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Effner and Goff End NCAA Championship Run

Effner and Goff End NCAA Championship Run
Posted: Mar 21, 2008

March 21, 2008

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Contact: Gene Natale, Jr.

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - With Session III concluded at the NCAA D-I Wrestling Championships on Friday, Cleveland State's Marcus Effner and Rashard Goff have each been eliminated from the meet with consolation bracket losses. The juniors Effner (165 pounds) and Goff (285) went a collective 3-4 at the championship.

"It was a good experience for two of our better guys," head coach Jack Effner said, "The good news is, they're both coming back next year...they get one more shot at it."

After Effner lost his first consolation match of the day, 9-2 to Liberty's Chad Porter, it was up to Goff to extend the Vikings' run at this year's championship meet. The junior heavyweight did just that with an economic 1-0 win over VMI's Josh Wine. In a match with little offense, Goff scored the win with his riding time advantage to stay in contention for an All-American berth.

However, Goff's bid came to an end against Kent State's Jermail Porter, who was able to eliminate him by decision, 7-2. Porter scored the first points of the bout with a takedown only a minute into the match, adding another takedown and near-fall later in the third period to secure the win. Goff was able to manage a pair of escapes throughout the match to avert the shutout, but was unable to get any offense going in the defeat.

Against Chad Porter (Liberty), Effner began what would be his own final bout on the offensive, scoring first blood with a two-point takedown. Porter was then able to escape to get on the board, 2-1. Porter then chose the down position to start the second period, and turned a reversal and three-point near-fall to regain the lead, 6-2. Porter would add another takedown and riding time point to secure the win, 9-2, and end Effner's season.

Despite the loss, Effner improved upon his previous NCAA Championship run in 2005 (in that he went 0-2 at 157 pounds). Effner scored his first career victory at the NCAA Championship on Thursday (4-2 decision over UNC-Greensboro's Bryon Sigmon), and went 1-2 overall to finish the season at 27-13.

Goff, who was making his third straight appearance at the NCAA Championship at heavyweight, also improved upon his previous showings, scoring a career-high two NCAA Championship wins. Each of the last two seasons, Goff had gone 1-2 at the championship, and he ends 2007-08 at 22-13.

"We will build for spring wrestling, and next season," Coach Effner said, "What we get from this is two guys who come away with a good feel for what it takes to win out here."

Marcus Effner (74-48 career) and Goff (72-48 career) will headline the returnees next season. In addition, the squad will be bolstered by the return of 2006 NCAA qualifier David Armstrong (133 pounds), who redshirted during this past season, and the eight other Vikings who redshirted during the 2007-08 season.

Cleveland State Day Two Results

165
Chad Porter (Lib.) dec. Marcus Effner (CSU), 9-2

285
Rashard Goff (CSU) dec. Joshua Wine (VMI), 1-0
Jermail Porter (KSU) dec. Rashard Goff (CSU), 7-2