CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State University wrestling team dropped a pair of duals to Northern Illinois and nationally ranked Lock Haven Saturday afternoon inside Woodling Gymnasium.
The Huskies claimed a 26-7 win in CSU's first dual of the day. After having just competed, the Vikings then dropped a 36-3 decision to a fresh Bald Eagle squad in a dual that had been rescheduled due to weather.
Redshirt sophomore Ryan Ford, senior Sam Matzek and true freshman Ben Smith won matches on the day for the Vikings.
Ford lost his other bout in a sudden-victory session while Smith's other match was a one-point setback. Redshirt senior Armando Torres lost both of bouts by just two points.
The dual against the Huskies was closer than the final score may have indicated as the Viking suffered a number of close losses in the meet.
After dropping the opening two matches by a combined five points, senior Sam Matzek got the Vikings on the board with a comprehensive victory via major decision. He used a takedown and four near-fall points to hold a 6-1 lead after the first period. He doubled his lead in the second period, opening up a 12-2 cushion after five minutes, before winning, 14-4.
The Vikings then lost the next match at 149 pounds via major decision, but CSU had chances to win the bouts at 157 and 165 pounds.
Redshirt sophomore Nico O'Dor lost at 157 in a match that required multiple tiebreaking periods to decide. Ford then was tied, 1-1, at the end of regulation but ended up losing in the sudden-victory session.
The Vikings were unable to recover from those two heartbreaking defeats as NIU carried on to win.
Smith did provide a measure of consolation with a come-from-behind win at 197. After trailing at the end of the first period, Smith had tied the match in the third. He then posted two takedowns in the final frame to claim an 8-5 win.
In their second dual of the day, the Vikings were unable to keep up with the ranked Bald Eagles. Ford did provide a highlight in his bout at 165 pounds. He used a takedown to take the lead with just eight seconds remaining in the match before adding on four near-fall points to claim an 11-6 win.
With one win already in the books earlier in the day, Smith came close to grabbing another at 197. He ended up dropping a 3-2 decision as a point of riding time provided the difference.
Cleveland State will close the regular season next Saturday, Feb. 23, as it hosts Binghamton.
Northern Illinois 26, Cleveland State 7
125: Bryce West (NIU) over Cameron Lathem (CSU) - 11-8 dec.
133: Alijah Jeffery (NIU) over Armando Torres (CSU) - 5-3 dec.
141: Sam Matzek (CSU) over Drew West (NIU) - 14-4 MD
149: McCoy Kent (NIU) over Brady Barnett (CSU) - 10-2 MD
157: Mason Kauffman (NIU) over Nico O'Dor (CSU) - 6-4 TB-2
165: Kenny Moore (NIU) over Ryan Ford (CSU) - 3-1 SV
174: Brit Wilson (NIU) over Dimitri Williams (CSU) - 12-2 MD
184: Will Feldkamp (NIU) over Chris Morrow (CSU) - 6-4 dec.
197: Ben Smith (CSU) over Max Ihry (NIU) - 8-5 dec.
285: Caleb Gossett (NIU) over Collin Kelly (CSU) - 14-6 MD
No. 23 Lock Haven 36, Cleveland State 3
125: Luke Werner (LHU) over Cameron Lathem (CSU) - 16-1 TF
133: DJ Fehlman (LHU) over Armando Torres (CSU) - 5-3 dec.
141: Kyle Shoop (LHU) over Sam Matzek (CSU) - 12-0 MD
149: Brock Port (LHU) over Brady Barnett (CSU) - 12-0 MD
157: Alex Klucker (LHU) over Nico O'Dor (CSU) - 12-1 MD
165: Ryan Ford (CSU) over Collin Glorioso (LHU) - 11-6 dec.
174: Jared Siegrist (LHU) over Dimitri Williams (CSU) - 8-0 MD
184: Corey Hazel (LHU) over Chris Morrow (CSU) - 14-3 MD
197: Parker McClellan (LHU) over Ben Smith (CSU) - 3-2 dec.
285: Thomas Haines (LHU) over Collin Kelly (CSU) - 15-0 TF