Captains

This season we had a vote for the team captains, instead of us the coaching staff just choosing the leaders.   I wanted this process to have a lasting effect throughout the season and to establish a direct leadership connection within the team that creates a strong culture of direction and guidance among the guys.  It’s a very long season and there are many ups and downs on and off the wrestling mats every day.   I’m very confident that the three young men that have been voted on by their teammates will do a exceptional job leading the Golden Flashes this wrestling season through those ups and downs.

So, I want to congratulate Tyler Buckwalter (RS/Senior) ,Cole Baxter (RS/Senior) and Chance Driscoll (RS/Sophomore) on being named the team captains this 2015-16 season.  In addition to being great leaders in the wrestling room, each of them hold above a 3.4 GPA overall in the classroom.  Tyler, Cole and Chance are exceptional young men and will do great things in life in the future but for now I’m really excited to see them lead our team to great things this season.

Sincerely,

Matt Hill

#OWE

Four Weeks Down!

It’s hard to believe we just finished up our fourth week of preseason conditioning. Before you know it we will be loading up the bus and hitting the road for the Eastern Michigan Duals in early November.   The guys are more than excited for the first day of official practice starting Oct. 10.  

For the most part our guys have been extremely focused on getting better every day regardless of the task we put in front of them.     Running day after day can be very boring and monotonous and at times, some of our guys remind us that they are not track athletes.  That being said, I just let them know it’s a long season and the work they put in now will pay off in March.  But for the most part our guys are willing to run through a brick wall to get better.    That’s why I’m excited for this season.

The team culture is strong and everyone is on the same page. We started a team motto back in May to establish that culture; it’s O.W.E. (Out-Work-Everyone).  It’s simple and straightforward; continually have the mind-set that your opponents are doing more then you to get better every day.   Then use that perception to Out-Work-Everyone on and off the mat!!!   So far, it’s been a great coaching tool and helps the guys keep each other motivated when things get tough. 

Once again, I’m eager for the season to begin and looking forward to seeing the fruits of our labor spill out onto the mat this season.   Time will tell but so does hard work and effort. 

Go Flashes,

Matt Hill 

Jim Andrassy Video Blog previews the upcoming NCAA Championships

The Golden Flashes head coach previews the upcoming NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship in St. Louis and discusses what lies ahead for Kent State's five qualifiers.

Video Blog: Jim Andrassy on the upcoming MAC Championships in Missouri

Head coach Jim Andrassy talks about his team as it prepares to leave for Missouri and the upcoming Mid-American Conference Chamiponship.

The Golden Flashes could get as many as seven or eight wrestlers through as the team is getting healthy and rounding into shape at just the right part of the season.

Video Blog: Jim Andrassy previews Senior Night vs. Northern Illinois

On the eve of Kent State Wrestling's final home match of the year, Jim Andrassy previews the Senior Night battle with Northern Illinois at the M.A.C. Center and reviews the careers of his senior class.

Andrassy also previews a Sunday trip to the UWCA National Duals at the University of Illinois on Sunday.



We hope to see you at 7 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center.

Kent State Wrestling returns to the M.A.C. Center on Sunday at 1 p.m. for the first ever visit by recently added Mid-American Conference affiliate Northern Iowa. This is one of the Flashes four home matches of the season and it should be a tight battle.

Head coach Jim Andrassy filed this video blog previewing the battle with Northern Iowa prior to practice on Friday. We hope to see you this Sunday at the M.A.C. Center, but if you can't make it, you can listen to all of the action on iHeart Radio's Golden Flashes Channel.

Kent State junior Cole Baxter gives you an inside look at what takes place during the wrestling team's long road trips. The Golden Flashes are at home on Friday for Beauty & the Beast, which features wrestling vs. Eastern Michigan and gymnastics vs. Pitt. We hope to see you at the M.A.C. Center on Friday at 7 p.m.