CLEVELAND, Ohio – Redshirt senior Evan Cheek of the Cleveland State University wrestling team moved into the top 20 in Intermat's weekly rankings released Tuesday.
Cheek moved into the rankings at 141 pounds after winning his second straight tournament title to start the season.
Competing at the Ohio Intercollegiate Open this past weekend, Cheek began his day with a 19-3 technical fall of his opponent from Indiana. After pinning his next opponent, Cheek was matched up with back-to-back opponents competing unattached from Big Ten schools. He won his semifinal bout by a 5-1 margin before having a match go down to the wire for the first time this season. Cheek and his opponent were deadlocked, 5-5, after seven minutes, but he was able to get the winning points in sudden victory to claim the title.
Cheek had started his final season with an impressive effort Nov. 3, not only winning the title at the Clarion Open, but doing so in style. He posted a technical fall shutout win in his first match against an opponent from Lock Haven after accumulating 14 near-fall points. Cheek then got out to a 6-0 lead in his next bout before cruising to an 11-1 major decision. In his semifinal bout against a Big XII foe competing unattached, Cheek notched a pin in the first period. He produced the same result in the championship bout, posting a pin inside of two minutes, after he led 10-0, against a conference opponent competing unattached.
Cheek is 8-0 on the young campaign and owns three pins, two technical fall wins and a major decision.
Cheek won the Eastern Wrestling League title at 141 pounds two years ago and was named Outstanding Wrestler of the EWL Championships. He then redshirted during the 2018-19 season.