Wrestling Returns Home for MAC Bout With Kent State

Wrestling vs Kent State
Date	Sunday, Jan. 17 \| 4 p.m.
Location	Convocation Center
Game Notes	PDF Notes
Twitter	@EMUWrestling
Live Results	Track Wrestling
Live Stream	ESPN 3

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team finishes the weekend at home when it welcomes Mid-American Conference foe Kent State University into the Convocation Center for a dual, Sunday, Jan. 17 at 4 p.m.

   The meet will be broadcast live on ESPN 3 with Joel Godett providing play-by-play, and former EMU wrestler J.J. Johnson supplying the analysis. Fans can also follow the action live by following @EMUWrestling on Twitter. Final results can also be found at TrackWrestling.com.

ALL-TIME VS. KENT STATE: The EMU-KSU series dates back to 1967 when the two teams first met. The Golden Flashes hold the decided advantage in the series, going 43-1-1 all-time. The lone EMU win came Dec. 13, 1974 when the then Hurons were winners 33-16.

LAST TIME WE MET: The Eastern Michigan University wrestling squad fell in its third Mid-American Conference dual of the 2014-15 season to Kent State University, 25-9, Friday, Jan. 30.

The Eagles captured just three bouts, while the Golden Flashes grabbed seven victories, including three extra-point bouts. The three EMU wins came from Vincent Pizzuto, Anthony Abro, and Nicholas Barber.

FOLLOWING THE FLASHES: Kent State enters Sunday with a 9-3 overall record and a 2-1 mark in the MAC. They went 2-1 at the EMU Duals this season, and hold conference wins over Buffalo and Ohio, as well as a non-conference win over MAC opponent Old Dominion at the Virginia Duals.

   KSU has two grapplers in the InterMat top-20, including No. 10 Mack McGuire at 133 lbs. and No. 2 Ian Miller at 157 lbs. Miller is a two-time All-American and three-time MAC Champion.

   The Golden Flashes also boast three wrestlers in the MAC top-4, including McGuire and Miller who are No. 1 in their respective weight classes, as well as Mike DePalma who is No. 4 at 149 lbs.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Based on projected starting lineups, Kent State returns six starters to the lineup this season from last year's dual. Of those six, three won their respective bouts (Ian Miller, Tyler Buckwalter, Jerald Spohn). Meanwhile for EMU they return five of the starters from last season's dual to the lineup for today. Of those five, two won their matchups, with Nicholas Barber and Anthony Abro winning by decision.

   A projected rematch from last season pits Barber against Michael DePalma at 149 lbs. Barber topped DePalma in a 10-4 decision.

EMU RECEIVING VOTES IN TOP-25: EMU received five votes in the most recent USA Today/ National Wrestling Coaches Association Top-25 poll. That puts the Eagles at 29th place. Kent State also recieved five votes in the most recent poll, making today's matchup a 29-vs-29 battle.

HONORARY CAPTAIN: The team welcomes 26-year-old Ramone Williams as an honorary captain for the meet Sunday. Williams is an EMU student who was previously homeless. The media, communications and theater arts major holds a 3.4 GPA. "Ramone has shown courage and the ability to overcome adversity," Associate Head Coach Luke Smith said. "These are things we try to instill in our student-athletes."

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Entering the final season of their storied careers, redshirt seniors Anthony Abro and Vincent Pizzuto are near the top of the EMU record book in career wins. Abro has 87 career wins, while Pizzuto has 81. This is good for a tie for sixth place and a tie for ninth place on the all-time list, respectively. Steve Brown is the program leader in victories, racking up 117 from 1984-88.

ABRO RANKED NATIONALLY: Redshirt senior Anthony Abro is currently ranked 14th at 197 by InterMat wrestling, his highest ranking in any of the national polls and highest for any EMU grappler. Abro is coming off of his best season as an Eagle, in which he racked up 28 wins, and ended his season with a top-16 finish at the NCAA Championships. He is currently 16-4 on the year in 2015-16.

OTHER NATIONAL RANKINGS: Abro is currently ranked in the top-20 by every major wrestling outlet. He is 14th (InterMat), 16th (The Open Mat), 19th (Flo Wrestling), 16th (WIN Magazine) and 17th (Gregg Henry). Two other Eagles are ranked nationally as well, with Gage Hutchison coming in at 20th by WIN Magazine and 29th by Gregg Henry. Nicholas Barber is also ranked 29th by Gregg Henry.

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Players Mentioned

Anthony Abro

Nick Barber

Gage Hutchison

Vincent Pizzuto

Eastern Michigan Athletics