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CSU Travels To No. 13 Kent State

CSU Travels To No. 13 Kent State
Posted: Jan 04, 2010

Jan. 4, 2010

Contact: Renee Adam

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SETTING THE SCENE: The Vikings will travel to Kent, Ohio to take on the No. 13 Kent State Golden Flashes in the Vikings first dual meet of 2010 on Tuesday, January 5. The meet is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.

REVIEWING LAST WEEK: Last week the Vikings took part in the 47th annual Midlands Invitational on December 29 and 30. The Vikings had representatives in the 133, 141, 149, 165, 174, 184, 197 and heavyweight classes.

2009 Midlands Invitational: Jordan Keller and Rob Michaels were the lone Vikings to record victories at the invitational. Keller had a 2-2 record over the two days in the 133 weight class, recording a 3:34 pin and a 3-2 decision over opponents from Lincoln College and Tennessee Chattanooga, respectively. Michaels had his lone win come in the wrestleback of the 165 pound weight class when he recorded a 15-7 major decision over his Oregon State opponent. Also in action during the invitational were Zech Huff (133), Mike Mencini (141), Dan Castillo (149), Marcus Effner (174), Nick Anthony (184), Jeff Schuller (197) and Chris Weber (HWT).

PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: CSU is led by senior Marcus Effner, junior Rob Michaels and sophomore Jordan Keller, who have combined for 24 victories this season. Also coming on strong for the Vikings this season is sophomore Corey Carlo with six wins and junior Dan Castillo who has recorded three victories. The highlights of the season are the 31-13 victory over John Carroll on Nov. 24, the 28-20 victory over Appalachian State on Dec. 4, Keller's Michigan State Open title in the 125 pound weight class (Nov. 15) and Keller and Rob Michaels' three victories at the Midlands Invitational (Dec. 29-30).

KELLER HAS STRONG SHOWING: Sophomore Jordan Keller continued his winning ways at the Midlands Invitational, winning two matches for the second year in a row. One of Keller's wins included a pin in 3:34, the second fastest pin of the season. His two victories gave him a total of six wins this season which is tied for the third most on the team.

MICHAELS GETS 50 + 2: Junior Rob Michaels improved his career winning total last week at the Midlands Invitational (Dec. 29-30) when he recorded a 15-7 major decision over Dan Brascetta of Oregon State. The victory marked the 52nd of his career, after he recorded his 50th win at the Bobcat Duals (Dec. 4). As a freshman, he recorded 23 wins, won 18 as a sophomore and has recorded 11 through eight events this season. He is one of only two current Vikings to reach 50 victories and the only junior.

...FIVE MATCH WIN STREAK: Rob Michaels is undefeated in dual meet action this season, riding a five match win streak going into the dual at Kent State. This is following his victory against Northwestern, his three Bobcat Dual victories, and his win against John Carroll in November. Michaels recorded a three match dual meet win streak, stretching from December 19 against Wagner to January 11 at Eastern Michigan last season.

EFFNER CLOSES IN ON 100 MARK: Marcus Effner is closing in on 100 career victories, needing just 18 more wins to accomplish the feat. Effner has recorded 18 or more victories in each of his previous three seasons, making the goal easily attainable. Through eight dual meets and three opens Effner has recorded seven victories including two major decisions and has 10 more meets to go during the 2009-10 season.

VS. KENT STATE ALL-TIME: Cleveland State is 8-14-1 all-time against the Golden Flashes, with the last victory coming during the 2003-04 season when the Vikings topped KSU 22-13. Four current Vikings have recorded wins over a Kent State opponent, the most recent coming last season when Jordan Keller and Josh Palivoda were the lone wrestlers to post CSU victories against Kent State. Rob Michaels had one of his 23 victories as a freshman come at KSU during 2008, while Marcus Effner was one of three Vikings to win a match against the Golden Flashes during the 2006-07 season.

WATCH CSU AT KSU LIVE: Viking fans can watch the dual meet at Kent State live by visiting www.kentstatesports.com. The link for the broadcast is available from the wrestling schedule page with live feed beginning at 6:50 p.m.

NEXT UP: The Vikings will travel to Bloomington, Indiana to take part in the Indiana Duals on Saturday, January 16. CSU will face the American Eagles and the Indiana Hoosiers with matches starting at 10:00 a.m., Noon and 2:00 p.m.

THE HEAD COACH
Ben Stehura (Lockhaven '00)
AT CSU: 6-19 (2nd year)
OVERALL: 32-69-1 (6th year)

THE STEHURA FILE: Ben Stehura is in his second season as the head coach of the Cleveland State wrestling program. Stehura returns after leading a young Viking team to a 4-13 record during his first season at the helm. Stehura continued the trend of coaching a wrestler to the NCAA Championships last season, and for the 48th straight year a Viking wrestler advanced to the NCAA Championship with Rashard Goff representing CSU in 2009. Stehura also coached Goff to an EWL Heavyweight championship, the first league champion for CSU since the 2006 season. Stehura will use his experience with coaching a young program and lead the Vikings during the 2009-10 season, working to improve in the EWL and continuing the history and tradition of CSU wrestling.