No. 2 ranked Kent State wrestler Ian Miller dropped a key match in Kent State’s 21-16 loss against Northern Iowa on Sunday.

Miller, ranked second in the 157-pound class according to intermatwrestle.com, lost 5-4 to Northern Iowa’s Jarrett Jensen in the dual meet.

“Really bad match all the way around as to the way Ian (Miller) approached it,” coach Jim Andrassy said. “For a guy who is ranked second in the country, he can’t have that type of match. That’s one we counted on and as a team if we want to win, he can’t lose that match.”

The Flashes (7-12, 3-4 Mid-American Conference) took an early lead over Northern Iowa, winning three out of the first four matches in Sunday’s dual meet.

Junior wrestlers Mack McGuire (133) and Michael DePalma (149), as well as fifth-year senior Tyler Small (141), all defeated their opponents, building an early 13-6 lead over the Panthers.

“I think we had some really good things this match,” Andrassy said. “Mike DePalma, who had a horrible month of January, wrestled well today.”

DePalma won his match by pinning his opponent in the first period.

“My approach has been a lot different than it has been in the past year,” DePalma said. “’I’ve been focusing on what I need to going out there and that’s scoring more points.”

The Panthers second-half charge proved to be too much for the Flashes, as Kent State lost four straight matches resulting in a loss for the team.

“It’s just a matter of getting better and working,” Andrassy said. “We have two more dual meets, then we get ready for tournament time.”

The Flashes will return to the M.A.C. Center on Friday where they will take on Northern Illinois at 7 p.m.

Contact Zac Sommer at [email protected].