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Ben Smith

Ben Smith

  • Weight:
    197
  • Year:
    R-Sr.
  • Hometown:
    North Canton, Ohio
  • High School:
    Hoover
  • Position:
    197

2023-24 – GRADUATE SEASON
Won his second MAC Championship at 197-pounds…Qualified for his third NCAA Championship…Eclipsed the 100-career win mark…Held an overall record of 23-7 and was 13-3 in dual matches…Went a perfect 9-0 in MAC matches to earn the top seed…Took first place at the Cleveland State Open…Boasted six major decisions, four technical falls, and four pins…Fastest pin of the year came in 39 seconds against Carsten Rawls of American.

2022-23 – REDSHIRT SENIOR SEASON
Competed at three opens as an unattached wrestler…Won the Edinboro and JCU Opens…Placed fourth at the Cleveland State Open.

2021-22 – JUNIOR SEASON
Qualified for the NCAA Championships at 197-pounds for the second straight year…Won the program’s first-ever MAC Championship…Pinned the top-seed, Will Feldkamp in the first round of the championship match…Went 20-6 overall on the year with a 14-3 mark in dual matches…Had a perfect 10-0 record in MAC matches…Registered four major decisions, three falls, and a technical fall.

2020-21 – REDSHIRT JUNIOR SEASON
Qualified for the NCAA Championships at the 197-pound weight class...Entered the championship as the No. 24 seed, the highest-seeded wrestler for Cleveland State…Posted a 6-6 overall record with a 1-0 record in MAC matches…Boasted four decisions, one major decision, and a fall…His pin came in 3:24.

2019-20 – SOPHOMORE SEASON
Placed seventh at Mid-American Conference Championships at 197 pounds (3/8) … Was the team’s starter at 197 all season … Went 25-14 on the season, including 10-5 in dual bouts … Was second on the team in wins and dual points earned (42) … Tallied 14 bonus-point victories on season … Won Ohio Intercollegiate Open (11/10) … Beat three MAC foes to place third at Clarion Open (11/3) … Won four bouts, including one by pin and two by major decision, at Navy Classic (11/23) … With team trailing by four points, came from behind to claim 7-6 win in penultimate bout of dual at Buffalo, helping Vikings rally for the team win (12/6) … Beat Wyatt Koelling of Missouri in sudden victory twice, once in dual and once at MAC meet … Topped a top-30 national foe from Central Michigan in dual action (2/2) … Won two bouts in quad dual at VMI, one by pin and one by major decision (1/10) … Pinned SIUE foe in dual bout (1/24) and topped Michigan State opponent in dual action as well (2/16) … Was one of two Vikings to start every dual during season.

2018-19 – FRESHMAN SEASON
Went 18-16 in his rookie season, competing exclusively at 197 pounds … Started every dual at 197 … Tied for the team lead with nine dual wins … Had seven bonus-point wins on season … Won the Lock Haven Classic, including a pin over a foe from Old Dominion (12/29) … Placed at the Cougar Clash (12/2) … Picked up his first dual win vs. VMI (11/11) … Won his first conference dual bout with a win at George Mason (1/10) … Garnered pin in dual win vs. Columbia (1/10) … Netted dual win at Michigan State (2/10) … Also placed at Clarion Open, winning four matches, while competing as an unattached collegian (11/3) … Went 1-2 in EWL Championships (3/9).

Pre-CSU
Placed fourth at OHSAA Division I tournament, capping off senior season in which he went 53-3 … Won the Hoover district and the Massillon Perry sectional, combining for six bonus-point wins and three pins, in those events … Competed for Team Ohio at the Junior Freestyle and Greco Nationals in summer 2017 … Won four matches in the freestyle competition at 220 pounds and was one point short of earning All-American status … Was an All-Federal League First Team selection … Was also named to the Northeast Ohio All-Lakes District Team for football.