Dec. 7, 2011
Contact: Tim Ertle
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Sunday's Probable Starters
125 - Ben Willeford (CSU) vs. Anthony Zanetta (Pitt)
133 - Nick Flannery (CSU) vs. Shelton Mack (Pitt)
141 - Josh Palivoda (CSU) vs. Travis Shaffer (Pitt)
149 - Mike Mencini (CSU) vs. Tyler Nauman (Pitt)
157 - Tanner Lemon (CSU) vs. Donnie Tasser (Pitt)
165 - Corey Carlo (CSU) vs. Tyler Wilps (Pitt)
174 - Aric Thurn (CSU) vs. Ethan Headlee (Pitt)
184 - Corbin Boone (CSU) vs. Max Thomusseit (Pitt)
197 - Nick Anthony (CSU) vs. Matt Wilps (Pitt)
285 - Chris Weber (CSU) vs. Zac Thomusseit/Joel Yahner (Pitt)
SETTING THE SCENE: Cleveland State opens Eastern Wrestling League competition with two-time defending champion Pittsburgh, ranked ninth nationally in the Dec. 6 NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll, at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday (Dec. 11) at Woodling Gymnasium. The Vikings will be looking to end the Panthers 12-match unbeaten streak against members of the EWL. Sunday will be the 35th meeting between the two schools with Pitt leading the all-time series, 19-14-1. Before the battle with CSU, the Panthers, currently 3-0, will host No. 6 Ohio State on Friday (Dec. 9) night.
LAST TIME ON THE MAT: The Cleveland State wrestling team slipped to 2-3 on the season with a 33-9 loss to Eastern Michigan on Dec. 1. The Vikings received a pin from Nick Flannery (133) and a win via decision by Josh Palivoda (141). True freshman Sheldon Brandenburg filled in at 165 pounds after Corey Carlo, 4-0 in dual meets, was a late scratch.
MID-MAJOR MIGHT: Despite falling to Eastern Michigan, CSU moved up a slot to No. 22 in the fourth Mid-Major poll conducted by the National Wrestling Media Association. The Vikings are one spot behind No. 21 Bloomsburg of the EWL and ahead of league-foe Lock Haven who came in at No. 25. The poll, which includes NCAA Division I wrestling schools that do not sponsor a football program in a BCS conference, was released on Wednesday (Dec. 7). The poll is endorsed by the National Wrestling Media Association and is chaired by the National Collegiate Open. Voting is conducted by BuckeyeWrestling.com, InterMatWrestle.com, TheMat.com, TheOpenMat.com and WrestlingReport.com.
TOUGH TESTS: The Vikings face two teams ranked in the Dec. 6 NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll in their next three matches. Pitt is ranked ninth, and Kent State, who CSU battles Dec. 21, is 20th.
... AND IT DOESN'T GET EASIER: All three Cleveland State losses have come against teams ranked in the NWMA Mid-Major Poll. Old Dominion and Boston, who the Vikings lost to at the Wrestle for a Cure Duals on Nov. 12, are ranked 13th and 14th, respectively. Eastern Michigan is No. 16 in the mid-major poll, one spot behind Clarion who CSU wrestles on Feb. 11, 2012. Four other teams from the mid-major poll remain on the schedule: No. 4 Kent State, No. 5 Edinboro (No. 25 in NWCA/USA Today poll), No. 21 Bloomsburg and No. 25 Lock Haven. Appalachian State and Chattanooga just missed inclusion in the mid-major poll but did receive votes.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS: Anthony Zanetta (125), Tyler Nauman (141) and Ethan Headlee (174) were each named the top wrestler in their weight class in the latest EWL rankings. Max Thomusseit (184) and Matt Wilps (197) were tabbed as second in the league in their respective weight classes. Shelton Mack was third at 133 pounds and Donnie Tasser fourth at 157, while Travis Shaffer (141), Tyler Wilps (165) and Zac Thomusseit (285) were each honorable mention selections. Zanetta (125) and Nauman (141) were EWL champions last season while Headlee won the title last year at 165 and Zac Thomusseit was a league champion at 197.
The Head Coach: Ben Stehura (Lock Haven '00)
THE STEHURA FILE: Ben Stehura is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Viking wrestling program, and has recruited a talented group of young wrestlers that expect to make noise in the Eastern Wrestling League this year. Stehura has a history of developing young talent, as he has coached seven NCAA qualifiers, three NCAA All-Americans and two Olympic alternates over the past seven years. Stehura joined CSU in 2008 after building a successful program at Limestone in Gaffney, S.C. The first head coach in Limestone's history, Stehura took the team from three wins his first year to 13 in 2007-2008. Stehura will use his experience with coaching a young program to lead the Vikings during the 2011-12 season, working to improve in EWL competition and continuing the history and tradition of CSU wrestling.
UP NEXT: After the Cleveland State Open next Sunday (Dec. 18), the Vikings will compete again as a team a week from Wednesday (Dec. 21) when they take on Northern Illinois and No. 20 Kent State, both of the Mid-American Conference, in DeKalb, Ill. CSU will battle the Huskies at 12:00 p.m. and the Golden Flashes at 2:00 p.m.
