Feb. 12, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Contact Gene Natale, Jr.
Cleveland State Wrestling
Dual Meet 14: At Clarion
Date: Thursday, February 14, 2008
Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
Site: Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium, Clarion, Pa.
All-Time Series: 14-20
Last Meeting: Cleveland State 44, Clarion 3 (Feb. 11, 2007)
SETTING THE SCENE: Cleveland State (4-9, 0-4 EWL) will try to snap a five-match losing streak as the wrestling team travels back to Pennsylvania for an EWL dual meet against Clarion on Thursday, Feb. 14th at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium in Clarion, PA. The meet is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. EST.
RECAPPING LAST WEEK: The Vikings faced #14 Edinboro at home on Saturday, Feb. 9. Here is a brief look at how the Vikings fared over the weekend.
Edinboro 26, Cleveland State 15 (Feb. 9 at Woodling Gymnasium)
The Vikings were defeated at home against EWL rival Edinboro. JT Miller 174 pounds) scored a victory by pin in the night's first bout against #15 Phil Moricone, for Moricone's first lost to an unranked wrestler and first by more than two points. Three matches later, heavyweight Rashard Goff won in overtime against #15 Joe Fendone, tying the score at 9-9. Edinboro's Eric Morril then pinned Ryan Riggs at 125 pounds to help his team regain the lead, which would not be relinquished. Mike Hurley (141 pounds) and Ryan Hurley (149 pounds) also won for the Vikings.
PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: The Cleveland State wrestling program will attempt to add another compelling chapter to its proud history in 2007-08. The Vikings have had at least one NCAA qualifier for the past 42 seasons. Meanwhile, the current Viking squad under Jack Effner features four who have made at least one appearance at the NCAA Championships representing Cleveland State, covering the last three seasons. Junior 165-pounder Effner, who went in 2005, leads the team in overall wins with a 23-8 record. He has also posted a 9-3 dual meet record to lead the team in that category. Rashard Goff, a two-time NCAA qualifer, is currently ranked 19th among heavyweights in the nation. He has posted a 17-8 record. Ryan Hurley has been to the NCAA Championship three years in a row at 149 pounds and has a 13-9 record this season. He is also second on the team with seven dual meet wins. Mike Hurley, a 2006 NCAA qualifer, has posted a 6-9 record this season in limited action due to injuries. The squad also features quality veteran contributors at other weight classes who lead by example, starting with co-team captain Ryan Riggs (12-11) at 125 pounds. In addition to Riggs, veteran leadership has been provided this year by junior JT Miller (21-14 at 174 pounds). The veterans are joined by a skilled group of younger wrestlers. Of this group, freshman Robbie Michaels (157 pounds) stands out the most, as he leads the team with 23 wins. Freshman Eric Schwartz was the starter at 285 pounds while Rashard Goff fulfilled academic requirements during the fall semester. Schwartz has remained in the mix for a starting nod due to his 15-10 record. Seven of his 15 victories are pins. Alek Hughes is the only true 197-pounder the Vikings have this season, and the freshman has delivered 14 wins. Freshman Josh Palivoda is the only option the Vikings have at 133 pounds this season, posting a 9-17 record. Freshman 184-pounder Derek Cummins has started every meet but the first of the season, going 9-20. Benny Balogh was a spot starter for the Vikings last season at 197 pounds and has stepped back into that role recently following an injury to Hughes. At 9-8, Balogh has shown improvement over his 7-11 season last year. Chris Hahn (0-1 at 184 pounds) was an NCAA alternate selection at the end of last season, his first with the Vikings. He won 15 matches in his inaugural campaign, and remains highly regarded despite sitting out the majority of this season.
THE HEAD COACH
Jack Effner (Indiana State `86)
At CSU: 71-89-3 (10th year)
Overall: 158-131-8 (19th year)
Only the second head coach in Cleveland State history, Jack Effner has continued the strong tradition of Viking wrestling. He has mentored 35 NCAA qualifiers and five Eastern Wrestling League champions during his career, including Viking win leader Gerald Harris II (118 career wins). His most successful season so far was in 2002-03, when CSU went 13-6 in dual meets for the most team wins since the 1978-79 season (15-1-1). The 2002-03 squad had a school record-tying six NCAA qualifiers.The Vikings have had at least one NCAA qualifier in every season Effner has been at the helm, continuing a streak that began in 1965. The Vikings have also excelled in the classroom under his guidance, finishing in the top 20 in the nation in grade point average for eight of the last nine seasons.
EFFNER ON THE VIKINGS: "I think we are getting better, and this is the right time of the year to get better. We had some tough losses [against Edinboro] but also some really good wins. A night like tonight [against Edinboro] is another notch that helps us get ready for Clarion."
CSU ALL-TIME VS. THE GOLDEN EAGLES: The Vikings have posted a 14-20 overall mark against Clarion. Cleveland State last faced the Golden Eagles on Feb. 11, 2007, winning by a score of 44-3. CSU has also won the last five meetings between the two schools.
TAG TEAM: Seniors Mike Hurley (53) and Ryan Hurley (71) have won a combined 124 matches throughout their careers. Each of the brothers, apart in age by only 18 months, 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.
...MORE ON RYAN: Ryan Hurley, 13-9 this season at 149 pounds, currently has 71 career wins, which is the most by any current Viking under Jack Effner.
ROOKIE SENSATION: Redshirt freshman and 157 pounder Rob Michaels is tied for the team lead with 23 victories. He has continued the Vikings' success at that weight class. Last year's starter Victer Crenshaw (26-11 in 2006-07) also tallied over 20 wins and wrestled at the NCAA Championship.
...ALSO CHECKING IN AT 23: Junior 165-pounder Marcus Effner is tied with Michaels with 23 wins, leading the Vikings this season. Effner was named Cleveland State's male athlete of the month for January, as he went 6-2, including a perfect 3-0 at the Buffalo Duals. Effner's 70 career wins are the second most by current Vikings under Jack Effner, behind 149-pounder Ryan Hurley (71 wins).
STARTING TIME FOR MILLER: Junior 174-pounder JT Miller is in his first year as a starter and has excelled in the role. Miller ranks second on the team with 21 wins, and second with seven pins.
...MORE ON MILLER: JT Miller has won his last three matches, all following an evening in that he lost to the nation's #1 174-pounder Keith Gavin of Pittsburgh. Miller has provided some stability for the team at 174 pounds during a five-meet losing streak.
PIN TO WIN: Freshman Alek Hughes (197) physically dominates his opponents when he wins. He leads the team with eight pins, and has won six other matches this season for a total of 14 wins.
...SPEAKING OF PINS: Freshman heavyweight Eric Schwartz is another Viking who racks up plenty of dominating wins. Of his 15 victories, seven are by fall while two are by technical fall. A technical fall is achieved when a wrestler has taken a 15-point lead in the bout and is immediately declared the winner.
VETERAN LEADERSHIP: The Vikings boast a roster that includes four previous NCAA qualifiers, including juniors Marcus Effner at 165 and Rashard Goff at 285, and seniors Mike Hurley at 141 and Ryan Hurley at 149.
SCORE FOR THE (BIG) LITTLE GUYS: Senior 125-pounder Ryan Riggs has matched his career high in wins with 12 this season as he seeks to end his Viking career on a high note. He began the season with only 20 career victories.
UP NEXT: The Vikings return home for their final dual meet of the season in a Senior Day matchup against West Virginia, Feb. 24th at Woodling Gym. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. EST.
