CLEVELAND, Ohio - Sophomore Evan Cheek and true freshman Collin Kelly of the Cleveland State University wrestling team both placed as the program hosted its 12th annual Cleveland State Open inside a crowded Woodling Gymnasium.

Cheek took third at 141 and took over the team lead in wins on the year with his four victories Saturday. Kelly placed sixth on a day that saw the rookie pick up his initial collegiate wins.

The event featured 37 schools while seven Division I conferences were represented. Five programs ranked among the top 15 in Intermat's most recent Tournament rankings had athletes in attendance while more than half of the schools from both the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten competed.

"It was a really good tournament for Evan, taking third with the quality competition he faced," head coach Ben Stehura said. "It was also nice to see a real progression from Colin with his results today. I was happy to see how his performances have come along. The tournament went well overall and was a success for both our program and our guys. I also want to thank all the volunteers and everyone that spent their time helping put on today's event."

Of Cheek's four wins that vaulted him to a third-place showing, three came in impressive fashion. He began his day with a first-period pin of a Bucknell foe before posting an 18-0 technical fall win in the second round. He went on to win his quarterfinal match via decision before falling in the semifinals. Cheek rebounded by coming away with a win by fall in under four minutes in the third-place match. He now has a team-leading 13 wins on the season.

Kelly had a breakout performance for the Vikings at 197. After dropping his opening match of the day, he came back with a 9-6 victory in his opening consolation match. He then advanced via medical forfeit before having his best match of the day, as he claimed a 12-3 major decision over a foe from Eastern Michigan.

True freshman Devon Pingel (174) and sophomore John Vaughn (165) both advanced to the consolation semifinals Saturday. Of his four wins on the day, Pingel twice won by fall in under 30 seconds. Vaughn responded after dropping his first match of the day by winning three consecutive bouts, including a 2-1 decision over an opponent from Gardner-Webb that was not decided until the match reached the first tiebreaker period.

Redshirt freshman Ryan Montgomery (157) made his season debut and picked up his first two official collegiate wins. He netted a pair of victories in the consolation rounds, including an 11-2 major decision triumph over an opponent from Pitt.

Freshman Spencer Dusi (125) and sophomore Sam Matzek (149) each posted a win by fall Saturday.

CSU will return to action on the first two days of 2017 when it competes in the Southern Scuffle, hosted by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

CSU Results at Cleveland State Open

125
First Round: Spencer Dusi (CSU) - bye
Second Round: Kyle Norstrem (Unattached) over Dusi (CSU)  - Fall 1:39
Consolation Second Round: Dusi (CSU) over Ethan Curtin (Unattached) - Fall 4:11
Consolation Third Round: Liam Cronin (Indiana) over Dusi (CSU) - Fall 2:12

133
First Round: Terrell Grant (CSU) - bye
Second Round: Joey Gould (Bucknell) over Grant (CSU) - 3-2 dec.
Consolation Second Round: Keegan Duncan (Unattached) over Grant (CSU) - 6-1 dec.

141
First Round: Evan Cheek (CSU) over Kyle Greene (Bucknell) - Fall 2:29
Second Round: Cheek (CSU) over Alex Hrisopoulos (Unattached) - 18-0 TF
Quarterfinals: Cheek (CSU) over Drew Walker (Notre Dame (Ohio)) - 6-4 dec.
Semifinals: Brent Moore (Unattached) over Cheek (CSU) - 11-2 MD
Third-Place Match: Cheek (CSU) over Taylor Ortiz (Unattached) - Fall 3:57

149
First Round: Sam Matzek (CSU) - bye
Second Round: Jimmy Devine (Unattached) over Matzek (CSU) - SV-1 5-3
Consolation Second Round: Matzek (CSU) over Zach Ruggles (Lake Erie) - Fall 4:16
Consolation Third Round: Colin Toggas (Unattached) over Matzek (CSU) - 11-5 dec.

157
First Round: Ryan Montgomery (CSU) - bye
Second Round: Laken Cook (Appalachian State) over Montgomery (CSU) - 10-2 MD
Consolation Second Round: Montgomery (CSU) over Micailum Tanner (Unattached) - 7-4 dec.
Consolation Third Round: Montgomery (CSU) over Nate Russell (Pittsburgh) - 11-2 MD
Consolation Quarterfinals: Ryan Mosley (Gardner-Webb) over Montgomery (CSU) - 13-1 MD

165
First Round: Alex Bennett (Gardner-Webb) over John Vaughn (CSU) - Fall 1:54
Consolation First Round: Vaughn (CSU) - bye
Consolation Second Round: Vaughn (CSU) over Trace Thome (Unattached) - 10-4 dec.
Consolation Third Round: Vaughn (CSU) over Jack Peura (Clarion) - 7-2 dec.
Consolation Quarterfinals: Vaughn (CSU) over Christian Maroni (Gardner-Webb) - TB-1 2-1
Consolation Semifinals: Cam Harrell (Unattached) over Vaughn (CSU) - 5-2 dec.

174
First Round: Lane Hinkle (Unattached) over Chris Morrow (CSU) - 15-0 TF
First Round: Devon Pingel (CSU) over Zach Breeden (Mercyhurst) - Fall 0:28
Second Round: Mark Hall (Unattached) over Pingel (CSU) - Fall 1:18
Consolation First Round: Nick Stephani (Bucknell) over Morrow (CSU) - 4-1 dec.
Consolation Second Round: Pingel (CSU) over Kyle Inlander (Bucknell) - Fall 0:10
Consolation Third Round: Pingel (CSU) over Stephani (Bucknell) - MFF
Consolation Quarterfinals: Pingel (CSU) over Christian Price (Unattached) - MFF
Consolation Semifinals: Garrett Sutton (Unattached) over Pingel (CSU) - 10-2 MD

197
First Round: Collin Kelly (CSU) - bye
Second Round: Ayoola Olapo (Michigan) over Kelly (CSU) - 15-0 TF
Consolation Second Round: Kelly (CSU) - bye
Consolation Third Round: Kelly (CSU) over Aaron Paddock (Unattached) - 9-6 dec.
Consolation Quarterfinals: Kelly (CSU) over Isaiah Wheeler (Lake Erie) - MFF
Consolation Semifinals: Kelly (CSU) over Jared Langley (Eastern Michigan) - 12-3 MD
Fifth-Place Match: Jay Aiello (Unattached) over Kelly (CSU) - 14-2 MD