March 8, 2006
NCAA Notes in PDF Format
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Setting the Scene: Five Viking wrestlers head to Oklahoma City for the NCAA Championships on March 16-18 in the Ford Center. Returning qualifiers Ron Howard (184) and Ryan Hurley (149) will be joined by first-timers David Armstrong (133), Rashard Goff (285) and Mike Hurley (141).
Schedule of Events:
Thursday, March 16
Session I......11:00 a.m.
Session II......6:30 p.m.
Friday, March 17
Session III....10:00 a.m.
Session IV......6:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 18
Session V......10:00 a.m.
Session VI .....6:30 p.m.
EWL Championship Recap: Ron Howard added yet another honor to his already dominant final collegiate campaign, out-battling Edinboro's Alex Clemson to claim the 184-pound Eastern Wrestling League title. Howard, who now holds a 28-7 overall record and a 9-0 conference mark this season, edged out Clemson in a 3-2 decision to claim his first EWL Championship and earn his third NCAA bid. Rashard Goff also advanced to the championship round of the tournament at heavyweight but, Bloomsburg's Mike Spaid held off the Viking in a 3-2 bout. David Armstrong began his trip through the 133-pound consolation bracket with an 8-4 decision over Rick Donald of Edinboro. He clinched his trip to the NCAA Championships with a pin of West Virginia's Seth Lisa in 4:50 of the third-place bout. Mike Hurley also scored a pair of wins at 141 to secure his first national tournament bid, working a 3-1 decision over Brad Forbes of Bloomsburg before claiming a 5-3 sudden victory win over Rick McLauchlin of Edinboro. Ryan Hurley dropped a close 7-5 overtime decision in his first bout of the day, but the sophomore redeemed himself in the fifth-place match with an 11-5 win over George Hickman of Lock Haven.
Cleveland State in the NCAA Championships: The Vikings have sent at least one wrestler to the NCAA Championships every year dating back to the 1964-65 season, including no fewer than five since the 2001-02 season. Since 1965, CSU has sent 116 wrestlers to the national tournament, with eight coming away as All-Americans. Dan Carcelli was the last Viking All-American, finishing fourth at 142 in 1995.
The Coaching Staff: Head coach Jack Effner is in his eighth season at the helm of the Viking wrestling program, compiling a 57-75-3 dual meet record during his time at Cleveland State and a 144-117-8 record in his 18 seasons with both CSU and Army. Effner has coached 49 NCAA qualifiers during his career, including 32 as mentor of the Viking wrestling program. A two-time All-American and three-time NCAA qualifier with Indiana State from 1982-86, he compiled 128 wins at 142 lbs., the third most is school history. Effner is assisted by Brian Keck, his son Jason Effner and Jimmy Johnson.
