After an offseason of preparation, the Kent State wrestling team took on Bucknell and Maryland for its first matches of the season Sunday.

The Flashes dropped both games by an average margin of over 22 points in a 35-9 and 29-10 losses to Bucknell and Maryland, respectively.

In the first game against Bucknell, the Flashes did not get a win until the 165-pounder matchup. It was the sixth matchup of the day, and the deficit would be hard to make up.

In the 165-pounder match, junior Ethan Barr took on the No. 14 ranked Noah Mulvaney. Bucknell was up 20-0 before the match started, but the lead was cut into after Barr took the match with a fall, which took 5:30.

After the match, the score was 20-6.

Bucknell would go on to take the next three matches until the 285-pounder match took place. Redshirt freshman Brentan Simmerman won in a 5-2 decision to give the Flashes their second win of the game.

The decision gave KSU three points, making the final score 35-9.

Later that same day, Kent State took on Maryland, who was hosting the event.

Kent State got off to a hot start with a 11-4 decision in the 125-pounder match. The win was courtesy of junior Nico Calello.

Over the next couple matches, the Flashes and Terrapins would trade leads. After a loss in the 133-pounder match, KSU would regain a 6-4 lead on a 6-2 decision win from junior Eli Ashcroft, making the score 6-4.

Still, Maryland would take the next five matches, building an 18-point lead before the 197-pounder match, where junior Blake Schaffer would take the win in a 10-2 major decision victory.

KSU earned its last four points, and the team would drop the 285-pounder match to finish off the day, making the final score 29-10 against Maryland.

Looking ahead

The wrestling team is coming off a 5-16 season a year ago, and the team is off to an 0-2 start to the season this time around.

Big losses have been common, as well, as the Flashes dropped both games by at least 19 points. Last season, six games were decided by 19 or more points against the Flashes.

On a positive note, many of Kent State’s wrestlers are showing improvement in the early season.

Last season, Barr finished a sub-.500 wrestler, finishing the season with an 11-14 record, but went 1-1 over Sunday’s slate.

Simmerman also went 1-1, showing signs of improvement on his 9-12 record from last season, and Calello had the same record Sunday after his own 6-11 record from a season ago.

After a 1-7 record as a freshman and a record-less second season as a redshirt freshman, Ashcroft has doubled his career win count after a 1-1 Sunday.

As the preseason favorite at 197 pounds in the Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll, Schaffer turned out a 1-1 record of his own Sunday. 

Schaffer is coming off a standout sophomore season where he held a 25-11 record and went 4-1 in the MAC Tournament. 

After the 0-2 start, KSU will come back to the home mats of the M.A.C. Center to take on Gannon University Friday at noon.

Saturday, Gannon took first place out of 10 teams at the Mount Union Invitational, but no wins were put on record, so Gannon will take on Kent State with a 0-0 record.

Gannon had a solid 9-2 record last season with an impressive 5-1 record away from home.

Last season, Kent State was a winless 0-5 at home but will look to turn that around Friday against the Golden Knights.

John Hilber is sports editor. Contact him at [email protected].