After sitting out the first several events due to eligibility issues, the Golden Flashes (4-1) will have their strength bolstered with the return of two-time MAC Champion and two-time NCAA qualifier Kurt Gross at the 157-pound weight class. Gross, along with transfer Obie Simpson at 165 pounds, will be eligible to compete for Kent State at the Southern Scuffle in Greensboro Dec. 29-30.
Gross is a three-year letter-winner from North Royalton and has won back-to-back MAC championships at 157 pounds. He has been ranked in several polls this season – including the MAC preseason #1 – despite not having wrestled attached to KSU in 2007-08. Gross has registered at least 21 victories in each of the past three seasons. He was a state champion for Parma Padua Franciscan High, posting a 34-1 record his senior season.
Simpson, who has been competing for Kent State at open tournaments, will likely assume the starting role at 165. Before arriving in Kent, Simpson was a two-year starter at North Carolina State. He went 15-13 as a freshman in Raleigh, claiming third place honors at the ACC Tournament. He was part of NC State's 2007 ACC title team. He was also a member of two Illinois High Scholl State Championship teams.
"We feel we have a pretty good team right now," Andrassy explained. "The addition of Kurt and Obie just makes us that much tougher and really strengthens the middle part of our line-up."
Kent State has placed third and fourth at the Oklahoma Gold and Body Bar tournaments, respectively. The Flashes have four dual meet wins with the lone setback coming at the hands of Michigan in Ann Arbor Dec. 7. Following the Southern Scuffle, the Flashes will entertain in-state rival Ohio State for the home opener Jan. 4. KSU has defeated the Buckeyes in each of the past two seasons.
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