March 17, 2006

Oklahoma City - Cleveland State's three remaining NCAA qualifiers took a final bow at the national championship, as Vikings David Armstrong, Rashard Goff and Ron Howard fell in the consolation bracket.

Armstrong, in his first NCAA appearance, garnered a decision in his first bout of the day at 133 pounds over Phillip Plowman of Eastern Michigan, edging out the Eagle wrestler of for a 7-6 victory. Austin DeVoe of Missouri got the best of the Viking in the next round, however, scoring a fall in 1:26. He finished the tournament with a pair of wins.

Goff, also in his first trip to the national tournament, was held in check in the consolation bracket at heavyweight by Tyler Shovlin of UNC-Greensboro by a 3-0 count. Goff scored a win in the first round of the consolation round on Friday to remain alive in the championships.

Howard's third trip to the NCAA Championships ended prematurely at 184 pounds, as the Viking fell in the second round of the consolation bracket to Vince Jones of Nebraska by an 11-6 score. Howard opened the tournament with a strong 8-4 decision.

All three CSU wrestlers put together outstanding seasons, with Armstrong tallying a 20-14 record, Goff posting a 24-18 mark and Howard leading the squad with a 29-9 record.

Along with Mike Hurley and Ryan Hurley, the Vikings sent at least five wrestlers to the NCAA Championships for the fourth year in a row.

Consolation Results
David Armstrong (CSU) DEC Phillip Plowman (EMU), 7-6
Austin DeVoe (Missouri) FALL David Armstrong (CSU), 1:26
Vince Jones (Nebraska) DEC Ron Howard (CSU), 11-6
Tyler Shovlin (Greensboro) DEC Rashard Goff (CSU), 3-0