College Round-up: Kindig’s Big Win and More

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Josh Kindig – Photo From OK State Wrestling

Redshirt junior Josh Kindig’s Oklahoma State wresting career may be peaking at the right time. Kindig, a 2x PIAA State Champion at Blue Mountain, was pulled from a redshirt year in his true-freshman season during the 2010-2011 season. As a freshman Kindig qualified for the NCAA Tournament at 141 lbs. Returning to the mat at 141 lbs. for the 2011-2012 season Kindig once again qualified for the NCAA Tournament but was denied All-American status for the second straight season. Last season Kindig took his redshirt season for the Cowboys and wrestled in several open tournaments and freestyle events. Now up a weight-class at 149 lbs. Josh Kindig appears ready to take the jump and become one of the Nation’s top grapplers at 149 lbs.

So far this season Josh is (5-1) with his lone defeat coming to current #2 ranked wrestler Drake Houdashelt of Missouri by major decision (10-2). It wasn’t the first time these two wrestlers have met as Houdashelt defeated Kindig on 11/17/2013 by a score of (4-1) during Josh’s redshirt season. Houdashelt will no doubt we the #1 ranked wrestler in the Nation at 149 lbs. after this weekends results. When Oklahoma and Oklahoma State met for the Bedlam match-up, it was an intense atmosphere of two storied programs. At 149 lbs. Josh Kindig took on returning NCAA Champion and #1 ranked Kendric Maple of Oklahoma. Trailing (3-2) in the third period Kindig used a low-single and converted the takedown to go up (4-3). The cowboy held on to close the match and secure the upset (4-3) over Maple.

It wasn’t the first time this season returning National Champion Maple fell to a Keystone State wrestler. Early in the season Maple fell to Bloomsburg’s Bryce Busler, a PIAA State runner-up for Cumberland Valley.

At the Lock Haven Mat Town Classic many Pennslyvania wrestlers took the mats in an exciting tournament. At 125 lbs. Lock Haven’s Ronnie Perry a true freshman from Solanco, finished in third place, defeating Franklin and Marshall’s Jason Bing (Pennsbury) by a score of (9-7). At 133 lbs. former Towanda wrestler Cody Wheeler of Lock Haven secured the Championship title. Former Bethlehem Liberty wrestler Grimaldi Gonzalez of Bucknell took fourth at 133 lbs.

Former Malvern Prep wrestler and returning NCAA All-American Richard Durso dominated the 141 lbs. bracket winning the Championship with a (5-2) victory in the finals. Bloomsburg’s true freshman Colt Cotten of Benton Area finished in third place picking up three victories by fall and one by major decision. At 157 lbs. former Central Mountain wrestler and Lock Haven true freshan Dillon Gavlock finished in fourth place. Former 2x PIAA State Champion from Hempfield Area Jake Kemerer (Lock Haven) captured the 165 lbs. Championship. In the consolation finals at 165 lbs. a pair of PIAA State runner-ups met as Lock Haven’s Aaron McKinney (West Allegheny) defeated Bucknell’s Rustin Barrick (Mechanicsburg) by a (6-1) score. Barrick’s high school and college teammate Joey Krulock (Mechanicsburg) placed fourth at 174 lbs. for Bucknell.

184 lbs. was dominated by PA wrestlers with the top three medalists all coming from the Keystone State. Champion Ed Ruth, who is currently serving a one-month suspension from Penn State, continued his dominance with a (20-6) victory over Lock Haven’s Fred Garcia (Ringgold). The 2x NCAA Champion and former Susquehanna Township wrestler Ruth will return to the Nitanny Lion line-up likely on December 15 against Ohio State. Placing third was Penn State true freshman Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area). The former PIAA State Champion fell to Nationally ranked Fred Garcia in tie-breaker (2-1) but rebounded to with a (5-3) victory in tie-breaker over Cornell’s William George.

Three more Pennslyvania wrestlers placed at 197 lbs. as Lock Haven’s Phil Sprenkle (Dallastown Area) won the Championship title. Pittsburgh’s true freshman Ryan Solomon (Milton Area) fell to Sprenkle (7-4) in the semifinals but bounced back to finish in third place by defeating Millersvile Aram Moffitt (South Western) by fall. Nationally ranked Joe Stolfi (Souderton) of Bucknell won the 285 lbs. Championship in dominating fashion picking up three falls and a major decision. Finishing in third place was Lock Haven’s Brad Emerick (James M. Coughlin).

Complete Mat Town Results here![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]