Record-Courier staff report
Kent State's first-ever Beauty and the Beast event, which brought in 2,365 fans, turned in beautiful results for both the gymnastics and wrestling programs.
The gymnastics team defeated Rutgers in dominant fashion with a final score of 195.675-193.700.
The Golden Flashes were once again led by junior Marie Case to victory behind an impressive all-around score of 39.200. Case is currently listed as the 21st best all-around competitor in the country.
The team won all five events of the night, including all-around, to sweep the Scarlet Knights.
Case finished tied for first in the balance beam, where she earned a 9.825 along with senior Lindsay Runyun to win the event. Case also finished in a tie for first on the floor exercise when she shared the top score of 9.850 with freshman Katlin Isaacs.
To round out her performance Case received a 9.675 on the vault, good for ninth overall, to go along with a 9.850 on the uneven bars, good for third.
Finalizing the Golden Flashes sweep of events were sophomore Whitnee Johnson and senior Rachel Guida.
Johnson took the vault when her score of 9.875 could not be beat by any of the other competitors. Guida secured the uneven parallel bars for the home team when a score 9.900 was received from the judges, a score that matched her career best. Guida currently ranks 13th nationally on bars.
Johnson finished off her day with a 9.775 on the floor exercise. She also scored a 9.025 on the balance beam. Guida posted a a 9.825 on the vault, her only other event of the day.
As for the Flashes' wrestling program, the team defeated Cleveland State 31-10.
The Golden Flashes won the final six matches against the Vikings, including technical falls from Sam Wheeler and Casey Newburg.
After six bouts, the Flashes led 12-10, before Wheeler broke it open with 20-4 tech fall just 10 seconds into the second period. A relentless Wheeler scored 18 points in the first period with quick takedowns and a pair of cradles.
Newburg needed 20 seconds into the third period to complete his tech fall, a 19-3 victory over Corbin Boone. The two dominant performances were enough to convince Cleveland State to forfeit 197, leaving the nation's top wrestler at the weight class -- Dustin Kilgore -- on the sidelines on his Senior Night.
KSU senior Keith Witt kept things rolling with an 11-6 victory over Riley Shaw. Witt jumped out to a 5-0 lead midway through the first period.
The streak of six wins started with senior Tommy Sasfy at 157, who came away with an 8-4 victory over Matt Donohoe. With the match tied 4-4 early in the third, Sasfy escaped and countered a Donohoe shot for a takedown.
Sophomore Caleb Marsh then gave Kent State the lead with a 3-1 victory over Corey Carlo. An opening period takedown turned out to be the difference-maker.
The Flashes got wins from all five of their seniors, including Stevie Mitcheff, who came up just short on time for a major decision and settled for an 11-5 win. With the score tied 3-3 after one, Mitcheff earned a quick reversal followed by a three-point turn.
Freshman Mack McGuire converted three takedowns in the first on the way to a 9-5 victory over Mike Carlone. McGuire got in on shots throughout the match, but had trouble finishing after the first period.
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