May 14, 2003

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland State wrestling team ranks 17th in the recently released 2003 National Wrestling Coaches Association Division I Top 25 Academic Team. The Vikings compiled a 2.995 grade point average, trailing only Lock Haven (12th - 3.048) among Eastern Wrestling League schools.

Team rankings were selected by taking the average GPA of each team's starting 10 wrestlers along with two backups that wrestled in at least one varsity match. The average GPA of the Top 25 teams was 3.072.

"This says a lot about the quality of the student-athletes we recruit here at Cleveland State," said fifth-year Head Coach Jack Effner. "Not only were we ranked nationally most of the year on the mat, but we proved we can get it done in the classroom as well."

Effner directed CSU to one of the most successful seasons in school history, as the Vikings finished 13-6 in dual meets before coming in third at the EWL Championships, their highest finish since the 1986-87 campaign. In addition, the Vikings sent six qualifiers to the NCAA Championships, led by EWL champions Rocco Mansueto (Middletown, N.Y./Middletown) and Gerald Harris (Tulsa, Okla./East Central) at 125 and 184 pounds, respectively.