The Kent State wrestling team was unable to advance in the NWCA National Duals on Sunday as the Flashes fell to No. 5 ranked Illinois, 38-0, in Champaign, Illinois.

Junior wrestler Kyle Bauer (149) and fifth-year senior Caleb Marsh (174) both lost close one-point matches in Sunday’s loss.

“There were a few close individual matches, but they were just better than us,” coach Jim Andrassy said. “We did not match up very well individually and that’s why the score was the way it was.”

Flashes No. 4 ranked wrestler Ian Miller had his hands full taking on No. 2 ranked Isaiah Martinez in the 157-pound match. Martinez pinned Miller at 6:35 in the third period, increasing the Illini lead to 20.

“We want our guys to get one or two points better each time,” Andrassy said. “Hopefully we can get every guy better before two weeks from now.”

The Flashes will head to Columbia, Missouri on March 7 to compete in the MAC Championships.

Contact Zac Sommer at [email protected].