CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State University wrestling team opens Eastern Wrestling League action this weekend as it travels to George Mason Sunday, Jan. 15.
The dual is slated for a 2:00 p.m. start and pay-per-view video will be available by clicking here.
This will be the Vikings' first dual matchup since December 11. CSU then hosted its annual Open Dec. 17 before competing at the Southern Scuffle to begin 2017.
Senior Nick Montgomery placed eighth to highlight CSU's participation in the two-day Southern Scuffle. Montgomery was the only unseeded wrestler to place at that weight class in a field that featured seven of the top 19 athletes nationally according to Intermat's 149-pound rankings. Montgomery picked up two wins by fall, including one over the seventh seed, at the event.
Sophomore Evan Cheek notched two technical fall victories at the Southern Scuffle to push his team-leading win total to 15 on the season. Cheek had taken third place with four wins in the Cleveland State Open, including one via fall and another by technical fall. True freshman Collin Kelly placed sixth for the Vikings at their Open, as the rookie's three wins at the event demonstrated a real sign of progression over the course of the young season.
Cleveland State owns a 3-1 all-time mark against George Mason with all four prior meetings occurring in the past five years. The Vikings are 2-1 against the Patriots in Virginia and won the first-ever meeting in Cleveland last season. In last season's meeting, the Vikings won the last two matches to turn a two-point team deficit into a five-point victory. Montgomery was the lone grappler for either team to pin his opponent during that dual.
George Mason owns an overall mark of 4-7 on the season but the Patriots have won three consecutive duals, and two of their setbacks were to Big Ten squads and another came to a Big 12 opponent. George Mason finished fourth of 14 teams at the Lock Haven Classic over the holidays, as Ibrahim Bunduka (125) and Sahid Kargbo (149) both won titles at that event. Kargbo also won the title at 149 at the Navy Classic in November and owns a 19-1 record on the season. Bunduka is unbeaten on the season with a 10-0 mark. The Patriots went 1-1 against two EWL foes on the road in early December, claiming a win over Bloomsburg.
Cleveland State will remain on the road next weekend as it travels to Rider Jan. 22 before it finally opens its home dual schedule the following week.
CSU Projected Lineup
125: Spencer Dusi OR John Martin
133: Spencer Dusi OR John Martin
141: Evan Cheek
149: RJ LaBeef OR Nick Montgomery
157: Ryan Montgomery OR Grant Turnmire
165: John Vaughn
174: Devon Pingel
184: Nick Corba
197: Collin Kelly
285: Michael Furbee
George Mason Projected Lineup
125: Ibrahim Bunduka
133: Lio Quezada
141: Tejon Anthony OR Logan Harvich
149: Sahid Kargbo
157: Matthew Raines
165: Daniel Mika
174: Patrick Davis
184: Austin Harrison OR Andrew Thomas
197: Matt Meadows
285: Matthew Voss
