Jan. 17, 2009

Contact: Ryan Mulford

Cleveland, Ohio - Jordan Keller continued his stellar freshman season collecting his 22 victory in a Viking loss to Kent State. The Vikings won their first two matches of the evening, which turned out to be the only two they would win the rest of the meet, in a 33-5 loss, Saturday night in a jam packed Woodling Gymnasium.

With the win Kent State improved to 7-4 overall, while the Vikings fell to 4-7 overall.

The dual meet began at 125 with Cleveland State's Jordan Keller against Kent State's Troy Opfer. After an Opfer takedown early on in the first period, Keller was able to score a reversal knotting the score at two and kept top position for the remainder of the first period.

Keller began the third period in the bottom position and was able to get an early escape taking a one-point lead at 3-2. After scrambling for position Keller added another takedown giving him a three-point margin and with riding time, Keller earned 6-2 victory.

Josh Palivoda came out and gave a dominating performance over Adam Haas of Kent State. Palivoda wasted no time shooting in with a quick two-point takedown in the first period, giving him a 2-0 lead after one.

Palivoda continued his onslaught with two more takedowns and an escape point in the remaining two periods and with over five minutes of riding time, Palivoda won the match 8-2, collecting his fourth dual meet win and ninth win overall this season.

The final match of the evening put ninth ranked Rashard Goff against third ranked Jermail Porter. Porter got on the board first with a takedown, but could not hold the position long and Goff fought out earning a one point, trailing by one point after the first period.

Starting the second period in the bottom position, Goff wasted no time escaping, tying the score at two, which would hold through the second period.

Porter was able to slowly pull away in the third period with two points off a takedown and one point from an escape, giving him a 6-3 win over Goff.

In other action, Antonio Nicholson had a fierce battle against Jeremy Depoy. Nicholson scored off a first period takedown and three escapes in a hard fought one point loss.

Derek Cummins gave his best outing of the season in a hard fought loss to Chris Estep. Cummins scored six points via three separate reversals in a 13-6 loss.

"Even though the score didn't come out in our favor, we wrestled hard tonight," head coach Ben Stehura said. "We faced a tough team tonight in Kent State, and we didn't give up."

The Vikings will return home on Saturday, January 24, when they take on Lock Haven in Woodling Gymnasium. The dual meet is slated to begin at 5:00 p.m.

Kent State 33 CSU 5

125: Jordan Keller (CSU) 6-2 Dec.Troy Opfer (KS); 3-0 CSU

133: Josh Palivoda (CSU) 8-2 Dec. Adam Haas (KS); 6-0 CSU

141: Drew Lashaway (KS) 10-2 Maj Dec. Lawrence Cavello (CSU); 6-4 CSU

149: Jeremy Depoy (KS) 6-5 Dec. Antonio Nicholson (CSU); 7-6 KS

157: Ross Tice (KS) 10 -5 Dec Corey Carlo (CSU); 10-6 KS

165: Obie Simpson (KS) DQ Rob Michaels (CSU); 4-16 KS

174: Chris Estep (KS) 13-6 Dec Derek Cummins (CSU); 19-4 KS

184: Dustin Kilgore (KS) 18-2 tech fall JT Miller (CSU); 24-4 KS

197: Eric Chine (KS) wins by forfeit; 30-4 KS

HWT: Jermail Porter (KS) 6-3 Dec. Rashard Goff (CSU); 33-4 KS