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Smith Claims First-Ever MAC Championship, Cleveland State Wrestling Qualifies Three for NCAA Nationals

Smith Claims First-Ever MAC Championship, Cleveland State Wrestling Qualifies Three for NCAA Nationals

ATHENS, Ohio – The Vikings wrapped up the 2022 MAC Championships on Saturday, with Marcus Robinson (149), Riley Smucker (165), and Ben Smith (197) qualifying for the NCAA Championships in Detroit, Michigan, from Thursday, March 17 through Saturday, March 19.

Robinson and Smith will be making their second trip to the NCAA Championships, while Smucker will be making his first appearance.

No. 3 Smith became the program's first-ever MAC Champion, pinning the top-seed, Will Feldkamp of Clarion in 2:07 of the championship match at 197-pounds.

No. 1 Robinson finished as the runner-up at 149-pounds for the second straight season after getting pinned in 4:02 of the championship match against No. 7 Kody Komara of Kent State.

No. 3 Smucker won a thrilling 2-1 decision against No. 4 Tracy Hubbard in the third-place match at 165-pounds, earning a bid to the national tournament.

No. 3 Nassar finished fourth at 184-pounds after dropping a 3-1 decision in overtime against No. 4 Kyle Davis of George Mason.

Jake Manley placed seventh in his first MAC Championship at 133-pounds after picking up a 13-3 major decision against No. 8 Vince Perez. For the second straight year, Anthony Rice placed eighth in the 174-pound weight class.

Cleveland State placed sixth at the championships with 73.5 points. Lock Haven won the 2022 MAC Championship with 123.5 points, Central Michigan came in second with 108 points, and Northern Illinois was third with 93 points.

The 2022 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships brackets will be announced Wednesday, March 9 at 6:00 p.m. on NCAA.com.

CSU Results at the MAC Championships (Day Two)
No. 7 Jake Manley – 133 Pounds
Cons. Quarterfinal: No. 6 Cole Rhone (BU) DEC No. 7 Manley (CSU), 4-3
Seventh Place: No. 7 Manley (CSU) MD No. 8 Vince Perez (CMU), 13-3

No. 1 Marcus Robinson – 149 Pounds
Championship: No. 7 Kody Komara (KSU) FALL No. 1 Robinson (CSU), 4:02

No. 3 Riley Smucker – 165 Pounds
Cons. Semifinal: No. 3 Smucker (CSU) MFOR No. 5 Noah Grover (UB)
Third Place: No. 3 Smucker (CSU) DEC No. 4 Tracy Hubbard (CMU), 2-1

Anthony Rice – 174 Pounds
Cons Quarterfinal: No. 4 Logan Messer (GMU) DEC Rice (CSU), 3-1 OT
Seventh Place: No. 7 Tyler Stoltzfus (LHU) MD Rice (CSU), 8-0

No. 3 DeAndre Nassar – 184 Pounds
Cons. Semifinal: No. 3 Nassar (CSU) DEC Colin Fegley (LHU), 5-3
Third Place: No. 4 Kyle Davis (GMU) DEC No. 3 Nassar (CSU), 3-1 OT

No. 3 Ben Smith – 197 Pounds
Championship: No. 3 Smith (CSU) FALL No. 1 Will Feldkamp (CU), 2:07