Feb. 9, 2008
Contact: Gene Natale, Jr.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State wrestling team lost a 26-15 decision to nationally-ranked Edinboro in an EWL matchup at Woodling Gymnasium Saturday evening. The Vikings were led in defeat by four who won matches against the Fighting Scots.
With the loss, the Vikings drop to 4-9 (0-4 EWL) while the Fighting Scots improve to 8-2 (4-0 EWL). CSU has now lost five straight dual meets as well as nine of 10 after a 3-0 start to the season.
"Well it's never pleasant losing," head coach Jack Effner said, "But I was real proud of our team. I was real concerned going in because I knew how tough Edinboro was. We talked all week about rising to the challenge, and I think we did that."
Despite the loss, there were certainly bright spots for the Vikings as JT Miller (174 pounds), Rashard Goff (heavyweight), Mike Hurley (141 pounds) and Ryan Hurley (149 pounds) all scored victories.
Miller's win came in the first match of the day at 174 pounds. The junior, who came into the match riding a two match winning streak, had to go on the defensive as soon as the match began. His opponent, #15 Phil Moricone, went right for a headlock, which Miller had to counter by pulling himself out of bounds.
After that early trouble, Miller gradually gained control of the match and ultimately secured his seventh pin of the season early in the second period at the 3:27 mark, giving the Vikings a 6-0 lead. His win represented Moricone's first loss against a non-ranked opponent and first by more than two points.
"JT had a real nice pin, he started us off well," Coach Effner said.
Junior Chris Hahn made his first appearance on the mat this season, starting at 184 pounds. He faced a seasoned wrestler in 20-5 Chris Honeycutt, and appeared outmatched in a 18-7 major decision loss which cut the Vikings' lead to two, 6-4.
"Chris is very talented, but he needs to get some seasoning in order for him to do well," Coach Effner said, "However, it was a positive getting him back in the lineup."
Despite weighing in at only 181 pounds, freshman DJ Cummins moved up a weight class from his usual 184 pound slot to start at 197 in place of injured started Alek Hughes. The undersized Cummins had a difficult time with his heavier opponent, Edinboro's Pat Bradshaw. Bradshaw scored a plethora of takedowns that ultimately led to a 17-2 technical fall of Cummins which gave Edinboro a 9-6 lead.
CSU's nationally ranked heavyweight, #24 Rashard Goff, was up next for the Vikings. He faced a very talented opponent in Edinboro's Joe Fendone, who was one match from becoming an All-American last season, and who went into the match ahead of Goff in the national rankings at #16.
After a scoreless first period, the match got a spark of energy as Goff opened it up with a two-point takedown halfway through the second period. Goff had control for much of the remainder of regulation, but Fendone was able to send it into sudden victory overtime after receiving two points from penalties at two different points in the match. Goff went on the offensive as the sudden victory period began, and was rewarded for his tenacity with a two-point takedown to secure the win. With the win, Goff tied the overall score at nine apiece.
"Goff had a huge win over a guy ranked ahead of him nationally," Coach Effner said, "It was one of our real good wins of the evening."
Ryan Riggs was next for the Vikings at 125 pounds, wrestling against Edinboro sophomore Eric Morril. The senior co-team captain fought hard but was ultimately taken down and pinned midway through the second period, as Edinboro regained the lead at 12-9.
"Riggs was fighting his tail off for a takedown, but got caught in a scramble," Coach Effner said, "He showed me that he is getting better."
The 133 pound match was next, and CSU's Josh Palivoda came into the match having performed well recently, winning two of his last three matches. He faced a tough opponent in 19-10 Ricky Deubel, and despite his best efforts was defeated by a 9-2 decision.
"Palivoda just got out-experienced, he is going to learn, and he is going to be a real good one," Coach Effner said.
At 141 pounds, Mike Hurley was up next for the Vikings, with the team trailing Edinboro 18-9. Edinboro's Torsten Gillespie would prove a challenge, as the two traded takedowns midway through the first period to knot the score at 2-2. Hurley fought his way to another takedown in the closing seconds of the second period to take a 4-2 lead. Hurley managed to hold on to his lead throughout the third period to score a win and bring the Vikings to within seven, 18-12.
Ryan Hurley followed his brother into the win column at 149 pounds with a 10-4 decision over Edinboro's Joe Bockmore. Hurley appeared energized after watching his brother score a tough win, and got out to a 3-0 lead in his match following a late-first-period takedown and second-period-opening escape. After Bockmore got an escape to start the third period, Hurley reeled off three straight takedowns to seal the win.
"It was nice to have the Hurley boys step up tonight," Effner said, "To have them have a good night is real good for them and for our team."
Trailing now by only three, the Vikings were within striking distance of the Fighting Scots with the score at 18-15. However, Edinboro's national champion of a year ago was up next for the Fighting Scots at 157 pounds. Gregor Gillespie won the NCAA title at 149 pounds last year. He showed Viking freshman Robbie Michaels plenty of the tenacity that led to his season of a year ago, defeating Michaels by technical fall, 20-0.
Viking win leader Marcus Effner was next in the match's final bout, 165 pounds. He faced Edinboro's #16 Jarrod King, and King's aggressive style proved to be too much for Effner as he fell by a 7-2 decision.
"We had some tough losses today but also some real good wins. I think we are getting better as a team, and this is the right time of year to get better," Coach Effner said.
The Vikings return to action next week as they travel to Clarion for a dual meet against the Golden Eagles on Feb. 14 at Clarion's Wald. S. Tippin Gymnasium. The meet is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. EST.
Edinboro 26, Cleveland State 15
174: JT Miller pinned #15 Phil Moricone (EU), 3:27 6-0
184: #17 Chris Honeycutt (EU) maj. dec. Chris Hahn, 18-7 6-4
197: Patrick Bradshaw (EU) tech. fall DJ Cummins, 17-2, 5:08 6-9
HWY: #24 Rashard Goff dec. #16 Joe Fendone (EU), 4-2 SV 9-9
125: Eric Morril (EU) pinned Ryan Riggs, 4:01 9-15
133: Ricky Deubel (EU) dec. Josh Palivoda, 9-2 9-18
141: Mike Hurley dec. Torsten Gillespie (EU), 4-2 12-18
149: Ryan Hurley dec. Joe Bockmore (EU), 10-4 15-18
157: #3 Gregor Gillespie (EU) tech. fall Rob Michaels, 20-0 15-23
165: #16 Jarrod King (EU) dec. Marcus Effner, 7-2 15-26 EU
