Jan. 8, 2002
In what has become a long time in the waiting, the Cleveland State wrestlers finally out muscled Kent State in a 22-12 victory. The last time the Vikings downed the Flashes was in 1976, when legendary coach Dick Bonacci led CSU. Now, in the Jack Effner era, CSU rattled off six consecutive victories on the way to its second win of the season.
"It's been a long time coming," said Effner. "Kent is a big rival, who we also battle for recruits. I think our kids were just a little more prepared based on the difficulty of our schedule."
And difficult barely begins to describe the Vikes' schedule right now. After fighting with fourth-ranked Michigan on Saturday, CSU had to prepare for Kent and seventh-ranked Ohio State this Saturday. Yet Effner's group did not overlook the Flashes. After dropping the first two matches of the night, the Vikes got a boost from an unlikely hero in sophomore Joe Phillips (Maple Heights, Ohio/Maple Heights).
Phillips soundly defeated former Ohio high school state champion Ben Rings, 7-2. CSU's two-year starter took an early edge on Rings with a single-leg takedown with just two seconds remaining in the first period. In the second period Phillips caught Rings in a cradle, grabbing a two-point near fall and a 4-0 lead. In the last frame Phillips put the match away with another single-leg takedown. On the other side, Rings could muster just two escapes against CSU's 184-pounder.
At 197 pounds Stipe Miocic (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) also looked strong against Zeb Miller. Miocic used four single-leg takedowns en route to a 10-2 major decision. CSU's sophomore showed solid defense, averting all of Miller's shots and allowing just two escapes.
The heavyweight match displayed two of the biggest wrestlers in the nation. CSU's 17th-ranked Russ Davie (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg), who stands 6-7, went up against Kent's 6-8 senior Jim Swetter. Davie grabbed two single-leg takedowns, using the latter right into a two-point near fall. The sophomore went on to a 7-2 victory.
At 125 pounds Rocco Mansueto (Middletown, N.Y./Middletown) took on four-time Ohio high school state champion Jared Opfer. Both grapplers battled close all match, finishing the first period in a scoreless tie. Yet Mansueto hit Opfer with two quick single-leg takedowns in the second period, taking a 4-2 lead. Opfer took a late takedown in the third, but Mansueto won the match, 5-4.
133-pounder Phil Mansueto (Middletown, N.Y./Middletown) sealed the Viking victory with a pin against Joe DiMichele. Mansueto wore out DiMichele throughout the match, scoring his first takedown with three seconds remaining in the second period. In the third period CSU's returning NCAA qualifier took control of the match. He Hit DiMichele with two single-leg takedowns and then used a pancake pin to end the bout at 6:42.
