CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State University wrestling team returns home this weekend as it will welcome a fellow Mid-American Conference opponent.
CSU will host Central Michigan this Friday, Feb. 5, with matches set to get underway at 5:00 p.m. The two squads are slated to contest a traditional dual along with a number of 'extra matches' with action taking place on two mats simultaneously. Video coverage of the dual bouts will be available on ESPN+.
Although Cleveland State hosted Kent State to begin its season, the two teams did not technically contest a dual, making Friday's competition the first MAC dual for the Vikings this season.
Cleveland State dropped a dual at nationally ranked Navy last weekend in its road opener. A number of Vikings had success in the extra matches contested against the Midshipmen, with both sophomore Logan Heil (133) and junior Ben Smith (197) registering their first pins in the additional bouts.
Sophomore DeAndre Nassar owns a team-best 4-1 record thus far this season, with all of his matches coming at 184 pounds. Redshirt sophomore Marcus Robinson (149/157) and true freshman Daniel Patten (157/165) are both 3-2 in the early going.
Central Michigan will be competing for the first time in nearly three weeks due to a COVID-19 related issue as the Chippewas had their last five dual meets (on two dates) canceled. CMU is 2-2 on the season, with one of their losses coming to No. 10 Missouri. In their other MAC dual to date, Central Michigan took down Northern Illinois, 22-14. The Chippewas are among the top five listed in the 'Other Receiving Votes' category of the national top 25, making them the third consecutive CSU opponent that is either ranked or receiving votes.
The Chippewas have three returning MAC champions in their probable lineup, all of whom earned All-America honors last season. Redshirt seniors Drew Hildebrandt (125) and Matt Stencel (285) are both ranked among the top five nationally while classmate Dresden Simon (141) is listed among the top 15 at his weight class. Classmate Landon Pelham (197) also checks in among the top 25 at his weight after placing fourth at the MAC Championships last year.
Cleveland State is 5-5 all-time against Central Michigan after dropping a dual matchup last February, which was the programs' first meeting in over 15 years. The Chippewas snuck out with an 18-13 win in Cleveland last year, as CMU won a tight 174-pound bout that proved to be the difference. Nassar, redshirt senior Justin Patrick and Smith are the three active Vikings to win matches in last year's dual with CMU.
Cleveland State will return to the road next weekend, but remain in the state, as the Vikings take on MAC rival Ohio Sunday, Feb. 14.
