DeKalb, Ill. - Seven different members of the Cleveland State University wrestling team placed as the program competed in the second and final day of its debut Mid-American Conference Championships Sunday inside Northern Illinois' Convocation Center.

With its seven placewinners, CSU finished significantly higher than the projections.

The Vikings had been expected to finish in 15th place—dead last—according to the final coaches' rankings in late February. However, Cleveland State took seventh place—in the top half of the field—with 62 points.

Cleveland State continued to fight until the end as five of the six Vikings to contest consolation bouts won at least one match Sunday. As a result, five Vikings placed higher than their seed.

Redshirt senior Evan Cheek led the way for CSU in the event by taking second. After winning a trio of bouts Saturday, two against top-26 opponents, Cheek was unable to overcome the top seed in the 141-pound championship bout.

Cheek fell behind in the first period and was trailing, 3-1, late in the second frame. He nearly tied the bout when he took his opponent down, but it was ruled the wrestlers were out of bounds before any points were scored. As a result, Cheek was forced to push the pace in the final frame and ended up giving up a late takedown. He dropped the championship bout, 6-1.

Nevertheless, Cheek earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Championships by virtue of his runner-up finish.

Redshirt freshman Riley Smucker highlighted the Vikings that were competing in consolation bouts Sunday. He posted a pair of wins, both over seeded foes, to finish fifth at 165 pounds in his first season as a Viking, despite not being seeded entering the Championships.

Smucker posted a takedown in each period in his consolation quarterfinal bout to claim a comfortable 7-2 victory over his Lock Haven foe. After a loss to the second seed from Missouri, Smucker was matched up against an opponent from George Mason who he lost to by four points in a dual bout. However, Smucker flipped the script to claim fifth place. Trailing, 1-0, entering the third period, Smucker netted a reversal, a takedown and four back points to post an 8-2 win.

True freshman Logan Heil (125) and redshirt sophomore John Kelbly (285) both placed sixth in their first MAC Championships. Kelbly posted a 6-1 victory over his opponent from Missouri in the consolation quarterfinals to guarantee a top-six placing. Heil was seeded seventh entering the event while Kelbly was tabbed eighth.

True freshman DeAndre Nassar (184), redshirt senior Justin Patrick (133) and sophomore Ben Smith (197) all posted seventh-place finishes at the event.

Patrick netted a 8-1 win over his foe from George Mason in his final bout of the event. Nassar broke a 1-1 tie with a takedown with 35 seconds left and claimed a 3-2 win over his seeded Edinboro opponent in his seventh-place bout. Smith posted a dominating 10-0 victory over his in-state opponent, using two takedowns, four back points, an escape and riding time, to finish off the event in style.

Nassar was unseeded entering the event while Patrick had been tabbed eighth.

Cheek, along with any additional Vikings that earn at-large berths, will compete in the NCAA Championships. The three-day event begins March 19 in Minneapolis.

CSU Results at the Mid-American Conference Championships - Day Two

125
Consolation Semifinals: Jonathan Tropea (Rider) over No. 7 Logan Heil (CSU) - 11-6 dec.
Fifth-Place Match: No. 4 Cameron Valdiviez (Missouri) over No. 7 Heil (CSU) - Fall 1:17

133
Consolation Quarterfinals: No. 5 Josh Mason (Bloomsburg) over No. 8 Justin Patrick (CSU) - 6-2 dec.
Seventh-Place Match: No. 8 Patrick (CSU) over Josh Jones (George Mason) - 8-1 dec.

141
Final: No. 1 Dresden Simon (Central Michigan) over No. 2 Evan Cheek (CSU) - 6-1 dec.

165
Consolation Quarterfinals: Riley Smucker (CSU) over No. 8 Austin Bell (Lock Haven) - 7-2 dec.
Consolation Semifinals: No. 2 Peyton Mocco (Missouri) over Smucker (CSU) - 10-1 MD
Fifth-Place Match: Smucker (CSU) over No. 4 Neil Schuster (George Mason) - 8-2 dec.

184
Consolation Quarterfinals: No. 6 Antonio Agee (Old Dominion) over DeAndre Nassar (CSU) - 3-2 dec.
Seventh-Place Match: Nassar (CSU) over No. 8 Cody Mulligan (Edinboro) - 3-2 dec.

197
Consolation Quarterfinals: No. 7 Colin McCracken (Kent State) over No. 5 Ben Smith (CSU) - 6-5 dec.
Seventh-Place Match: No. 5 Smith (CSU) over Jake Walker (Ohio) - 10-0 MD

285
Consolation Quarterfinals: No. 8 John Kelbly (CSU) over Jacob Bohlken (Missouri) - 6-1 dec.
Consolation Semifinals: No. 3 Jordan Earnest (Ohio) over No. 8 Kelbly (CSU) - Fall 5:14
Fifth-Place Match: No. 7 Max Ihry (Northern Illinois) over No. 8 Kelbly (CSU) - 3-2 dec.