Jan. 5, 2002
In front of the largest crowd at Woodling Gymnasium in years, the Viking wrestlers battled hard with Michigan, the nation's fourth-ranked team. However, the Wolverines, with all ten wrestlers ranked in the top 15, proved too tough for CSU in a 29-9 victory.
But CSU Head Coach Jack Effner was not upset at the loss. "It was a good test for us tonight, and the good news is we have eight weeks to get better and prepare for the conference tournament. Wrestling Michigan is a very positive sign for our program, it shows that if you come to CSU you'll wrestle the top guys in the nation."
The Vikings nearly got off to a quick lead against Michigan, but 197-pounder Stipe Miocic (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) could not prevail in the final period. Michigan's ninth-ranked Kyle Smith grabbed a late takedown to defeat Miocic, 7-5.
Sophomore Russ Davie (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) picked up the first win for the Vikings at heavyweight. Davie dominated the match, using three takedowns and picking up over five minutes of riding time in a 6-0 decision.
In the lightweight matches CSU twins Rocco and Phil Mansueto suffered close losses at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively. Rocco Mansueto (Middletown, N.Y./Middletown) had a 1-0 lead on All-American A.J. Grant after the first period, but Grant came back with an escape and a single-leg takedown in the second frame. Mansueto kicked out for an escape in the third, but Grant came back yet again with a takedown and a 6-2 win.
At 133 pounds Phil Mansueto (Middletown, N.Y./Middletown) had perhaps the most exciting match against tenth-ranked Foley Dowd. The first point of the match came on an escape in the second period by Dowd. But in the third period Mansueto matched Dowd with an escape to knot the score at one apiece. With 1:45 remaining Dowd caught Mansueto in a double-leg takedown and Mansueto countered with an escape at 1:01. Yet Dowd fought off Mansueto another minute to preserve a 3-2 victory.
The match was part of a doubleheader with high schools St. Edward and Walsh Jesuit. At 5:30 p.m. fans got to see St. Ed's, the area's top-ranked team, defeat Walsh, 53-6.
