Kent State 30 Clarion 16

(Clarion): Clarion led #13 Kent State 16-14 after six bouts paced by Tyler Bedelyon’s upset win at 141-pounds, but it wasn’t enough as the Golden Flashes rallied to defeat Clarion 30-16 in NCAA Division I wrestling on Fridaynight.

Held at Waldo S. Tippin Gym, Clarion’s record drops to 5-7 overall while Kent, the 2012 MAC regular season champions move up to 14-5.

Clarion was trailing 8-0 when Tyler Bedelyon hit the mat at 141. The reigning PSAC & EWL “Wrestler of the Week”, didn’t disappoint when facing #10 ranked Tyler Small. Bedelyon opened with a takedown and a 2-0 lead in the first period, then locked in a cradle and pinned Small at 1:34. It was Bedelyon’s win over a second ranked wrestler in as many outings, as he pinned Princeton’s #11 Adam Krop the same way on Sunday. Bedelyon is now 16-13 on the season.

Kent’s #8 Ian Miller pinned Clarion’s Cameron Moran at 149 to put the Flashes ahead 14-6, but Clarion roared back to take a 16-14 lead.

Clarion’s James Fleming, ranked #4 at 157-pounds, notched a 14-2 major decision over Marcel Clopton at 157. Fleming had two takedowns and three, three-point near falls to post his 23rd win of the season against only two losses.

Golden Eagle senior Bekzod Abdurakhmonov followed with a pin at 4:02 of Andy Candiello to give the Eagles the lead at 16-14. Bekzod had 4 first period takedowns, then cradled and pined Candiello in the second. He has raised his record to 27-4 on the year.

Nick Milano, Clarion’s red-shirt sophomore, brought the fans at tippin to their feet when he used an arm bar to turn and nearly pin Ross Tice in the first period at 174. He held a 5-0 lead early, and was still ahead 7-4 in the third, but he gave up an important stall point, was taken down and then turned for a near fall in the final seconds as Tice won 10-7, giving the Flashes the lead back at 17-16.

Kent won the final three bouts to win the dual 30-16, but not before the Golden Eagles had their say. Casey Newburg scored an 11-2 major over Steven Cressley at 184, Keith Witt won an exciting 10-6 decision over Alex Thomas at 197 and #14 Brandon Barlow pinned Brandon Contreras at heavyweight. Contreras was subbing for Quintas McCorkle who sat out tonight’s dual with an injury, but hopes to return on Sunday against Lock Haven.

CLARION NOTES: Clarion returns to action on Sunday when the Eagles host Lock Haven at 2pm… Senior Day at Clarion with Moran, Abdurakhmonov and heavyweight Quintas McCorkle wrestling in their final match at Tippin… PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray will be in the house to award present the PSAC “Award of Merit” to Wade Schalles at special halftime ceremonies.

KENT STATE 30 CLARION 16
125- #4 Nic Bedelyon (K) t. fall Trey Hicks (CL) 21-4; 6:57
133- Steve Mitcheff (K) dec. Joe Waltko (CL) 8-5
141- Tyler Bedelyon (CL) wbf #10 Tyler Small (K) 1:34
149- #8 Ian Miller (K) wbf Cameron Moran (CL) 1:46
157- #4 James Fleming (CL) maj. dec. Marcel Clopton (L) 14-2
165- #5 Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (CL) wbf Andy Candiello (K) 4:02
174- Ross Tice (K) dec. Nick Milano (CL) 10-7
184- Casey Newburg (K)maj. dec. Steven Cressley (CL) 11-2
197- Keith Witt (K) dec. Alex Thomas (CL) 10-6
285- #14 Brendan Barlow (K) wbf Brandon Contreras (CL) 4:24