CLEVELAND, Ohio – After contesting its first seven duals away from home, the Cleveland State University wrestling team will have a chance to compete at home in a dual format for the first time this season Thursday, Jan. 26, when it hosts Lock Haven.

CSU and LHU will begin the Eastern Wrestling League dual at 7:00 p.m. This begins a stretch that will see the Vikings have five of their final six duals take place at home.

Cleveland State fell at nationally ranked Rider last time out despite owning the lead in the team score after four bouts.

Sophomore Evan Cheek (141) and senior Nick Montgomery (149) both registered wins by fall in the setback to the Broncs. With his win, Cheek improved his team-leading win total and enters Thursday with a 16-8 mark on the season. More impressively, he is now 10-0 this season in matches decided by fall or technical fall. Montgomery notched his fourth pin of the season with his victory.

Redshirt junior Nick Corba lost a tight, 3-2, decision at 184 pounds last time out to fall to 12-6 on the season. He had begun his EWL slate with a win via major decision against an opponent from George Mason. Corba has eight bonus-point victories on the season.

Lock Haven holds a 25-13 advantage in the all-time series between the teams that dates back to the late 1970s. However, the Vikings have claimed wins in each of the past two seasons, winning with 18 points on both occasions. In last season's meeting at Lock Haven, the dual was tied entering the final match at 174. The final bout between CSU's Gabe Stark and LHU's Tyler Wood required a sudden-victory session, where Stark pulled out an 8-6 win, thus securing his team's victory in the process.

All five projected starters for CSU that are not freshmen have competed at least once against Lock Haven in a dual format. Corba and Montgomery both own victories against the Bald Eagles.

Lock Haven has a 5-7 dual mark on the season. The Bald Eagles have lost three straight and four of their past five duals, but three of their four losses have come to nationally ranked teams, including two that were ranked within the top 10. LHU is 2-1 in EWL action, all of which occurred in December, as it claimed wins over George Mason and Bloomsburg and fell to Rider. The Bald Eagles are led by redshirt sophomore Thomas Haines, who is ranked among the top 15 nationally by Intermat at heavyweight. Redshirt junior Ronnie Perry (141), redshirt freshman Corey Hazel (184) and redshirt sophomore Tristan Sponseller (197) were all ranked among the top 30 in the first edition of the NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings, with Perry leading the group ranked 21st.

Cleveland State will remain at home after hosting LHU as it welcomes Bloomsburg Friday, Feb. 3.

CSU Projected Lineup
125: John Martin
133: Spencer Dusi
141: Evan Cheek
149: Nick Montgomery
157: Grant Turnmire
165: John Vaughn
174: Devon Pingel
184: Nick Corba
197: Collin Kelly
285: Michael Furbee 

Lock Haven Projected Lineup
125: Jake Field
133: DJ Fehlman
141: Ronnie Perry OR Lewis Williams
149: Kyle Shoop
157: Kyle Hammond OR Jonathan Ross
165: Jared Siegrist
174: Tyler Wood OR Adam Mackie
184: Corey Hazel
197: Tristan Sponseller
285: Thomas Haines