Cleveland State Wrestling Splits MAC Opener at Buffalo

Cleveland State Wrestling Splits MAC Opener at Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Cleveland State split their MAC tri-match at Buffalo on Sunday afternoon. The Vikings fell to Buffalo, 19-17, but bounced back to defeat SIUE 24-15. With the outcomes, the Green and White moved to 4-4 on the year and 1-1 in the MAC.

Day Highlights

  • Logan Heil, Marcus Robinson, Riley Smucker, DeAndre Nassar, and Ben Smith led the way with two wins apiece.
  • Cleveland State recorded a technical fall and fall on the afternoon.
  • The Green and White won both of their matches that went into overtime.
  • The Vikings are 6-8 all-time against Buffalo and 5-1 against SIUE.

Match 1: Cleveland State (17) vs. Buffalo (19)
Heil opened the match with a 15-0 technical fall at the 125-pounds as the Vikings took a 5-0 advantage.

Buffalo received a forfeit at 133-pounds and won by major decision at 141-pounds to take their first lead of the day, 10-5.

The two teams alternated the next four matches by decision with Robinson (149) and Smucker (165) winning for the Green and White, but the Bulls remained in front, 16-11.

Nassar picked up a narrow 3-2 decision at 184-pounds to bring Cleveland State to within two and Smith put the Vikings back on top, 17-16, with a 5-2 decision at 197-pounds.

Cleveland State dropped their MAC opener after Daniel Bucknavich suffered a 3-1 setback in the heavyweight division as Buffalo prevailed, 19-17. 

Results: Cleveland State 17, Buffalo 19
125:
 Logan Heil (CSU) TF Jordan Reyes (UB), 15-0
133: Derek Spann (UB) Forfeit
141: Ben Freeman (UB) MD Hunter Olson (CSU), 9-1
149:
 Marcus Robinson (CSU) DEC John Arceri (UB), 7-5
157: Hunter Shaut (UB) DEC Caleb Cass (CSU), 6-1
165: Riley Smucker (CSU) DEC Noah Grover (UB), 6-3
174: Jay Nivison (UB) DEC Anthony Rice (CSU), 7-4
184: DeAndre Nassar (CSU) DEC Peter Acciardi (UB), 3-2
197: Ben Smith (CSU) DEC Sam Mitchell (UB), 5-2
285: Toby Cahill (UB) DEC Daniel Bucknavich, 3-1

Match 2: Cleveland State 24, SIUE 15

Heil recorded his second victory of the day with a 7-5 decision at 125-pounds and Jake Manley followed with a fall in 6:20 at 133-pounds as Cleveland State led 9-0. 

SIUE got on the board with a 17-2 technical fall at 141-pounds, but Robinson scored a takedown 16 seconds into overtime at 149-pounds as the Vikings remained in front, 12-5.

The Cougars closed to within three after recording an 11-3 major decision at 157-pounds. However, Smucker was awarded a forfeit at 165-pounds as the advantage moved to 18-9.

After dropping the match at 174-pounds, Nassar outlasted Sergio Villalobos in nine overtimes to win on ride time as the lead grew to 21-12.

Smith picked up the final victory of the day for the Vikings at 197-pounds with a 5-1 decision as the scoreboard read 24-12. SIUE ended the afternoon with a 6-0 shutout at 285-pounds, but the Vikings came away with the 24-15 win.

Results: Cleveland State 24, SIUE 15
125:
Logan Heil (CSU) DEC Austin Macias (SIUE), 7-5
133: Jake Manley (CSU) FALL Matt Malavsky (SIUE), 6:20
141: Saul Ervin (SIUE) TF Hunter Olson (CSU), 17-2
149: Marcus Robinson (CSU) DEC Caleb Tyus (SIUE), 7-5 (OT)
157: Max Kristoff (SIUE) MD Caleb Cass (CSU), 11-3
165: Riley Smucker (CSU) Forfeit
174: Kevin Gschwendtner (SIUE) DEC Anthony Rice (CSU), 5-2
184: DeAndre Nassar (CSU) DEC Sergio Villalobos (SIUE), 4-3 (9OT) (Ride Time Tiebreaker)
197: Ben Smith (CSU) DEC Ryan Yarnell (SIUE), 5-1
285: Colton McKiernan (SIUE) DEC Daniel Bucknavich (CSU), 6-0

Alumni Day
Cleveland State will be hosting Alumni Day on Saturday, February 5 at 7 p.m. against Ohio University inside Woodling Gymnasium. For $20 alumni can attend a reception at Mather Mansion and then get into the match. Alumni are asked to RSVP by February 1 and can do so by clicking here.

Up Next
Cleveland State heads to Clairon on Friday, January 14 at 7 p.m.