CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State University wrestling team will close the month of November with the last in a string of three consecutive tournaments on its schedule.
CSU will head to the Navy Classic this Saturday, Nov. 23. Action will get underway inside Wesley Brown Field House at 10:00 a.m. Semifinals are projected to begin at 2:30 p.m. with finals projected to begin at 5:00 p.m. Live scoring will be available through FloArena.
Four Vikings won titles in CSU's last team event at the Ohio Intercollegiate Open. Redshirt sophomore Brady Barnett, redshirt senior Evan Cheek, redshirt senior Justin Patrick and sophomore Ben Smith were the winners at 157, 141, 133 and 197 pounds, respectively.
It was the second straight title for Cheek as he also took first place at the Clarion Open. The 2018 NCAA qualifier is 8-0 on the young season with six bonus-point wins.
Barnett leads the team in wins and sits at 10-1 on the season after taking third at Clarion and first last time out. Patrick and Smith both own 8-1 records this season and are tied for second on the team in wins with Cheek.
Redshirt freshman Riley Smucker has placed third in each of CSU's opening two tournaments and sits at 7-3 on the season.
This is the second straight season that the Vikings have competed at the Navy Classic. Senior John Vaughn placed at the event last year for CSU while 157-pounder Nico O'Dor won three matches in the tournament.
In addition to the Vikings and host Navy, the following schools are expected to send their teams to this year's Navy Classic: Air Force, American, Brown, Bucknell, Campbell, The Citadel, Edinboro, George Mason, Kent State, Lock Haven, Michigan State, Ohio, Old Dominion, Oregon State, Rutgers and Virginia Tech.
Cleveland State will resume action in the first weekend of December with its first-ever Mid-American Conference dual as it heads to Buffalo.
A couple of notes for traveling fans ...
• Vehicle access to the Naval Academy is limited to those with a Department of Defense identification card.
• Fans can walk onto the grounds with a valid driver's license, but the entrance for the Academy is a pretty good walk from the venue.
• It is suggested that fans park at the parking lot located just before the NEX Gas Station (247 Kinkaid Road, Annapolis, MD 21402) and right across the street from the Navy Lodge (347 Kinkaid Road) by Naval Support Activity Annapolis and ride the free shuttle to Wesley Brown Field House at the Naval Academy. Shuttle service will begin at 9:00 a.m. and run through 8:00 p.m.
• A government issued identification card must be carried and presented by visitors to the USNA prior to being allowed onto The Yard.
For more information on access to the Yard, please click here.