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Vikings Prepare for Kent State and Eastern Michigan

Vikings Prepare for Kent State and Eastern Michigan
Posted: Jan 07, 2008

Jan. 7, 2008

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Contact: Gene Natale, Jr.

Cleveland State Wrestling
Dual Meet 5 - Kent State

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Site: MAC Arena, Kent, Ohio
All-Time Series: KSU leads, 12-8-1
Last Meeting: KSU 29, CSU 9 (1/3/07)

Dual Meet 6 - Eastern Michigan

Date:Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Site: Woodling Gymnasium, Cleveland, Ohio
All-Time Series: CSU leads, 9-3
Last Meeting: CSU 25, EMU 18 (1/13/07)

SETTING THE SCENE: Following a hard fought day at the Buffalo Duals, the Cleveland State wrestling team will travel to Kent State University for a dual meet against the Golden Flashes on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 7:05 p.m., and then return home to host a dual meet against Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Jan.12 at Woodling Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m.

RECAPPING LAST WEEK: The Vikings registered a 2-1 dual meet record at the Buffalo Duals, defeating Mercyhurst and West Liberty before falling to Buffalo. Here is a brief look at how CSU fared last weekend.

 

Buffalo Duals (Jan. 5, 2008 - Alumni Arena, Buffalo, NY)
Freshmen Robbie Michaels (157), and Eric Schwartz (285), junior Marcus Effner (165) and senior Ryan Hurley (149) were all went 3- 0 to lead CSU to a 2-1 mark at the Buffalo Duals, The Vikings posted wins against Mercyhurst (19-17) and West Liberty (23-16) before falling to host Buffalo (16-15).

PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: Cleveland State has a lot of talent on the roster this season, with five wrestlers who have NCAA Tournament experience. Of those five, four have won at least 50 matches in their careers, including Ryan Hurley (68), Marcus Effner (66), Rashard Goff (64), and Mike Hurley (51). The veterans are joined by a highly touted group of underclassmen who may have a lot to prove on the college level, but have certainly accomplished quite a bit in high school. Josh Palivoda (133), Robbie Michaels (157), Eric Schwartz (285), and Alek Hughes (197) are all freshmen who have been CSU's top contributors in their respective weight classes and all four either won state championships in high school or were runner-up in their respective state tournaments. Michaels won nearly 200 matches while in high school and currently leads the Vikings with 22 wins as one of the most reliable options Head Coach Jack Effner has at any weight class. Schwartz, meanwhile, has proved to be a potential star, and is considered by Effner to be about equal in ability to Rashard Goff, a two-time NCAA qualifier at 285 pounds.

THE HEAD COACH
Jack Effner (Indiana State `86)
At CSU: 70-81-3
Overall: 157-123-8

EFFNER ON THE VIKINGS: "Kent as well as Eastern Michigan is very talented and highly regarded. To have success this week we have to go in with confidence and focus and get mean."

CSU ALL-TIME AGAINST KSU: Kent State traditionally has given the Vikings plenty of trouble, as CSU is 8- 12-1 all time against the intra-state rival. The Golden Flashes have won the last three meetings between the two schools, with CSU's last victory coming during the 2003-04 season (22-13). The Vikings have faced Kent State in all nine previous seasons that Jack Effner has led the Viking wrestlers, with CSU posting a 3-5-1 mark during that span of time.

CSU ALL-TIME AGAINST EMU: The Vikings are 9-3 all-time against Eastern Michigan. CSU has won the last four meetings between the two schools, and six of the last seven. Coach Effner's Vikings have lost to the Eagles only once under his tenure, in the 2000-01 season (23-17).

WINNING BIG: The Viking wrestlers have been getting a lot a matches in this season with a large roster, and have been taking full advantage of their opportunities, a fact made clear as one observes that the team has nine wrestlers with double digit victories. Marcus Effner (18-5), Ryan Hurley (10-3), Rashard Goff (14-4), Alek Hughes (12-10), Robbie Michaels (22-4), JT Miller (17-12), Shaun Michell (10-7), Antonio Nicholson (12-9), and Eric Schwartz (14-9) have all accomplished the feat.

...SPEAKING OF WINNING BIG: Seniors Mike Hurley and Ryan Hurley have won a combined 119 matches throughout their careers, and as Coach Effner puts it, "they have done it all" when it comes to winning big matches against quality opponents. Each of the brothers, apart in age by only 18 months, was an All-American while in high school and have reached the national stage for the Vikings. Ryan has gone to nationals three straight years at 149 pounds while the older Mike made the trip during the 2005-06 season at 141.

FIRST TO 20: Redshirt freshman Rob Michaels became the first Viking to reach 20 wins on the season following a 3-0 day at the Buffalo Duals that puts his record at 22-4. Michaels is no stranger to long seasons featuring competition-heavy schedules since he won 188 total matches while in high school.

A KNOWN QUANTITY: Junior Marcus Effner's 18-4 season has been getting plenty of attention, as the 165-pounder is currently ranked second in the EWL among 165-pounders as well as garnering a 25th overall ranking in NCAA Division I.

PIN TO WIN: Freshmen Eric Schwartz (285) and Alek Hughes (197) physically dominate their opponents when they win. Schwartz has seven falls as well as two technical falls out of his 14 victories. Seven of Hughes' 12 victories are by pin, tying him for the team lead with Schwartz.

VETERAN LEADERSHIP: The Vikings boast a roster that includes five previous NCAA qualifiers, including senior and 2007-08 redshirt David Armstrong at 133, juniors Marcus Effner at 165 and Rashard Goff at 285, and seniors Mike Hurley at 141 and Ryan Hurley at 149.

UP NEXT: The Vikings will be back on the road as they travel to Ashland, Ohio to compete in the annual Ashland Duals on Jan. 20, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. EST.