Feb. 27, 2006
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Setting the Scene: NCAA Championship bids are on the line this weekend when the Vikings head to the Eastern Wrestling League Championships from March 4-5 in Edinboro, Pa. Each day will feature two sessions, with the first day's taking place at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and the second day's at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Previewing the Vikings: The Vikings concluded the regular season with a 6-8 overall record and a 2-4 mark in the EWL. The team is benefiting greatly from the leadership of senior co-captain Ron Howard, who leads the team with a 24-7 record, including wins in nine of his last 10 bouts. Freshmen Victer Crenshaw (157) and Rashard Goff have provided a boost in their first collegiate season, with Crenshaw going 19-14 with three pins and three tech falls and Goff recording a 21-15 mark with five pins. Sophomore David Armstrong has been a steady competitor at 133, posting a 16-10 record, while sophomore transfer Tim Scarl has stepped in for injured NCAA qualifier Marcus Effner, recording a 10-5 mark with three major decisions. After not seeing action for nearly a month, sophomore Joe Wornoff returned to the starting lineup at 125 and registered a 20-7 major decision against West Virginia on Feb. 19.
The Last Time Out:
Feb. 19, 2006 - Woodling Gymnasium - Cleveland, Ohio
West Virginia 24, Cleveland State 12
A quartet of nationally-ranked wrestlers each scored wins for the Mountaineers as West Virginia handed the Vikings a 24-14 loss on Senior Day. Ron Howard notched his 25th win of the season at 184 to finish at a perfect 6-0 in conference, while Rashard Goff added his 21st win of the year at heavyweight and his fifth EWL win. Joe Wornoff, after not wrestling in nearly a month, put up the team's strongest showing of the night with a major decision at 125. Prior to the match, Cleveland State recognized seniors Howard, Anthony Mestek and Ishmal Williams, who wrestled in their final match at Woodling Gym.
Coach Effner's Thoughts:"We have some very talented wrestlers. We just have to get it out of them. We're doing all the right things, but we have wrestle better when it counts."
Last Year at the Tournament: Cleveland State continued it's run of sending wrestlers to the NCAA Championships last season at the EWL tournament, as five Vikings earned automatic bids. Joe Dennis led the team with a second-place finish at heavyweight, while Ron Howard (184), Ryan Hurley (149) and Joe Phillips (197) each put up third-place showings. Meanwhile, Marcus Effner earned one of the six wild card entries after placing fifth at 157.
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 a large portion 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 49 of the starter's 123 wins, with Hunt posting a 11-8 mark at 125, Crenshaw touting a 19-13 mark at 157 and Goff going 21-15 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 has been ranked as high as 18th nationally this season. A team co-captain, he owns a 72-58 career record, including a 25-7 mark this season that includes the 184-pound title at the Ashland University Harris Auto Center Open on Nov. 19. He has been especially hot of late, winning 10 of his last 11 bouts.
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. Since joining the Vikings, he is 10-5 with a pin and three major decisions. A graduate of St. Edward High School, Scarl went 13-9 with three tech falls in 2004-05 with the Hoosiers.
Ras-Hard To Beat: Freshman Rashard Goff has been one of the most dominant newcomers in the Eastern Wrestling League this season. The 6-foot-3, 240 pound Goff is second on the Vikings with a 21-15 record and a 4-1 mark in EWL contests, including wins in eight of his last nine bouts. A native of Brandon, Fla, he leads the team with five pins, including a fall in 54 seconds to clinch a Viking win against Eastern Michigan (Jan. 14).
Smolyakov Joins Vikings: The Vikings will have added depth for the next two years with the addition of Russian transfer Dmitry Smolyakov. A 23-year-old sophomore from Kaliningrad, Russia, Smolyakov joins Cleveland State after spending a year and a half at Russian State University of Sport. A member of the Russian Junior Team, he won titles at the Zone Championships of Russia and the Championship of Poland wrestling at 96 kg (211 lbs.).
From Director Ron Howard: While he may not be making blockbuster films quite yet, senior Ron Howard is well on his way to finding himself in the film industry. A digital media and film major at Cleveland State, Howard has been getting hands-on experience this season at CSU men's and women's basketball home games. He has served as the director in charge of coordinating four arena cameras for the internet television broadcasts for each of the Vikings' Horizon League contests this season. Howard hopes to someday have a career in video production.
...But Clarion Was Much Different: The 35-0 rout of Clarion last weekend was one of the most dominant performances for the Vikings in recent memory. The last time a Cleveland State team held an opponent scoreless in a dual meet was just over a decade ago when the Vikings trounced Ohio Northern, 54-0, on Jan. 14, 1996. Before this season, Clarion - which has been shut out three times this year - had only been held scoreless in dual meets three times ever since 1959.
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. It was the first victory 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.
The Cardiac Kids: Three of Cleveland State's four wins in January were nothing short of entertaining, if not nerve-wracking, with CSU needing to rally from early deficits to come out on top. Ohio State put Cleveland State in a 10-0 hole to start the match on Jan. 7 before the Viking surged to claim a 25-18 win over the Buckeyes. At the Wendy's Duals on Jan. 22, CSU and Davidson battled through four lead changes before the Vikings took control in the final three bouts to win, 27-15. Against Pittsburgh on Jan. 26, the Vikings rallied from an eight-point deficit in the last three bouts to claim a 16-15 win.
Head Coach Jack Effner: Head coach Jack Effner is in his eighth season at the helm of the Vikings and holds a 57-75-3 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.
