CLARION, Pa. – The Golden Eagle wrestling team returned home for their final dual of the season in Tippin Gym, but Clarion's late rally fell just short in a 21-16 loss to Kent State at Tippin Gymnasium.
 
The dual came after an emotional dedication ceremony of the Robert G. Bubb Wrestling Facility, named for Clarion Sports Hall of Famer and longtime head coach Bob Bubb. The assembled crowd honored Bubb for his accomplishments on and off the wrestling mat, including a stirring video tribute and a speech from Bubb himself.


 
That gave way to the dual with the Golden Flashes, with Kent State snapping Clarion's modest two-match win streak in the series.  The Golden Flashes controlled most of the action in the lighter weights while Clarion found their footing at the heavier ones, with the Golden Eagles winning three of the last four bouts – two by bonus points.
 
After Clarion fell behind 6-0 in the team match, Seth Koleno got to work in putting Clarion on the big board. The junior notched two takedowns against Louis Newell, building a 4-1 advantage through three minutes and inducing a stall warning against him. Koleno escaped the start the second period and continued to push the issue, with Newell again being charged with a stall and an escape. Newell pulled to within 6-4 on a takedown early in the third period, but Koleno brought him to the mat one more time to clinch the 9-5 decision.
 
Kent State got on the board first, winning a battle of nationally-ranked 125-pounders. Joey Fischer got the riding time advantage on Jake Ferri after a 90-second ride to start the second period, returning the latter to the mat several times to preserve the ride. The two exchanged takedowns in the third period, with Ferri getting his near the end of the period to tie the bout at 4-4. Ferri took down Fischer in the sudden victory period to kick off the scoring.
 
The lead reached 18-3 after the Golden Flashes earned a fall at 149 pounds and decisions at 157 and 165 pounds, but John Worthing stopped the bleeding with an exceptional second period against Michael Ferree. Worthing started by reversing Ferree on the edge of the mat to take a 4-3 lead, and then he went to work on getting Ferree on his back. He pulled off three near falls in the second period, including two four-point tallies and a two-pointer as time expired, to make it 14-3. The wrestlers started the third period in neutral but Worthing put Ferree in danger just 20 seconds in, then tilted him for four points and to lock up the tech fall.
 
The Golden Flashes were able to lock up the team result early, though, when Colin McCracken overcame Max Wohlabaugh for a 3-1 decision at 184 pounds. That made the team score 21-8, but Will Feldkamp and Ty Bagoly gave the home fans something to cheer about in the heavy weights. Feldkamp dominated Tyler Bates in the 197-pound bout, taking him down twice and securing a four-point near fall in the first period to make it 8-1 early on. He added an escape and a takedown in the second, but importantly his aggressive efforts made Bates passive as the latter was nailed for four total stalling calls. It seemed that the bout may only end in a major decision for Feldkamp, but Feldkamp bodied and tossed Bates to his back at the end of the third period to finish with a 20-2 tech fall.
 
In the heavyweight bout, Bagoly took a 1-0 lead after Jacob Cover was called for an illegal hold. Bagoly started the second period on top and put in the boots, riding Cover for the entire second period. It looked like Cover might get the first takedown of the bout in the third period when he caught Bagoly on a single-leg and went for a trip. Bagoly battled through and brought Cover down in front of the Golden Eagle bench for his first takedown of the bout, making it a 4-0 advantage. Back to work on top, Bagoly rode Cover out for the remainder to lock up the win.
 
Kent State 21, Clarion 16              
125 - #28 Jake Ferri (Kent State) def. #32 Joey Fischer (Clarion) SV-1 6-4
133 - Brendon Fenton (Kent State) def. Alex Blake (Clarion) Dec. 8-3
141 - #30 Seth Koleno (Clarion) def. Louis Newell (Kent State) Dec. 9-5
149 - Kody Komara (Kent State) def. Lavinsky Collins (Clarion) Fall 1:18
157 - Robert Pryhocki (Kent State) def. Kyle Schickel (Clarion) Dec. 9-2
165 - Brady Chrisman (Kent State) def. #33 Cam Pine (Clarion) Dec. 2-0
174 - John Worthing (Clarion) def. Michael Ferree (Kent State) TF 20-3 5:21
184 - Colin McCracken (Kent State) def. Max Wohlabaugh (Clarion) Dec. 3-1
197 - Will Feldkamp (Clarion) def. Tyler Bates (Kent State) TF 20-2 7:00
285 - Ty Bagoly (Clarion) def. Jacob Cover (Kent State) Dec. 5-0