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Ben Smith

Ben Smith

  • Weight:
    197
  • Year:
    Junior
  • Hometown:
    North Canton, Ohio
  • High School:
    Hoover
  • Position:
    197

2021-22 – JUNIOR SEASON
Qualified for the NCAA Championships at 197-pounds for the second straight year…Won the program’s first-ever MAC Championship…Pinned the top-seed, Will Feldkamp in the first round of the championship match…Went 20-6 overall on the year with a 14-3 mark in dual matches…Had a perfect 10-0 record in MAC matches…Registered four major decisions, three falls, and a technical fall.

2020-21 – REDSHIRT JUNIOR SEASON
Qualified for the NCAA Championships at the 197-pound weight class...Entered the championship as the No. 24 seed, the highest-seeded wrestler for Cleveland State…Posted a 6-6 overall record with a 1-0 record in MAC matches…Boasted four decisions, one major decision, and a fall…His pin came in 3:24.

2019-20 – SOPHOMORE SEASON
Placed seventh at Mid-American Conference Championships at 197 pounds (3/8) … Was the team’s starter at 197 all season … Went 25-14 on the season, including 10-5 in dual bouts … Was second on the team in wins and dual points earned (42) … Tallied 14 bonus-point victories on season … Won Ohio Intercollegiate Open (11/10) … Beat three MAC foes to place third at Clarion Open (11/3) … Won four bouts, including one by pin and two by major decision, at Navy Classic (11/23) … With team trailing by four points, came from behind to claim 7-6 win in penultimate bout of dual at Buffalo, helping Vikings rally for the team win (12/6) … Beat Wyatt Koelling of Missouri in sudden victory twice, once in dual and once at MAC meet … Topped a top-30 national foe from Central Michigan in dual action (2/2) … Won two bouts in quad dual at VMI, one by pin and one by major decision (1/10) … Pinned SIUE foe in dual bout (1/24) and topped Michigan State opponent in dual action as well (2/16) … Was one of two Vikings to start every dual during season.

2018-19 – FRESHMAN SEASON
Went 18-16 in his rookie season, competing exclusively at 197 pounds … Started every dual at 197 … Tied for the team lead with nine dual wins … Had seven bonus-point wins on season … Won the Lock Haven Classic, including a pin over a foe from Old Dominion (12/29) … Placed at the Cougar Clash (12/2) … Picked up his first dual win vs. VMI (11/11) … Won his first conference dual bout with a win at George Mason (1/10) … Garnered pin in dual win vs. Columbia (1/10) … Netted dual win at Michigan State (2/10) … Also placed at Clarion Open, winning four matches, while competing as an unattached collegian (11/3) … Went 1-2 in EWL Championships (3/9).

Pre-CSU
Placed fourth at OHSAA Division I tournament, capping off senior season in which he went 53-3 … Won the Hoover district and the Massillon Perry sectional, combining for six bonus-point wins and three pins, in those events … Competed for Team Ohio at the Junior Freestyle and Greco Nationals in summer 2017 … Won four matches in the freestyle competition at 220 pounds and was one point short of earning All-American status … Was an All-Federal League First Team selection … Was also named to the Northeast Ohio All-Lakes District Team for football.