrestled at 133 at the Virginia Duals. He went 0-3 by pin, tech fall and 11-10. For the 4th opponent, we forfeited the weight and McCoy was dropped from the roster soon thereafter. There's only one other wrestler at 125 and he hasn't wrestled since the beginning of the season.

This season is a disaster.

(01-29-2017 06:12 PM)JimJoyce Wrote:  I don't know much about anything but I find it so hard to believe in this day and age of collegiate wrestling that you'd ever have to forfeit a weight class. I mean we literally GAVE our opponents 12 points this weekend because Tutulo can't go at 133. Bump a 125 up to fill that hole! Get these guys some experience. I just don't get it.

I thought the same thing but I suspect anybody we put out there will just lose by pin anyway (see Lamberts analysis of who's left). Something is wrong right now. Too many wrestlers quitting, being thrown off the team or wrestling below expectations. I think this is much more than just letting the freshman gain experience.

burden/Lambert58/JimJoyce/anyone else with knowledge of KSU Wrestling,

Yes, a very puzzling season/year for KSU Wrestling.

11/18/15 - KSU signs 6 recruits (Jack Harris, Dylan Barreiro, Ethan McCoy, Seth Beard, Collin Adkins, Nick Monico) - only Barreiro, Adkins, & Monico remain on the roster
02/25/16 - KSU finishes #15 in the final coaches poll
04/26/16 - KSU signs 4 recruits (Nico O'Dor, AJ Jones, Cory Simpson, Shawn Livingston) - all 4 are still on the roster
07/06/16 - Coach Andrassy signed a contract extension (same day that Brice Biggin, Bill Lawson, Rob Marinaro, Kathleen Wiler did).

From last year through today, the following players have been lost to graduation, transfer/quit, injured, or been kicked off: Del Vinas, Mack McGuire, Kyle Lukowich, Mike DePalma, Ian Miller, Tyler Buckwalter, Mike Vollant, Cole Baxter, Kyle Conel, Jairod James, Mimmo Lytle, Sam Breese, Jack Harris, Ethan McCoy, & Seth Beard. (15) That is just a huge turnover # in a short amount of time.

Suglio, Spohn, & Driscoll will all be seniors next year and they are wrestling pretty consistent this year, so depth needs to start building quickly.

In the November signing period, (3) wrestlers committed (141/149 Nick Henneman, 149/157 Jake Hinkson, & 141/149 Jake Martinez), so I would assume they would have to get a large # of commitments to get back to having solid depth @ each weight class. 133lbs, 165lbs, 184lbs, 197lbs, & HWT could use a recruit or 2.

Harris & Beard were both top 10 national recruits, so puzzling that they are both already gone after the fall semester. So James was kicked off because he slapped a guy in the face after he was slapped in the face at the end of the Ohio U match?

Lane Hinkle has had a very nice year in open tournaments during his redshirt year, so he should be the starter @ 165lbs or 174lbs next year.

Has Simpson hit the proverbial "freshman wall" as I don't remember him winning in the last few months?

Here are the up to date statistics: http://kentstatesports.com/documents/201...WStats.pdf

No surprise as we lost to number 1 Oklahoma St 36-6. Sparkman and Suglio both beat Ok St second teamers.

Andrassy/staff just got their 4th commitment in this recruiting class, Colin McCracken (184lbs/197lbs) from Waynesborough PA.

Still need to get a 125lbs, 133lbs, 165lbs, & HWT commitment, since the 1st 3 commitments are @ the 141lbs, 149lbs, & 157lbs weight class.

Need to get a win vs EMU today @ home.

Projected Lineup vs. Eastern Michigan
125: Cory Simpson (9-17) vs. No. 17 Noah Gonser (13-6)
133: No. 23 Anthony Tutolo (17-5) vs. Sa'Derian Perry (10-8)
141: Chance Driscoll (19-11) vs. Kyle Springer (11-7)
149: Tim Rooney (16-18) vs. No. 27 Nick Barber (12-8)
157: No. 30 Casey Sparkman (19-9) vs. Zac Carson (8-7) or J.J. Wolfe (7-8)
165: Isaac Bast (8-11) vs. Devan Marry (8-7)
174: Jared Walker (14-16) vs. Jacob Davis (6-7)
184: Jerald Spohn (13-14) or Shane Mast (13-11) vs. Kayne MacCallum (6-10)
197: Stephen Suglio (17-14) vs. Derek Hillman (8-10)
285: Devin Nye (15-15) vs. No. 17 Gage Hutchison (22-9)
*NCAA Coaches Panel rankings

Kent State has been dominant in its all-time series against Eastern Michigan, leading 44-1-1. The Eagles only win came in 1974, in a series that began in 1967. Last year, EMU led 14-6 after six matches, before Kent State came storming back for a 19-14 victory in Ypsilanti. Four of the Golden Flashes' six wins came down to the final seconds. The last time the teams met in Kent, the Flashes took seven matches in a 25-9 victory over EMU in front of a large Beauty & The Beast crowd in 2015.

We lost 27-12 to the second worst team in the MAC, which makes us the worst team in the MAC. At least Tutolo is back. He looked sluggish at the end of his match but his 1st period was good enough to secure a win. Suglio and Sparkman (WBF) looked good in their wins but the other 7 matches were frustrating, to say the least. Bast and Spohn really struggled. Bast couldn't get off of bottom and Spohn was pinned after chasing and being thrown to his back in OT. I don't think I've seen anything like that before at the DI level. Nye was respectable against a very good 285 but he didn't capitalize on his opportunities. Simpson's struggles continue - he looked exactly like a true freshman getting pinned. Driscoll fought to the end in his loss, but should have not been losing. Rooney kept his match close and Walker was in a cradle more often than a new born. So much for the longest streak of domination in KSU athletics' history - 40 consecutive wins against an opponent.

McCracken placed 7th last year in the PA state tournament.

(02-05-2017 11:39 AM)GoFlashes7 Wrote:  Andrassy/staff just got their 4th commitment in this recruiting class, Colin McCracken (184lbs/197lbs) from Waynesborough PA.

Still need to get a 125lbs, 133lbs, 165lbs, & HWT commitment, since the 1st 3 commitments are @ the 141lbs, 149lbs, & 157lbs weight class.

Need to get a win vs EMU today @ home.

Projected Lineup vs. Eastern Michigan
125: Cory Simpson (9-17) vs. No. 17 Noah Gonser (13-6)
133: No. 23 Anthony Tutolo (17-5) vs. Sa'Derian Perry (10-8)
141: Chance Driscoll (19-11) vs. Kyle Springer (11-7)
149: Tim Rooney (16-18) vs. No. 27 Nick Barber (12-8)
157: No. 30 Casey Sparkman (19-9) vs. Zac Carson (8-7) or J.J. Wolfe (7-8)
165: Isaac Bast (8-11) vs. Devan Marry (8-7)
174: Jared Walker (14-16) vs. Jacob Davis (6-7)
184: Jerald Spohn (13-14) or Shane Mast (13-11) vs. Kayne MacCallum (6-10)
197: Stephen Suglio (17-14) vs. Derek Hillman (8-10)
285: Devin Nye (15-15) vs. No. 17 Gage Hutchison (22-9)
*NCAA Coaches Panel rankings

Kent State has been dominant in its all-time series against Eastern Michigan, leading 44-1-1. The Eagles only win came in 1974, in a series that began in 1967. Last year, EMU led 14-6 after six matches, before Kent State came storming back for a 19-14 victory in Ypsilanti. Four of the Golden Flashes' six wins came down to the final seconds. The last time the teams met in Kent, the Flashes took seven matches in a 25-9 victory over EMU in front of a large Beauty & The Beast crowd in 2015.

(02-05-2017 02:22 PM)Lambert58 Wrote:  We lost 27-12 to the second worst team in the MAC, which makes us the worst team in the MAC. At least Tutolo is back. He looked sluggish at the end of his match but his 1st period was good enough to secure a win. Suglio and Sparkman (WBF) looked good in their wins but the other 7 matches were frustrating, to say the least. Bast and Spohn really struggled. Bast couldn't get off of bottom and Spohn was pinned after chasing and being thrown to his back in OT. I don't think I've seen anything like that before at the DI level. Nye was respectable against a very good 285 but he didn't capitalize on his opportunities. Simpson's struggles continue - he looked exactly like a true freshman getting pinned. Driscoll fought to the end in his loss, but should have not been losing. Rooney kept his match close and Walker was in a cradle more often than a new born. So much for the longest streak of domination in KSU athletics' history - 40 consecutive wins against an opponent.

Lambert please save me from the depression I'm in. You know much more than I about wrestling. Am I going to have at least a competitive team to watch next year or should I just crawl under the bed and hide.

Lost to Central Michigan 40-3 today. Only our heavyweight won by decision. Once again Tutolo forfeited.