Match Fifteen
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 22 | 7:00 PM
Teams: Cleveland State (7-7, 5-2) vs. Kent State (5-15, 1-5)
Location: Kent, Ohio | Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center
Follow: Video | Scoring
Match Sixteen
Date/Time: Friday, Feb. 23 | 2:00 PM
Teams: Cleveland State (7-7, 5-2) vs. Rider (7-6, 7-0)
Location: Cleveland, Ohio | Woodling Gymnasium
Follow: Video | Scoring
Projected Matchups vs. Kent State
125: Ben Aranda (9-10)/ Ruben Pina-Lorenzana (0-0) vs. Adan Benavidez (8-17)
133: Nick Molchak (12-11)/ Landen Duncan (4-3) vs. Pablo Castro (14-7)
141: Dylan Layton (15-7)/ Michael Markulin (6-9) vs. Billy Meiszner (19-10)
149: Douglas Terry (11-9)/ Connor Saylor (10-11) vs. Matthew Ryan (9-9)
157: Marcus Robinson (3-0)/ Shane Heil (10-13) vs. Ethan Barr (11-14)
165: Tate Geiser (17-13)/ Daniel Patten (7-9) vs. Aaron Ferguson (15-12)
174: DeAndre Nassar (8-9)/ Ronald Dimmerling (3-12) vs. AJ Burkhart (6-6)
184: Joey Lyons (3-17) vs. Mitchell Broskie (2-7)
197: Ben Smith (17-5)/ Kaiden Haines (2-2) vs. Blake Schaffer (21-8)
285: Daniel Bucknavich (19-2)/ Mason Cover (7-9)/ Mekhi Bradley (9-9) vs. Josh Boggan (11-16)
Projected Matchups vs. Rider
125: Ben Aranda (9-10)/ Ruben Pina-Lorenzana (0-0) vs. Tyler Klinsky (13-10)
133: Nick Molchak (12-11)/ Landen Duncan (4-3) vs. Richie Koehler (14-8)/ Nieko Malone (4-4)
141: Dylan Layton (15-7)/ Michael Markulin (6-9) vs. McKenzie Bell (3-3)/ Will Betancourt (2-7)
149: Douglas Terry (11-9)/ Connor Saylor (10-11) vs. No. 26 Quinn Kinner (12-8)
157: Marcus Robinson (3-0)/ Shane Heil (10-13) vs. No. 28 Colton Washleski (23-6)
165: Tate Geiser (17-13)/ Daniel Patten (7-9) vs. Jake Silverstein (11-9)
174: DeAndre Nassar (8-9)/ Ronald Dimmerling (3-12) vs. Michael Wilson (15-9)
184: Joey Lyons (3-17) vs. Isaac Dean (10-10)/ Brock Zurawski (8-8)
197: Ben Smith (17-5)/ Kaiden Haines (2-2) vs. Azeem Bell (9-10)
285: Daniel Bucknavich (19-2)/ Mason Cover (7-9)/ Mekhi Bradley (9-9) vs. No. 31 David Szuba (16-8)
Last Time Out
Cleveland State won its fourth straight match on Saturday after easing past Bloomsburg, 40-5. On the night prior, the Green and White won a thrilling 22-19 match against Lock Haven. Nick Molchak (133), Marcus Robinson (157), No. 31 Ben Smith (197), and No. 21 Daniel Buckanvich (285) won both of their matches.
MAC Wrestler of the Week
Molchak became the second straight Viking and the third of the year to receive the weekly honor. Molchak started the weekend with a fall in 2:02 against No. 32 Gable Strickland of Lock Haven. He followed that up with a 9-0 major decision against Major Lewis Bloomsburg. The Solon, Ohio, native is now 6-2 overall at 133-pounds after starting the year at 125-pounds.
About Kent State
The Golden Flashes are 5-15 overall and 1-5 in the MAC this season. Kent State has lost two straight, with their most recent loss coming to CMU at home on Feb. 16 by a score of 25-15. In addition, the Golden Flashes are winless at home. Blake Schaffer, at 197-pounds tops the team in victories with 21.
About Rider
The Broncs are 7-6 overall and a perfect 7-0 in the MAC. Rider has already clinched at least a share of the East Division Championship. RU will face Pitt on Thursday before heading over to Woodling Gymnasium on Friday. The squad is ranked 19th in the Mid-Major Coaches Poll and has three guys ranked in the NCAA.
Series History
Kent State leads the matchup history at 21-9-1, but the Vikings have won two of the last three, including an 18-16 victory last season at home.
Rider leads the series 6-3, including a 25-9 win at home last season. The last Green and White victory came at home in 2022 by a score of 22-15.
Vikings in the Rankings
Daniel Bucknavich (285 Pounds) – No. 20 (NCAA) | No. 18 (TCWR) | No. 19 (Flo) | No. 26 (Intermat)
Ben Smith (197 Pounds) – No. 33 (NCAA) | No. 32 (Intermat) |No. 32 (TCWR)
Marcus Robinson (157 Pounds) – No. 29 (TCWR)
Preseason Poll
Cleveland State was chosen to finish third in the MAC for the 2023-24 season after receiving 86.5 points. Lock Haven was picked to claim its third straight title with 126.5 points, and Central Michigan was second with 119 points.
Welcome Back, Placers
The Green and White return four placers from last season: Ben Aranda (125 Pounds), Jake Manley (133 Pounds), Marcus Robinson (157 pounds), DeAndre Nassar (184 Pounds), and Daniel Bucknavich (285 Pounds).
The Return of the Champ
Ben Smith returns to the Cleveland State lineup after taking this past season off to focus on school. In 2022, Smith became the Vikings first-ever MAC Champion, winning at 197-pounds. This season, he will start the year as the favorite to win his second MAC title in the same weight class.
Up Next
The Vikings will begin preparations for the 2024 MAC Championships on March 8-9 at Kent State.
