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Vikings Look To Even Up Record This Weekend

Vikings Look To Even Up Record This Weekend
Posted: Jan 07, 2009

Jan. 7, 2009

Contact: Ryan Mulford

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SETTING THE SCENE: Cleveland State (3-5) will attempt to even its record on Sunday (1/11), when the Vikings travel to Ypsilanti, Michigan to take on Ashland University and Eastern Michigan University in a dual meet. The Vikings will take on Ashland at 1:00 p.m. and then wrestle Eastern Michigan at 3:00 p.m.

PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: Several Cleveland State wrestlers are coming in to their own as the Vikings gear up for the bulk of their schedule. Lawrence Cavello has stepped up to become a quiet leader, winning three of his last four dual matches. Rashard Goff continues his impressive season, after his two wins on Saturday (1/3), the senior has a perfect 8-0 record in dual meets.

RECAPPING BUFFALO: Giving up 12 points from the start due to forfeits at 133 and 197 pounds turned out to be to much for the Vikings to overcome on Saturday (1/3), as they lost to the Bulls, 26-12. Four Vikings, including Jordan Keller, Rob Michaels, Lawrence Cavello and Rashard Goff were able to notch victories for head coach Ben Stehura.

RECAPPING UNI: The Vikings were able to score victories from JT Miller, Goff and Cavello in a 32-10 loss to Northern Iowa. Goff was able to score a last minute, third period takedown securing a 4-1 thrilling victory over Northern Iowa's Christian Brantley. Cavello earned an 8-0 victory over Cole Zempel, giving him his first major decision victory of the season.

VS: ASHLAND: The Vikings have an overall record of 19-4 and are currently riding a two-match win streak against the Eagles. In their last two meetings, the Vikings have won in easy fashion recording a 35-10 win in 2007 and a 23-13 win last season.

VS: EASTERN MICHIGAN: The Vikings are 9-4 against the Eagles. Dating back to 2003, Cleveland State is 3-1 in dual meet action against the Eagles, including a 25-18 in Ypsilanti, Michigan in 2007.

CAVELLO RIDING HOT STREAK: After taking the reins at 141 pounds, Lawrence Cavello has been nothing but consistent for the Vikings. Cavello has been riding an impressive hot streak in recent dual meets tallying three victories in his last four matches. Cavello went 2-0 on Saturday (1/3) for the Vikings earning wins against Buffalo's Mark Lewandowski and Northern Iowa's Cole Zempel.

GOFF CONTINUES TO CARRY VIKINGS ON BACK: After posting a 2-0 record on Saturday (1/3), Rashard Goff now has a team high 22 victories. Goff began his Viking career by being named to the 2005-06 Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie Third Team. The senior has remained a consistent wrestler winning at least 20 matches each season and reaching the NCAA tournament three consecutive seasons.

CARLO WINNING IN CONVINCING MANNER: When Corey Carlo wins, he does so in dramatic fashion. Carlo has 10 wins this season, four of which by major decision, one tech fall and one pin fall.

PINNING HIS WAY TO VICTORY: Rob Michaels has 12 wins this season, five of which have come by pin fall. His fastest pin of the season came against Wagner's Joe Vitucci at 41 seconds. Michael's is currently nine-pins shy of the Cleveland State single season all-time pin record of 14 set by Matt Ghaffari during the 1983-84 season.

CLEVELAND ROCKS: Five of the Viking wrestlers in the starting line-up have double-digit win totals this season. Rashard Goff has a team high 22 wins, while Jordan Keller has 15 wins. Antonio Nicholson has 14 wins, while Rob Michaels has 12 wins and Corey Carlo has 10 victories.

SENIOR DOMINANCE: Three Viking seniors in the everyday starting line-up have accumulated 45 victories this season. Goff has tallied half of those with 22, while Antonio Nicholson has added 14 and JT Miller has nine wins of this own.

CLOSER THAN SCORE INDICATES: Even though the final scores lately have not been in the Vikings favor, they have been able to wrestle hard in the matches that are contested. During Saturday's (1/3) dual meet against the University of Buffalo and Northern Iowa, the Vikings gave up 12 points as a result of two forfeits at 133 pounds and 197 pounds.

PARTNERSHIP WITH BECKY'S: Viking wrestling has teamed up with Becky's to provide fans an opportunity to meet the staff and talk Viking wrestling after each home dual meet. For just $10, each fan will receive a ticket to the home dual meet, as well as a wristband to be handed out at the conclusion of the meet, which is good for light appetizers and three beverage tickets immediately following the wrestling match. Becky's is located at 1762 E. 18th Street (across from Krenzler Field on the CSU Campus), for more information call 216-687-2094.

THE HEAD COACH: Ben Stehura (Lock Haven, 2000) Overall: 29-55-1

Former Viking graduate assistant coach Ben Stehura is in his first season as head coach. Stehura is only the third head coach for the Viking wrestling program after serving the last five years as the head coach at Division II Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C. The only head coach in Limestone history, Stehura quickly built the program and has already coached one NCAA National Champion, three NCAA All-Americans, five NCAA National qualifiers and eight NCAA All-Academic team members. A 2000 graduate of Lock Haven University with a Bachelor's of Science in Secondary Education, Stehura was a three-year starter, earning fourth and fifth place finishes in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament.

UP NEXT: The Vikings will return home on Saturday, January 17 when they take on 24th-ranked Kent State in the Woodling Gymnasium. The meet is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.