Jan. 30, 2004
ATHENS, Ohio - Matt Klinger lost a tough 5-3 decision in the match's final bout as the Cleveland State wrestling team dropped a 22-18 decision at Ohio on Friday evening. With the loss, the Vikings fall to 6-7 on the season, while Ohio moves to 7-3 on the year.
With the Vikings trailing by one entering the final bout at 165, Klinger needed just a decision, but a very conservative match by the Bobcats' Vinny DiGiovanni kept the Viking junior from getting a key takedown, even as DiGiovanni was penalized for stalling in the final minute of the bout.
The Vikings jumped out to a 15-6 lead after the first five matches, keyed by a pin by Matt Kallai at 174 to open the match. Following a pin by Ohio at 184, the Vikings rattled off three straight decisions by Joe Phillips, Russ Davie and DeAngelo Penn to open up the nine-point margin. A pin at 133 brought the Bobcats to within three, and Anthony Coleman lost a 5-4 decision at 141, six seconds of riding time short of sending the bout into overtime.
Matt DePolo staked the Vikings back up by three by winning a tight 4-3 decision at 149, before Jason Effner lost a major decision to Ohio's All-American, Jake Percival, 19-6, leaving the final score to rest on Klinger's match at 165.
The Vikings will next travel to Lock Haven on Sat., Feb. 7, before taking on Bloomsburg the following day.
