The Kent State wrestling team concluded its regular season by suffering two lopsided losses at home to nationally-ranked Missouri and Edinboro in a dual meet Friday.

Missouri, ranked 10th in the latest Intermat.com team rankings, and Edinboro, ranked eighth, were the 15th and 16th ranked teams the Flashes faced this season. After Friday’s losses, the team has an overall record of 11-13.

“We had the hardest schedule in the country, by far,” said Andrassy. “With a young team, we have our whole team coming back. Hopefully we have the next two weeks to sit back and say we wrestled some of the best teams in the country, and we can go into the MAC Championships and beat guys.”

Andrassay and the Flashes will be looking for positives to build on going into next week’s Mid-American Conference championships. Despite a 24-9 team loss to the Tigers Friday, the Flashes earned victories in three weight classes including one by MAC Wrestler of the Week Caleb Marsh.  Mack McGuire earned a commanding 4-2 victory over Mizzou’s Matt Manley in the 133-pound weight class as well.

Ian Miller continued his return from injury after going 2-1 in this past week’s National Wrestling Coaches Association Duals with a win over No. 19 ranked Joey Lavallee of Missouri. Miller went undefeated on the night, also gaining a decision of 10-4 in Kent’s match against Edinboro. Miller grimaced and clutched his previously injured elbow during the second period against No. 15 ranked Johnny Greisheimer of the Fighting Scots.

“This late in the season I have to grind it out,” said Ian Miller. “It’s going to hurt, but I could finish the match. Once my adrenaline gets going, its fine.”

Miller injured his elbow against MAC rival Central Michigan in January and missed three matches while the injury healed.

“He’s going to wrestle someone at the Nationals and tweak his elbow and he has to know how to respond to it,” said Coach Jim Andrassy about Miller’s recovery. “We have to make sure he learns how to bounce it out, shake it out and get back in the middle. I think it was real important that he came out and wrestled through that today.”

With the regular season in the books, the Flashes will host the MAC Championships on March 8-9 in Kent State’s Memorial and Convocation Center. The Championships will give the team’s individual wrestlers a spotlight while looking to qualify for the National Championships.

“We’re in the postseason now. Everyone is 0-0,” said Andrassy. “Everyone has a chance to qualify for the National Championships or win the MAC Championship.”

Contact Michael Mann at [email protected].