"Step one is accomplished," Jim Andrassy said. "And doing it at home is a great thing. Now we have to focus on some other things."
Sunday's step one began with a first period pin by senior Nic Bedelyon (Lewistown, Pa.). Already leading 5-0, Bedelyon got in on a shot, brought Jared Germaine's leg up and turned it into a cradle from the standing position.
"I've got to open up, keep shooting and attacking," Bedelyon said of the difference between Sunday and his other recent matches. "I feel like if I can get things going, our team's going to do well."
After Tyler Small (Littlestown, Pa.) scored an impressive 7-0 win over Corey Phillips, Marcel Clopton (Shaker Hts., Ohio) became the second senior to go out on a high note. With takedowns in all three periods, Clopton earned a 9-2 victory over Jaylyn Bohl, who was the No. 3 ranked 149-pounder in the MAC.
"What Marcel has done this weekend shows how much of a professional he is," Andrassy said of Clopton being in the lineup for the first time all season. "It speaks volumes of what kind of kid he is. He's always ready to go. And I'm really proud of him."
Junior Mallie Shuster (Newville, Pa.) scored a critical reversal in the final seconds of the first period and another in the final minute of the match to top Aaron Sulzer 7-6. The win gave the Flashes a commanding 15-4 lead.
"Mallie's as good as anyone in the conference," Andrassy said.
Senior Ross Tice (Brookfield, Ohio) trailed Lester France 7-3 midway through the second period before hitting a five-point headlock. Tice scored another takedown in the third on his way to a 13-8 win.
Junior Casey Newburg (Union, Ohio) claimed his second major decision of the weekend and his eighth of the season with a 13-5 win over Phillip Joseph. Newburg piled up five takedowns and collected two stalling points.
Junior Keith Witt (Oak Harbor, Ohio) got in a on a first period shot for a takedown, which made the difference in a 4-2 victory over Nick Whitenburg.
Heavyweight Brendan Barlow (Westerville, Ohio) capped off a 4-for-4 day for Kent State's senior class with a 3-2 win over Wes Schroeder. Barlow hoisted Schroeder up in the air for a key first period takedown.
Sunday was the first time the Flashes clinched an outright conference crown on their home mat since 1989.
Kent State will compete in the National Dual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 11 in Piscataway, N.J. The Flashes will be either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed at the six-team Regional and will find out who its first opponent will be on Monday.
Results:
125 - Nic Bedelyon (Kent State) over Jared Germaine (EMU) Fall 2:22
133 - Andrew Novak (EMU) over Stevie Mitcheff (Kent State) Maj. Dec. 13-5
141 - Tyler Small (Kent State) over Corey Phillips (EMU) Dec 7-0
149 – Marcel Clopton (Kent State) over Jaylyn Bohl (EMU) Dec. 9-2
157 – Mallie Shuster (Kent State) over Aaron Sulzer (EMU) Dec 7-6
165 – Ross Tice (Kent State) over Lester France (EMU) Dec 13-8
174 – Phillip Joseph (EMU) over Brandonn Johnson (Kent State) Fall 4:56
184 –Casey Newburg (Kent State) over Mike Curby (EMU) Maj. Dec 13-5
197 – Keith Witt (Kent State) over Nick Whitenburg (EMU) Dec 4-2
HWT - Brendan Barlow (Kent State) over Wes Schroeder (EMU) Dec 3-2
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