For the past 11 years, Kent State’s wrestling team has had at least one Mid-American Conference champion —  but the streak will end tomorrow. Eight Flashes are advancing to Sunday’s round of the MAC tournament.

“We had seven victories today against guys we lost to earlier in the season,” coach Jim Andrassy said of his team’s progress. “And we’ve got four guys that still have a shot to go to the national tournament. Overall, I was happy with the effort from most of our guys.”

Recovering from an injury, sophomore Anthony Tutolo defeated the No. 3 seed Cameron Kelly from Ohio University 5-2. Tutolo lost in the quarter-finals and will wrestle Central Michigan’s Corey Keener in the consolation semi-finals match.

“(Tutolo) may be the best wrestler on our team, but right now 133 is the best weight class in our conference,” Andrassy said of Tutolo’s competition.

Sophomore Casey Sparkman won in a sudden victory over Ohio’s Cullen Cummings with a final score of 3-1. Sparkman will wrestle Old Dominion University’s Larry Early in the consolation semi-finals match.

“The style matchup gives (Sparkman) fits,” Andrassy said, “but he figures out a way to get the win.”

Sophomore Isaac Bast lost his quarter-finals match, but came back in the consolation round and is wrestling in the consolation semi-finals against Northern Illinois’ Shaun’Qae McMurty. 

“(Bast)’s healthy now and he’s going really hard,” Andrassy said. “He’s to the point tomorrow where anything can happen.”

Tutolo, Sparkman, Bast, and Suglio will wrestle in the consolation semi-finals round. The winner goes for third place and the loser goes for fifth place.

Junior Chance Driscoll received his 20th victory of the season over Northern Iowa’s Jake Hodges. Driscoll will wrestle University at Buffalo’s Jason Estevez for seventh place.

Driscoll, Rooney, Spohn, and Mast will also wrestle for seventh place.

The MAC tournament finishes tomorrow and is televised on ESPN3.

Samantha Ross is a sports reporter, contact her at [email protected].