Kent State 24 Clarion 15

#14 Kent State Rallies Past Clarion 24-15

(CLARION, PA.): Clarion jumped out to a 15-7 lead on #14 ranked Kent 
State behind a pin from Cameron Moran, a technical fall by James 
Fleming and a major decision for Hadley Harrison, but the Golden 
Flashes rallied to win the final five weights and defeat the Golden 
Eagles 24-15 in NCAA Division I Wrestling.
	Held at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium, Clarion was behind 7-0 after losing 
the firs two weight classes, but sophomore 141-pounder Cameron Moran 
(James City) pinned Kent’s Chase Skonieczny at 6:59 to bring the Eagles 
to within 7-6. Moran was trailing 5-2 late in the third, but countered 
with a takedown, then turned Skonieczny to his back with about 25 
seconds remaining to take the lead and got the fall just before the 
buzzer to end the match.
	Freshman James Fleming (West Mifflin) was next at 149 and he defated 
Kent state’s Tommy Sasfny by technical fall 15-1 at 6:25. Fleming had a 
first period takedown, an escape, takedown and three-point near fall in 
the second to lead 8-0, then poured it on in the third with a takedown 
and a two and three-point tilt for the win, giving Clarion an 11-7 lead.
	Eagle senior captain Hadley Harrison (McKean) scored a 9-1 major 
decision over Mallie Shuster to give Clarion a 15-7 lead after five 
weight classes. Harrison had two takedowns, a reversal, stall and 
penalty points and riding time to get the win.
	Kent’s Ross Tice decisioned Clarion’s Nick Milano (Fr. Erie) 6-0 at 
165, and Keith Witt decisioned Steven Cressley (Fr. Punxsutawney) 4-2 
at 174 to have Kent trailing by two at 15-13. 
	The Flashes took the lead for good at 18-15 when #2 rated Dustin 
Kilgore had an 18-1 technical fall over Clint Podish (So. Sycamore) at 
184. Kent’s Adam Cogar decisioned Alex Thomas (Seaford, De.) 8-4 at 197 
and heavyweight #19 Brendan Barlow decisioned Quintas McCorkle (So. 
Alexandria, Va.) 6-1 at heavyweight to make the final 24-15.
	The match opened with Kent’s Troy Opfer’s 4-0 decision over Joe Waltko 
(Fr. Allison Park) at 125, and #9 Danny Mitcheff majored Jay Ivanco 
(Jr. Monroeville) 13-5 at 133.
	Kent State upped its overall record to 5-0, while Clarion’s dual 
record under fourth year head coach Teague Moore is 0-1.
	“We wrestled a very spirited match today,” said Moore. “We may have 
been outgunned, but we fought hard and wrestled smart. We have a young 
team and we will continue to improve if we continue to wrestle with the 
intensity we had today.”
	Clarion will next be at the Midlands Tournament on Dec. 29 -30.

125- Troy Opfer (K) dec. Joe Waltko (CL) 4-0
133- Danny Mitcheff (K) maj. dec. Jay Ivanco (CL) 13-5
141- Cameron Moran (CL) wbf Chase Skonieczny (K) 6:59
149- James Fleming (K) tech fall Tommy Sasfy (K) 15-0; 6:25
157- Hadley Harrison (CL) maj. dec. Mallie Shuster (K) 9-1
165- Ross Tice (K) dec. Nick Milano (CL) 6-0
174- Keith Witt (K) dec. Steven Cressley (CL) 4-2
184- Dust Kilgore (K) tech. fall Clint Podish (CL) 18-1; 4:59
197- Adam Cogar (K) dec. Alex Thomas (CL) 8-4
HWT- Brendan Barlow (K) dec. Quintas McCorkle (CL) 6-1
Clarion: 0-1
Kent State: 5-0
Ref: Mike Millward