Feb. 25, 2008
Contact: Gene Natale, Jr.
Complete Release in PDF Format 
EWL TOURNAMENT
Date: Saturday, March 8, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. EST
Site: Rufus H. Fitzgerald Fieldhouse (6,798), Pittsburgh, Pa.
RECAPPING LAST WEEK: Cleveland State hosted EWL rival West Virginia in a Senior Day dual meet at Woodling Gymnasium on Sunday, Feb. 24. Here is a brief look at how the Vikings fared over the weekend.
West Virginia 32, Cleveland State 2 (Feb. 24 at Woodling Gym)
Senior Mike Hurley won a 9-2 decision against Stephen Waite at 141 pounds, but he was the only Viking to win in a lopsided 32-2 defeat. Josh Palivoda (2-0 loss at 133 pounds), Ryan Hurley (3-2 loss at 149 pounds), and Marcus Effner (4-3 loss at 165 pounds) all were in very close matches but were unable to secure victories. The senior class (Mike Hurley, Ryan Hurley, Ryan Riggs) was honored for their contributions prior to the start of the meet. Sophomore Benny Balogh was honored with the seniors as he will leave CSU following the semester to pursue his goal of becoming a Christian minister.
PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: Cleveland State is led by its middleweights this season, as its wrestlers from 157-174 pounds have all reached 20 wins. Junior Marcus Effner (24-9 at 165 pounds) leads the team in overall wins, dual meet wins (10) and dual meet points (36)., and freshman Robbie Michaels (23-9 at 157 pounds) is second in wins despite losing his last five matches. Junior JT Miller (21-15 at 174 pounds) is third in wins and second on the team with seven pins. Miller is in his first year as a starter. The Vikings also have plenty of talent at the other weight classes. Heavyweight Rashard Goff (18-9 at 285 pounds) is ranked 17th in the nation. Senior co-captain Ryan Hurley (13-11 at 149 pounds) has started every match this season at 149 pounds, and is second on the team with seven dual meet wins. Seniors Ryan Riggs (co-captain, 12-13 at 125) and Mike Hurley (7-10 at 141) provide leadership with their years of experience. This leadership is needed as the Vikings have true freshmen starting at two of the the remaining three weight classes. Freshmen Josh Palivoda (9-19 at 133 pounds) and Derek Cummins (9-22 at 184 pounds) have been competitive in most of their matches despite their loss totals. Sophomore Benny Balogh (9-10) rounds out the starting lineup and will replace injured 197 pound starter Alek Hughes (14-14) in the EWL Tournament.
THE HEAD COACH
Jack Effner (Indiana State `86)
At CSU: 71-91-3 (10th year)
Overall: 158-133-8 (19th year)
Only the second head wrestling coach in Cleveland State history, Jack Effner has continued the strong tradition of Viking wrestling. He has mentored 35 NCAA qualifiers and five EWL champions during his career. His most successful season 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 (42 seasons overall). 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: "We have to buy into the idea that we have a fresh season come EWLs. It has been a tough year, but we have a chance to turn it all around."
CSU ALL-TIME AT THE EWL TOURNAMENT: The Vikings won the EWL team title in the school's second season in the EWL, 1979. CSU has also been runners-up in `78, `83, `84, and `87, and finished third in both `80 and `03. Twenty-two Vikings have won individual titles, the most recent being Ron Howard (184 pounds) in 2006. Last year's squad followed a 10-5 regular season with a sixth place finish at the tournament. Three Vikings (Ryan Hurley, 3rd at 149, Victer Crenshaw, 5th at 157, Rashard Goff, 3rd at 285) were selected to the NCAA Championships.
...AND UNDER EFFNER AT THE EWL TOURNEY: Since Jack Effner succeeded CSU Hall of Famer Dick Bonacci as head coach, five Vikings have claimed EWL titles and 35 have been NCAA qualifiers. The team's highest finish under Effner's guidance came in 2003 (third). The Vikings qualified six wrestlers (most in school history) for the NCAA Championships in both `03 and `04.
LEADING THE TEAM: Junior 165-pounder Marcus Effner leads the team with a 24-9 record. He has won nine of his last 13 matches, and leads the team in dual meet wins (10) as well as points (36).
...AND SO PAINFULLY CLOSE: Effner finished 2007 with a 24-15 record after placing third at the EWL tournament. Despite the focus he showed in winning his consolation match at the tournament he was not selected to represent the EWL at the NCAA Championship. He was the only Viking with at least 20 wins to not make the trip to the NCAA Championship.
HOPING FOR A REBOUND: Redshirt freshman Robbie Michaels (23-9 at 157 pounds) has the second-most wins amongst Viking wrestlers. He remains one win from the team lead in wins despite losing his last five bouts since his return from a serious illness.
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED: Junior Rashard Goff (18-9) is currently the 17th-ranked heavyweight in the nation. Goff is the Vikings' only nationally ranked wrestler heading into the EWL Tournament. Last year he finished third and was selected for his second straight NCAA Championship appearance.
...ANOTHER DOMINANT HEAVY: Freshman heavyweight Eric Schwartz has challenged Goff for the starting role this season. Schwartz has accumulated a 18-10 record while splitting time with the nationally ranked junior.
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 third on the team with 21 wins and second with seven pins.
TAG TEAM: Seniors Mike Hurley (54) and Ryan Hurley (71) have won a combined 125 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, 13-11 this season at 149 pounds, currently has 71 career wins, which ties him with Marcus Effner for the most by any current Viking under Jack Effner.
HUGHES' PINS: Freshman Alek Hughes' high-energy, fast-paced approach has resulted in a team-leading eight pins. He has been victorious in six other matches for a total of 14 wins.
VETERAN LEADERSHIP: The Vikings boast a roster that includes four previous NCAA qualifiers, including juniors Marcus Effner (2005) at 165 and Rashard Goff (2006, 2007) at 285, and seniors Mike Hurley (2006) at 141 and Ryan Hurley (2005-07) 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. The co-captain began the season with only 20 career victories, and will attempt to improve upon a fifth place showing at the tournament last season.
UP NEXT: Those Vikings who qualify will prepare for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which will be held at the Scottrade Center at the University of Missouri from March 20-22 in St. Louis, MO.
