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Wrestlers Open Season With Intra-squad Match.

Wrestlers Open Season With Intra-squad Match.
Posted: Nov 04, 2001

Nov. 4, 2001

Cleveland State wrestling Head Coach Jack Effner finally got to show off what he has been waiting three years for. In an intra-squad match the Vikings displayed a lineup that will make the Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) a lot more interesting this year. With five spots filled with NCAA qualifiers and five others loaded with potential, Effner has a right to be excited.

"It's nice to finally get going, to move up from the practice room and get under the lights," said Effner. "We have some little things to work on, but once we get hungry we'll be real tough to beat."

In the intra-squad the CSU Green team defeated the Red team, 40-5. The match began with a wrestle-off for the 197-pound spot. Sophomore Stipe Miocic (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) took on junior Bert Dobies (Garfield Heights, Ohio/Garfield). Both wrestlers found difficulty in scoring, as the first three minutes ended at 0-0. But Miocic grabbed a takedown in the second period and a reversal in the third to win, 5-3.

In the 125-pound match co-captain Rocco Mansueto (Middletown, New York/Middletown), one of last year's NCAA qualifiers, dominated his match against Cliff Dowell (Lorain, Ohio/Admiral King). Mansueto had five takedowns and two near-fall cradles for a 17-4 victory. Phil Mansueto (Middletown, New York/Middletown) also looked dominating after taking a redshirt year last season. The 1999 NCAA qualifier had a double-leg takedown and a three-point near fall to beat Matt DePolo (Bellevue, Ohio/Bellevue), 9-0.

Co-captain and senior Nick Boucher (Sunfield, Michigan/Lakewood) picked up where he left off last year at the NCAA Championships. He used a series of double and single-leg takedowns and a near-fall, cross-face cradle to win, 15-3. Last year's starter at 133 pounds, Boucher showed no signs of weakness after moving up to 141 pounds.

157-pound starter Mike Smith (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain Southview) showed why he was Effner's top recruit last year. After sitting out last season, Smith looked impressive in a 16-7 win. With a fast shoot, Smith had two single-leg takedowns and two double-leg takedowns in the victory.

In perhaps the most exciting match of the day Jason Effner (Garfield Heights, Ohio/Garfield) squared off against e'Than Birden (Steubenville, Ohio/Steubenville) for the starting spot at 165 pounds. In the second period Birden had a reversal, but Effner tied it at two with an escape. Late in the third period Birden had another reversal, and after an escape Effner could not grab a takedown before time ran out.

The match ended with 2000 NCAA qualifier Russ Davie (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) defeating newcomer John Seng (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay), 11-2. Davie also looked strong after a redshirt season last year. The heavyweight had three takedowns and a three-point near-fall in the match.