Jan. 22, 2006

Ashland, Ohio - Nothing came easy for the Viking wrestling team at the Wendy's Duals on Sunday (Jan. 22), as Cleveland State fell in a close, 21-18, contest to Ohio before topping Davidson 27-15 in Kates Gymnasium at Ashland University.

The Vikings received strong performances from several wrestlers on the day, including five wrestlers who garnered two wins each.

CSU and Ohio battled back and forth in the first match of the day before the Bobcats claimed victory with a late pin despite six bout wins by the Vikings. After an opening-bout pin by OU to fall down 6-0, the Vikings rallied to take the lead at 9-6 thanks to three straight decisions by sophomores David Armstrong (133), Mike Hurley (141) and Ryan Hurley (149).

The Bobcats responded with a win at 157 to tie the score, but sophomore Tim Scarl put CSU back in front at 12-9 with a decision at 165.

OU would reclaim the lead with a pin in the following bout before senior Ron Howard scored a decision at 184 to tie the score at 15-15. It would be as close as the Vikings would get, however, as a Bobcat pin at 197 would seal the match.

The Davidson match played out in similar fashion to the OU match, with both teams trading leads after almost every bout, but the Vikings remained in control in the end to claim victory.

The Wildcats claimed the early 3-0 lead with a decision at 125, but Armstrong responded at 133 with a major decision. The theme continued in the next four bouts, as Davidson would claim a decision at 141 and 157 only to have the Vikings answer right back in the following bout with major decisions by Ryan Hurley at 149 and Scarl at 165.

The Wildcats jumped back in front with a pin at 174, but Howard responded in kind with a pin of his own at 184 to reclaim the Viking advantage for good at 18-15.

"It's the same old thing," head coach Jack Effner said. "We have good wrestlers on our team, but we need them to perform consistently. The margin of error is so small at this level. You don't have teammates out there to support you when you are on the mat. It's all on you."

The Vikings were originally slated to wrestle Northern Illinois at 4:00 p.m., but the match was cancelled to accommodate the travel schedule of NIU.

Cleveland State returns home to Woodling Gymnasium on Thursday (Jan. 26) when they open up the Eastern Wrestling League slate against Pittsburgh at 7:00 p.m.

Ohio 21, Cleveland State 18
125 - Metcalf (OU) FALL Joe Wornoff, 2:08 [0-6]
133 - David Armstrong (CSU) DEC Jackson, 7-6 [3-6]
141 - Mike Hurley (CSU) DEC Madsen, 11-4 [6-6]
149 - Ryan Hurley (CSU) DEC Gomoll, 3-2 [9-6]
157 - Frerichs (OU) DEC Victer Crenshaw, 4-2 [9-9]
165 - Tim Scarl (CSU) DEC K. Smith, 4-1 [12-9]
174 - Knapp (OU) FALL David Gilkey, 4:51 [12-15]
184 - Ron Howard (CSU) DEC Cesear, 5-4 [15-15]
197 - Reichard (OU) FALL Ishmal Williams, 2:56 [15-21]
285 - Rashard Goff (CSU) DEC Campbell, 5-0 [18-21]

Cleveland State 27, Davidson 15
125 - Coman (D) DEC Joe Wornoff, 9-2 [0-3]
133 - David Armstrong (CSU) MD Hunter, 13-5 [4-3]
141 - Avola (D) DEC Mike Hurley, 6-5 [4-6]
149 - Ryan Hurley (CSU) MD Leonard, 14-6 [8-6]
157 - Pendle (D) DEC Victer Crenshaw, 8-5 [8-9]
165 - Tim Scarl (CSU) MD Colavita, 13-0 [12-9]
174 - Boyd (D) FALL Anthony Mestek, 5:30 [12-15]
184 - Ron Howard (CSU) FALL O'Hair 2:13[18-15]
197 - Ishmal Williams (CSU) DEC Carter, 4-1 [21-15]
285 - Rashard Goff (CSU) FOR [27-15]