Feb. 4, 2012

Contact: Tim Ertle

Follow CSU on TWITTER
Follow CSU Wrestling on TWITTER
CSU Athletics on YouTube

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - The Vikings took an early lead thanks to wins from Ben Willeford (125) and Josh Palivoda (141) but Bloomsburg won the final seven bouts to defeat Cleveland State 34-7 in Bloomsburg on Saturday (Feb. 4) afternoon.

Cleveland State concludes its trip through Pennsylvania 0-2 for the weekend and ends the brief swing with an overall record of 6-12 and a 0-4 mark in the Eastern Wrestling League. Bloomsburg, who fell to Clarion on Friday (Feb. 3) night, is now 15-6 overall and 2-3 in the league.

Willeford had an early takedown of BU's Elliot Zackoski to stake himself to a 2-0 lead. The CSU sophomore later picked up three back points to build a five-point lead before using a takedown in the third period to widen his lead which grew all the way to nine points.

When it was all said and done, Willeford was on top 9-0 to earn his third major decision victory of the year and improve to 16-14 on the season. It was Willeford's eighth dual meet victory, ranking him third on the team.

After Nick Flannery (133), fresh off of tying a school record for dual meet pins in a season (six) with his win last night, fell to Bloomsburg's Nick Wilcox, Palivoda grew the CSU lead.

He was scoreless with his opponent, BU's Craig Barker, after the first period. Palivoda, just one of two seniors on the roster, scored first when he was awarded an escape early in the second period for the first - and only - score of the match. With riding time, the CSU senior won on a 2-0 count to even his record at 15-15 and earn his ninth dual meet victory of the season.

Bloomsburg won the final seven matches.

Next up for the Vikings is their road finale, a showdown at Clarion next Saturday (Feb. 11) at 1:00 p.m. CSU concludes the regular season at home against West Virginia on Feb. 19.

Final: Bloomsburg 34, Cleveland State 7
125 - Ben Willeford (CSU) def. Elliot Zackoski (BU) via 9-0 Major Decision
133 - Nick Wilcox (BU) def. Nick Flannery (CSU) via 8-2 Decision
141 - Josh Palivoda (CSU) def. Craig Barker (BU) via 2-0 Decision *
149 - Bryce Busler (BU) def. Lawrence Cavello (CSU) via Pin (5:09)
157 - Frank Hickman (BU) def. Brandon Sommers (CSU) via 13-4 Major Decision
165 - Christopher Smith (BU) def. Corey Carlo (CSU) via 6-3 Decision
174 - Mike Dessino (BU) def. Koort Leyrer (CSU) via Pin (2:42)
184 - Sam Shirey (BU) def. Aric Thurn (CSU) via 11-7 Decision
197 - Richard Perry (BU) def. Robert Blankenship (CSU) via 23-9 Major Decision
285 - Zachary Walsh (BU) def. Garry Yarborogh (CSU) via Injury Default
*Unsportsmanlike conduct. Loss of one team point for Bloomsburg.