CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State University wrestling team continues to close in on the end of the regular season as the Vikings contest a single dual this weekend.

CSU will welcome Northern Illinois this Friday, Feb. 7, at 7:00 p.m. in their final dual against a Mid-American Conference West Division foe.

The Vikings split a pair of duals in their most recent action last weekend. CSU claimed a 16-15 win at Kent State before coming up short, 18-13, to Central Michigan. The win over the Golden Flashes was the first for Cleveland State since the 2003-04 season, although the programs have not faced each other every season in that time.

Redshirt senior Justin Patrick led the way last weekend for CSU, posting a pair of upset wins at 133 pounds. In his bout at Kent State Saturday, Patrick defeated Tim Rooney by securing a takedown with fewer than five seconds remaining in the match to claim a 4-3 win. Rooney was ranked among the top 20 nationally by multiple outlets and was third in the most recent MAC rankings. Patrick beat his CMU foe, 11-10, by again securing points in the final seconds of the bout.

The Vikings have been in a number of close duals lately as their past five contests have been decided by no more than eight points.

Redshirt senior Evan Cheek owns a team-best 30-4 record on the season, including 17 bonus-point wins. Sophomore Ben Smith, who upset a MAC ranked wrestler against the Chippewas last weekend, owns 22 wins on the season, 13 via bonus points, while true freshman Logan Heil collected his 20th win of the season last weekend.

Northern Illinois is 9-4 on the season, with all four losses coming to teams currently ranked or receiving votes nationally. The Huskies own a 4-2 MAC mark after a 29-9 win at SIU Edwardsville in their lone action last weekend. Six Huskies were listed in the most recent MAC rankings, led by redshirt freshman Izzak Olejnik being ranked second at 165 pounds. Gage Braun and Bryce West are tied for the team lead with 16 wins and are ranked fourth in the MAC at 197 and 125 pounds, respectively.

Cleveland State is 1-7 all-time against Northern Illinois in a series that dates to the 2004-05 season. This is the fourth straight year the teams have met, with CSU claiming its lone win in the 2017-18 season. Six active Vikings own wins over NIU in dual action with Cheek owning a 2-0 mark.

Cleveland State will conclude the regular season with a pair of duals next weekend, one on the road and the final one at home.