Jan. 16, 2006
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Setting the Scene: The Vikings continue their dual meet competition this weekend when they head to the Ashland Duals on Sunday (Jan. 22). CSU squares off with Ohio at 10:00 a.m., Davidson at 12:00 p.m. and Northern Illinois at 4:00 p.m. at Kates Gymnasium.
Previewing the Vikings: Cleveland State enters the weekend with a 3-3 mark in dual meets after going 1-1 at the Cleveland State Duals on Jan. 14. CSU started the afternoon with a strong 29-12 win over Eastern Michigan, scoring wins in seven of the final nine bouts. The tournament ended on a down note against Slippery Rock, however, as the Vikings lost the match, 22-13, and sophomore Joe Dennis to injury. The team is benefiting greatly from the leadership of senior co-captain Ron Howard, who is ranked No. 18 at 184 pounds in the NWCA/Intermat Coaches Poll and leads the team with a 17-7 record. Freshmen Jayrl Hunt (125) and Victer Crenshaw (157) have provided a boost in their first collegiate season, with Hunt touting a 10-8 mark with three pins and Crenshaw going 16-8 with three pins and two tech falls. The injury bug has bitten the Vikings in the worst way, however, hampering sophomores Marcus Effner (165) and Joe Dennis (197) with knee injuries.
Howard Nationally Ranked: Senior Ron Howard enters the week ranked among the nation's best, according to the latest NWCA/Intermat Coaches Poll. Howard currently sits at No. 18 at 184 with a record of 17-7, including two pins and three major decisions.
Last Week's Results:
Cleveland State Duals
Jan. 14, 2006 - Woodling Gymnasium - Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland State 29, Eastern Michigan 12
The Vikings claimed wins in seven of the 10 bouts to secure a dominant 29-12 win over Eastern Michigan at the CSU Duals on Jan. 14. After dropping the opening bout, CSU reeled off five in a row to take a 20-3 lead that they would not relinquish. Freshmen Victer Crenshaw (157) and Rashard Goff (285) each scored pins, while sophomore transfer Tim Scarl (165) scored his first win as a Viking.
Slippery Rock 22, Cleveland State 13
The CSU Duals ended on a down note against Slippery Rock on Jan. 14, as the Vikings lost both the match, 22-13, and sophomore Joe Dennis to injury. Cleveland State held a 10-6 edge after the first five bouts, but Slippery Rock would claim wins in four of the final five to secure the win. Dennis, who was leading Andrew Joseph 7-3 in the 197 bout, was forced to injury default after twisting his left knee on the mat.
Coach Effner's Thoughts: "It was kind of a disappointing day. We preformed pretty well, and, for the most part, we are getting better. But there is such a small margin of error in college wrestling that you have to come out with the same intensity for every bout. The one thing I wanted out coming out of this meet was health, and we almost got out of here with it."
CSU Duals (Abbreviated): The Cleveland State Duals had a little bit less action on the mat than originally anticipated. West Liberty State College, originally scheduled as the fourth participant, was a late scratch from the meet after a large portion of the lineup came down with illness.
Sophomore Success: The success of the Cleveland State wrestling team rests on the shoulders of its young starters, especially its sophomores. In fact, four of the 10 regular starters in the CSU lineup are sophomores, including David Armstrong (133), co-captain Mike Hurley (141), NCAA qualifier Ryan Hurley (149) and transfer Tim Scarl (165). Additionally, Joe Wornoff (125) and JT Miller (174) provide a strong presence in the lineup that is crucial to the success of the team.
...But Don't Forget the Freshmen: While the majority of the the CSU lineup is composed of sophomores, the freshman trio of Jayrl Hunt, Victer Crenshaw and Rashard Goff have provided the biggest lift to the team's success so far this season. The first-year wrestlers have combined to register 40 of the starter's 99 wins, with Hunt posting a 10-8 mark at 125, Crenshaw touting a 16-8 mark at 157 and Goff going 14-14 at 285.
...And Senior Leadership: Senior Ron Howard has become one of the most reliable competitors in the Viking lineup during his four seasons on the squad. The Cincinnati native is a two-time NCAA qualifier at 184 pounds and is currently ranked 18th nationally. A team co-captain, he owns a 66-58 career record, including a 17-7 mark this season that includes the 184-pound title at the Ashland University Harris Auto Center Open on Nov. 19. He picked up a decision in his first dual meet this year against John Carroll (Nov. 22) and added decisions against Michigan State (Dec. 10), Ohio State (Jan. 7) and Eastern Michigan (Jan. 14).
Slippery Rocks May Cause Injury: You couldn't blame the Vikings if they were somewhat apprehensive about putting Slippery Rock on their schedule in the future. Injured sophomores Marcus Effner and Joe Dennis certainly can attest to the uneasiness, as both wrestlers suffered their ailments in matches involving the university. Effner spent two months away from the mat following a knee injury suffered at the Slippery Rock Open on Nov. 4, while Dennis twisted his knee against The Rock at the CSU Duals on Jan. 14.
A Long Time Coming: Cleveland State's win over Ohio State on Jan. 7 was a big win for the Vikings in a lot of ways, especially when you consider how long it has been since a CSU squad has topped the Buckeyes. The win was the first over Ohio State for Jack Effner in his seven seasons at the helm and the first for the Viking program since defeating the Buckeyes, 18-15, at Woodling Gym on Dec. 14, 1986. Since that time, CSU had gone 0-12 against the Big Ten foe.
Scarl Steps Right In: The loss of Marcus Effner leaves a big hole at the 165-pound weight class, but a new addition to the roster may provide an ample replacement. Tim Scarl, a sophomore transfer from Indiana, became eligible for competition on Jan. 7 and will be the top option at 165 for the spring. In his first bout with the Vikings against Eastern Michigan, Scarl worked a 12-4 major decision over Quinn Guernsey to help CSU to a 29-12 win over the Eagles. A graduate of St. Edward High School, Scarl went 13-9 with three tech falls in 2004-05 with the Hoosiers.
Head Coach Jack Effner: Head coach Jack Effner is in his eighth season at the helm of the Vikings and holds a 54-70-3 dual meet record. During his tenure, he has coached 27 NCAA qualifiers and four Eastern Wrestling League Champions. The Vikings sent five wrestlers to the NCAA Championships last season, the fourth-straight year that four or more CSU wrestlers have qualified for the national tournament. Additionally, Effner has instilled an emphasis on academic success in his teams. The Vikings have finished in the top 20 nationally in grade-point average in all seven of Effner's seasons, with the 2000 squad posting the highest ranking when it finished seventh out of nearly 100 teams.
Chittick Signs with CSU: High school senior Kyle Chittick, who won the Michigan state title at 171 pounds last season, has signed a national letter of intent to attend Cleveland State and wrestle beginning in the fall of 2006. A senior at Davison High School near Burton, Mich., he holds a 146-21 career record and enters his senior season ranked 12th or higher at 171 pounds in every high school ranking, including a No. 8 ranking in Wrestling USA Magazine. Chittick placed in the top eight at the state championships in his first three years, finishing sixth as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore and first last year. He was tabbed as a Freestyle Cadet All-American his sophomore season before being named to the Freestyle Junior National Team last year.
Next Up: Cleveland State opens up the Eastern Wrestling League schedule on Jan. 26 when it hosts Pittsburgh beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Woodling Gymnasium.
