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Contact: Chris Urban

Dec. 1, 2004

Setting the Scene: The Vikings travel to Kent, Ohio on Saturday (Dec. 4) for the Kent State Open beginning at 10:00 a.m at KSU Fieldhouse. The majority of the CSU wrestling squad is expected to compete in the first-year event.

"This open will help to build our experience," head coach Jack Effner said. "It will build toughness, both mentally and physically. They're either going to have to fight or quit---and I won't let them quit."

Previewing the Vikings: The Vikings enter the weekend with a 1-0 mark in dual meets after taking a 32-6 win over John Carroll. The youthful CSU squad has also gained valuable experience in four open tournaments.

This season's squad features four returning NCAA qualifiers, including starters Ron Howard (184) and Joe Phillips (197). The pair has combined for five wins and a pin so far this season, with both wrestlers taking victories in the John Carroll meet.

In addition to the core of returning talent, the Vikings feature four wrestlers who earned state titles last year and nine who finished among the top five wrestlers in the state as a senior. One new wrestler earned a national high school title with three more ranked in the top 10 nationally in their respective weight classes. Wrestling USA magazine ranked Cleveland State's recruiting class 20th best nationally.

Vikings Pin Down John Carroll: Cleveland State won the first five matches of the night en route to a 32-6 win over John Carroll on Nov. 23 in University Heights. Freshman Mike Hurley got the rout started with a technical fall at 141, and senior Joe Phillips and freshman Joe Dennis sealed the win with pins at 197 and 285, respectively.

Hurley opened the match on fire, recording four near falls on Dom Spitalieri before being awarded the tech fall at 2:31 of the match. Phillips made quick work of John Francis, tallying a fall at 1:13, while Dennis pinned Derek Ankney at 4:32.

Junior Matt Shultz won a tough-fought battle at 133, topping Tim Lennox, 12-8, and Ryan Hurley scored a close 3-2 win over Dan Ralph thanks to a takedown early in the third period. Sophomore Josh Ging, who normally wrestles at 157, filled in for the injured David Gilkey at 165 and was competitive at the higher weight class, falling in overtime by only one point. Senior Matt Klinger also dropped his bout to All-American Mark Hawald in two overtimes on riding time, despite matching him, 3-3, on points.

Junior Ron Howard, however, would end the John Carroll surge in the following match, topping Ryan Summers at 184 by a 7-3 count with three takedowns before Phillips and Dennis took the mat to put it away.

Goff Takes Title at Slippery Rock Open: Freshman Rashard Goff made a statement for himself in his first season with the Vikings, winning the heavyweight championship at the Slippery Rock Open on Nov. 20. The Brandon, Fla. native tallied a pair of pins en route to a four straight victories for the title.

Goff earned a fall over Dan Kaminsky of John Carroll at 2:30 of the first match before pinning Steve Kocevar of Slippery Rock at 3:25 in the second match. He then recorded a 6-4 decision over number one seeded Howard Bell of Pitt-Johnstown and edged Buffalo's Jeff Parker 4-3 in the championship match.

Several other Vikings put up strong showings at the open. Sophomore Josh Ging finished second at 157 after posting four straight wins before falling in the championship match. After dropping the opening match, Jayrl Hunt went on to win six straight matches to finish third overall at 125.

Freshman Contribute To Success: Coach Effner's first-year class has stepped up to fill the void left by last year's departed seniors.

Joe Dennis and Rashard Goff have been superb for the Vikings at heavyweight. Dennis leads the team with a .889 winning percentage, going 8-1 with two pins and a major decision. The Urbana, Ohio native wrestled his way to a third-place finish at the Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic (Nov. 13) by winning four straight matches in the consolation bracket. Goff has eight wins to his credit as well, including three pinfalls. The Brandon, Fla. native scored his first-career collegiate tournament championship at the Slippery Rock Open (Nov. 20), recording two of his pins en route to the heavyweight title.

Marcus Effner has added to the freshman success at 157. The Garfield Heights, Ohio native tallied a pair of wins at the Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic, earning a pin over Brandon Benson of Army to advance to the semi-finals.

"Our true freshmen have stepped up to the challenge," Effner said. "I'm really excited to see what they can do this year once they get some more matches under their belts."

Head Coach Jack Effner: After sending six wrestlers to the NCAA Championships each of the last two seasons, head coach Jack Effner has the Vikings back in the national spotlight. The energetic coach has revived the passion for wrestling within the Cleveland State wrestling program.

Effner has brought a true love for the sport of wrestling to Cleveland State. His wrestlers share that same love and have truly responded, as the 2003-04 season saw a school-record-tying six Vikings advance to the NCAA Championships. Effner has coached 39 NCAA qualifiers in his 16-year coaching career, including 22 in just five years as mentor of the Viking wrestling program.

He has also helped bring CSU wrestling back to its prominent place in the Eastern Wrestling League. The Vikings recorded a 3-4 record in the regular season, finishing 4th at the EWL Championships.

Next Up: The Vikings head to Kent State on Dec. 4 for the Kent State Open at the KSU Fieldhouse beginning at 10:00 a.m.