Redshirt freshman Jermail Porter (Akron/Firestone) earned a forfeit at heavyweight to start the afternoon. MAC Wrestler of the Week Chad Sportelli (Easton, Pa./Easton/Nebraska) followed with a third period pin of Brad Gentzle to put Flashes up 12-0. Sportelli improved to 22-8 with his fifth pin of the season at 125 pounds.
The Panthers clawed their way back with three straight victories beginning at 133. Senior Drew Opfer (Sandusky/St. Mary) had his three-match win streak snapped in a tight 7-5 loss to Mike Ciotti. Ronald Tarquino continued Pitt's momentum with a 17-0 technical fall of freshman Kyle Chonko (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge). Joey Ecklof's 15-5 major decision of freshman Jason Spencer (Newbury, Ohio/Mayfield) tied the team score at 12-12. Ecklof, the Eastern Wrestling League's Wrestler of the Week, improved to 16-7 on the year at 149.
Sophomore Kurt Gross (North Royalton, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) extended his winning streak to 10 matches and put KSU up 15-12 with a 9-3 decision of Sean Richmond. Gross (23-6) was not scored on in the first two periods at 157. "Kurt has been really solid for us lately," said Head Coach Jim Andrassy. "He's a smart wrestler and has it made it very difficult for opponents to score on him."
Justin Nestor's 10-0 major decision of junior Jason McGee (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Cuyahoga Falls) gave the Panthers a 16-15 lead with just three matches to go. Nestor (165) improved to 20-7 on the season with Pitt's fourth win of the day.
Junior Aaron Miller (Uniopolis, Ohio/Wapokoneta) silenced the Pitt crowd with a 9-1 major decision of Nick Padezan. Miller (26-5) leads the Flases in victories and is tied for the team lead with eight major decisions at 174. Senior Alex Camargo (Brook Park, Ohio/Berea) scored his second convincing victory of the weekend, this time a 12-6 decision of Kyle Deliere. Camargo (184) improved to 25-3 on the season and 116-38 for his career. He is just six victories shy of passing Nick Nemeth and becoming the winningest wrestler in KSU history.
Junior Ardian Ramadani (Garfield, NJ/Garfield) sealed the victory with a 9-3 decision of Mike Heist at 197. Ramadani (17-8) has won his last three bouts.
"We're seeing consistency out of Aaron, Chad, Kurt, Alex and Ardian," said Andrassy. "And that's what we're looking for at this point in the season. Pitt traditionally has a good program. They're a little down this year but they'll be back next year."
"We rested a couple starters today (Jason Bake & Drew Lashaway) and by our match with Buffalo (Feb. 10) we should be as healthy as we've been all year... And we won't have anymore overnight trips until the MAC Tournament."
Many Golden Flashes will compete Saturday (Feb. 4) in the Kent State Open but Andrassy plans to rest most of his starting lineup. Over 300 wrestlers are expected in the open tournament which begins at 9 a.m. in the M.A.C. Center Annex.
Kent State 25 Pittsburgh 16
285: Porter (K) won by forfeit
125: Sportelli (K) pinned Gentzle (P), 6:00
133: Ciotti (P) dec. D. Opfer (K), 7-5
141: Tarquinio (P) tech. fall Chonko (K), 17-0
149: Ecklof (P) maj. dec. Spencer (K), 15-5
157: Gross (K) dec. Richmond (P), 9-3
165: Nestor (P) maj. dec. McGee (K), 9-0
174: Miller (K) maj. dec. Padezan (P), 9-1
184: Camargo (K) dec. Deliere (P), 12-6
197: Ramadani (K) dec. Heist (P), 9-3
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