Match of the Week November 2-November 8
#22 Kent State at #21 Virginia Tech
In the first full week of college wrestling's 2009-2010 season, D1CW's feature dual meet pits the Kent State Golden Flashes against the Virginia Tech Hokies. It is the only dual meet of the week between two top 25 teams. In D1CW's first rankings of the season Kent State comes in at #22 just a spot below Virginia Tech at #21.
Both teams were able to make huge strides for their respective programs in the 2008-09 season. Kent State finished the dual season with a record of 13-4 and more importantly a 5-0 record vs MAC Conference opponents. The last conference victory was the biggest for the Golden Flashes, an 18-14 victory over perennial power Central Michigan. The defeat of the Chippewas was the first in 11 matches for Kent State and the first regular season title since 2003. Individually, KSU finally broke through and put two wrestlers on the podium at Nationals. Nic Bedelyon's 8th place finish at 125 and Jermail Porter's 6th place finish at 285 gave Head Coach Jim Andrassy his first two All-American's in six seasons as the head coach for Kent State.
Virginia Tech started the dual season with 14 consecutive victories. The last came at the expense of the then #17 Michigan Wolverines. It was the first win over a ranked team in program history. A day later after losing to #4 Nebraska, the Hokies upset #6 Central Michigan. While Virginia Tech was able to finish the ACC Dual Season undefeated, they finished a disappointing 3rd at the ACC Championships. Despite the third place finish, the Hokies managed to send eight wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. Two wrestlers, Chris Diaz at 141 and David Marone at 285 were able to get within one match of earning All-American honors. The Hokies future looks bright for Coach Kevin Dresser, as his entire lineup in 2008-09 consisted of Freshman and Sophomores.
Probable Match-Up's and D1CW Projections
125-Troy Opfer (KSU) vs Jarrod Garnett (VT)
Jarrod Garnett actually met and defeated Kent State All-American Nic Bedelyon in the first round of the NCAA Championships. Bedelyon was able to battle his way back through the consolations to finish 8th. He will likely redshirt in the 2009-10 season. Troy Opfer was victorious in the wrestle-off for Kent State and will try to build upon a 2008-09 season where he won 26 matches. Garnett exploded on the scene for the Hokies and won over 40 matches, including two against wrestlers who went on to earn All-American honors. Look for the 2009 D1CW ACC Freshman of the Year to win here.
Projection: Garnett (VT) by major decision (VT 4-0)
133-Dan Mitcheff (KSU) vs Eric Spjut (VT)
Dan Mitcheff will likely be the only senior competing Saturday, for either team. Mitcheff has won 79 matches over his career with Kent State, and finished one match away from All-American honors in 2009. He enters the 2009-10 season ranked #9 in the nation by D1CW. Eric Spjut is a highly touted true freshman for the Hokies hailing from Texas. Spjut won three Texas State Titles during his prep career. He faces a stiff challenge in his first day of collegiate competition.
Projection: Mitcheff (KSU) by decision (VT 4-3)
141-Chase Skonieczny (KSU) vs Chris Diaz (VT)
Chris Diaz, D1CW's #10 ranked 141lber, is coming off a breakout 2009 season where he won 38 matches and downed three opponents who have earned All-American honors. Diaz managed to finish as the runner-up in a brutal ACC weight class, which featured one All-American and two wrestlers that advanced to the NCAA Round of 12. Chase Skonieczny redshirted the 2009 season, as a true freshman, and won eight of ten matches in unattached action. Skonieczny won the Freshman/Sophomore Bracket at the Michigan State Open.
Projection: Diaz (VT) by decision (VT 7-3)
149-Matt Cathell (KSU) vs Peter Yates (VT)
Expect this match between 2009 National Qualifiers to be a high flying affair. Matt Cathell transferred to Kent State after spending his first two seasons with Delaware State. When the DSU program was dropped, Kent State picked up the 2x East Region Champ. Cathell entered the 2009 NCAA Championships undefeated. Peter Yates enjoyed a very successful true freshman season, winning 35 matches and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. Yates, injured two weeks earlier at the ACC Championships, was unable to compete in his first trip to Nationals. It will be interesting to see how much Cathell has progressed, wrestling for a program which is nationally ranked and with a higher level of practice partners.
Projection: Cathell (KSU) by decision (VT 7-6)
157-Mallie Shuster (KSU) vs Taylor Knapp (VT)
2009 ACC Runner-Up Jesse Dong will not compete this weekend for the Hokies. In his place true freshman Taylor Knapp gets the nod. Knapp comes into Blacksburg after winning three Georgia State Championships. Mallie Shuster had an excellent redshirt season winning 33 matches and two open tournaments. Shuster met the Hokies 2009 starter at the Southern Scuffle and was able to take Dong to overtime before falling.
Projection: Shuster (KSU) by decision (KSU 9-7)
165-Sli Bostelman (KSU) vs Matt Epperly (VT)
Matt Epperly looks to rebound from an up and down 2008-09 season. As a freshman in 2008, Epperly was the lone representative at the NCAA Championships for Tech. In 2009, he was one of only two Hokie starters who did not qualify for Nationals. Sli Bostelman returns to the Golden Flash lineup after taking 2009 as a redshirt season. Prior to 2009, Bostelman was in and out of the KSU lineup winning 19 matches while competing at 157 and 165. During his redshirt season Bostelman won 18 bouts.
Projection: Epperly (VT) by decision (VT 10-9)
174-Chris Estep (KSU) vs John Dickson (VT)
This is another bout where Virginia Tech will be without one of their returning NCAA Qualifiers. True Freshman John Dickson will step in for Anthony Trongone. His opponent is Junior Chris Estep is a two-year starter for Kent State. He has won 27 matches over that time period.
Projection: Estep (KSU) by major decision (KSU 13-10)
184-Dustin Kilgore (KSU) vs Tommy Spellman (VT)
This match is a tilt between two wrestlers ranked in the top-15 by D1CW (Kilgore #9, Spellman #15). Tommy Spellman is a junior won has won 25 matches in each of his first two collegiate seasons. He qualified for his first NCAA Tournament after finishing second in the ACC Championships. Dustin Kilgore had an excellent freshman season for Kent State, winning 33 matches and a MAC Championship. He finished his first NCAA Championship appearance going 2-2.
Projection: Kilgore (KSU) by decision (KSU 16-10)
197-Adam Cogar (KSU) vs Tim Miller/Chris Penny (VT)
It is uncertain who will take the mat in this 197lb match for the Hokies. Either the veteran Tim Miller, or True Freshman Chris Penny. One of the VT tandem will take on Kent State redshirt Freshman Adam Cogar. Adam won 16 of his 18 matches and two tournaments during his redshirt season.
Projection: Cogar (KSU) by decision (KSU 19-10)
285-Brendan Barlow (KSU) vs DJ Bruce (VT)
Brendan Barlow won 20 matches in 2008-09 despite seeing limited dual action behind All-American Jermail Porter. One of Barlow's losses came to the Hokies 2009 starter David Marone, a round of 12 finisher. Marone will likely redshirt this year and makes room for a beefed up DJ Bruce, the 2009 starter at 197. Bruce managed to win 28 bouts last season and qualified for his first NCAA Tournament.
Projection: Bruce (VT) by decision (KSU 19-13)
Final Score: Kent State 19-13