ST. LOUIS – Kent State sophomore Casey Sparkman (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon Perry) went 1-1 Thursday at the Scottrade Center during day one of the 2017 NCAA Wrestling Championships. In his first career appearance at the national tournament, Sparkman dropped his opening match, but bounced back to defeat Aaron Walker of The Citadel 5-3.
Sparkman scored a pair of first period takedowns against Walker, starting with a double leg at the edge of the mat. Up 2-1, Sparkman tossed Walker to his back with a lateral drop and collected two more points. Beginning the third with a 4-3 lead, Sparkman escaped midway through the period and fought off a pair of late attacks by Walker.