May 19, 2004

CLEVELAND - After sending six wrestlers to the NCAA Championships for the second straight year, the Cleveland State wrestling team continues to receive honors for their achievements both on and off the mats. Russ Davie and Matt Kallai have received individual honors, while the Vikings as a team have also been recognized for their academic accomplishments.

Davie was named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association's All-Academic Team. The senior from Perrysburg, Ohio, was a three-time NCAA Qualifier and carries a 3.42 grade point average in Education. Davie concluded his career with 31 pins, tying him for the Cleveland State record. He won the 2004 Eastern Wrestling League championship at 285 pounds, winning all three of his matches by fall.

Kallai, meanwhile, was named to the Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie Third Team at 174 pounds. Kallai, a freshman from Wadsworth, Ohio, placed third at the 2004 Eastern Wrestling League championships, earning a berth in the NCAA Championships. There, he pulled off a first-round upset of Levi Craig from Duke before bowing out of the tournament. Kallai finished his first season with a 17-10 record.

The Vikings as a team were also recognized by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, which ranked Cleveland State 11th in the nation in team grade point average. The Vikings, with a 3.014 GPA, are the second-highest team in the Eastern Wrestling League, trailing Lock Haven's eighth-place ranking. Four of the eight schools in the EWL are listed among the nation's top 30.

The season continues for Davie and assistant coach Brian Keck, who will both compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials this weekend in Indianapolis. Davie, who won a silver medal at the Pan-American Championships in Guatemala earlier this month, will compete for a spot in the Greco-Roman division at 264 pounds, while Keck, the bronze medalist at the Pan-American Championships, will be vying for a spot in the 264 pound freestyle bracket.