CLEVELAND, Ohio – A trio of student-athletes from the Cleveland State University wrestling team were featured in the updated individual rankings that were recently release by the Mid-American Conference.

Redshirt senior Justin Patrick entered the rankings after not being named last time around. The duo of redshirt senior Evan Cheek and sophomore Ben Smith both saw their rankings improve compared to the second set of January rankings released by the MAC.

Patrick was slotted sixth at 133 pounds, Cheek was tabbed fourth at 141 pounds and Smith tied for fourth at 197 pounds.

Patrick is 16-9 overall this season after winning six of his last seven matches, including a win over Tim Rooney of Kent State, the third-ranked wrestler in this week's rankings. Cheek has a team-leading 30 wins and a team-high seven MAC victories and has won seven of his last eight overall. Smith has 22 wins on the season, including a team-high tying nine in duals, and has defeated two other MAC ranked wrestlers in the past two weekends (No. 3 Wyatt Koelling of Missouri and No. 6 Landon Pelham of Central Michigan).

The 2019-20 season is Cleveland State wrestling's first as a member of the MAC. The MAC is welcoming seven new members overall this season, giving it 15 in total and making it the second-largest Division I conference.

The 2020 MAC Wrestling Championships will be held March 7-8 and hosted by Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill.

Cleveland State will remain at home this weekend as it welcomes Northern Illinois in a MAC dual Friday, Feb. 7, at 7:00 p.m.