2017-18 Eastern Wrestling League Preseason Poll Full Results
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Redshirt senior Nick Corba was named the favorite at 184 pounds as the Eastern Wrestling League released individual and team preseason poll results Tuesday.
Cleveland State was selected fifth in both the dual and tournament rankings, collecting 26 points in the latter projection. Rider was the favorite in both categories. Full tournament strength team results are available at the bottom of this article.
Corba has been listed among the top 20 in preseason rankings released by at least three media outlets, including a ranking of 14th by TrackWrestling. He earned an at-large berth to last season's NCAA Championships at 184 pounds, the first athlete to earn an at-large berth in head coach Ben Stehura's tenure at CSU. He picked up two wins in elimination matches at the NCAA Tournament, a pin and a major decision. In doing so, Corba became the first Viking to have two bonus-point wins at a NCAA Tournament since 1995. Corba completed last season with a career-high 25 wins, including 15 bonus-point victories, while winning three open tournaments.
After competing at 141 pounds last season, junior Evan Cheek was selected third in the preseason rankings at 133 pounds. Cheek won three matches to place third at last year's EWL Championships, including a pair of bonus-point wins. He led the team in wins (27), dual wins (9), dual points earned (39), EWL wins (5), technical falls (8) and bonus-point wins (17). Cheek did not suffer a defeat by fall or technical fall all season and won the title at the Storm Open.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Ford and junior John Vaughn were both picked fourth at 149 and 165 pounds, respectively.
Ford went 20-8 as an unattached collegian in 2016-17 at 149 pounds and collected nine bonus-point wins. Vaughn won a pair of matches to place fourth at the EWL Tournament last year after dropping the third-place bout by a single point. He finished with 13 wins on the season.
Other Vikings listed in the individual preseason ranking were: redshirt senior John Martin (5th, 125 pounds), freshman Drew Fairbanks (7th, 141 pounds), freshman Georgio Poullas (5th, 157 pounds), redshirt senior Gabe Stark (5th, 174 pounds), freshman John Kelbly (6th, 197 pounds) and sophomore Collin Kelly (7th, 285 pounds).
Cleveland State will unofficially open the 2017-18 season this Sunday, Oct. 22, with its intersquad ranking matches. Action will begin at 12:30 p.m. in Woodling Gymnasium.
2017-18 Eastern Wrestling League Preseason Poll
Tournament Strength
1. Rider – 78
2. Edinboro – 63
3. Lock Haven – 60.5
4. Clarion – 48
5. Cleveland State – 26
6. George Mason – 21.5
7. Bloomsburg – 8