June 5, 2006

CLEVELAND - After a dominant freshman campaign as the Viking wrestling team's starting heavyweight, Rashard Goff has been named to the Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie Third Team. The publication released the rookie teams in the May 19 issue.

Goff, a redshirt-freshman from Brandon, Fla., wrestled to an NCAA Championships bid by finishing second at the Eastern Wrestling League Championships at heavyweight. He led the team with five pins and finished second with a 24-18 record, including a 7-2 mark against league opponents. He went 4-1 at the Cleveland State Open (Dec. 18) to finish second and placed fourth at the Ashland Open (Nov. 19) after going 2-2.

He was nearly impossible to beat down the stretch, scoring wins in 11 of 13 bouts heading into the NCAA Championships, where he picked up a win in the consolation bracket.

A two-time state champion at Brandon High School, Goff went 15-8 with seven pins in open competition during his redshirt season.

"I think this recognition is a checkpoint that all good wrestlers pass," head coach Jack Effner said. "Rashard has proven that he can be a high-class wrestler.

"But we're greedy. We want to see more from him. There is great reason to be excited about his future."