Jan. 3, 2007

Contact: Josh Rattray

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State owned the beginning and the end of its dual meet against Kent State, but everything else went to the visiting Flashes on Wednesday night as the Vikings dropped a 29-9 decision at Woodling Gym. The loss moves Cleveland State to 1-1, while Kent State improves to 4-0.

Sophomores Victer Crenshaw and Marcus Effner each won decisions at 157 and 165, respectively, to give the Vikings a 6-0 lead early and senior Ryan Hurley won a close match at the end of the night at 149 pounds, but everything in the middle belonged to the Flashes.

Crenshaw was tied with Kent State's Kurt Gross, 1-1, at the end of regulation before scoring a sudden victory takedown just 11 seconds into the overtime to win, 3-1. Effner's win wasn't as fast-paced, as he took an early 3-0 lead and simply maintained it to put the Vikings ahead by six.

And then the wheels fell off for Cleveland State.

The Flashes' Aaron Miller started the momentum swing when he used a crossface bow and arrow move to pin freshman Kyle Chittick in the final second of the 174-pound bout, and the Flashes took a five-point lead on a 22-7 tech fall by Aaron Miller over senior David Gilkey in a physical and heated 184-pound bout that featured three technical violations, with two called on Gilkey.

CSU and KSU split two of the most exciting bouts of the night, as Hurley concluded the meet with a 7-5 sudden victory win over Kent's Jason McGee after junior David Armstrong dropped a last-second, 4-3 decision to Danny Mitcheff. Armstrong led, 3-1, at one point and still had the lead before Mitcheff scored a takedown with 40 seconds left to secure the win.

CSU trailed 17-6 after sophomores Chris Hahn (197 pounds) and Rashard Goff (285 pounds) each lost 5-3 bouts. Kent State's Chad Sportelli made it a 20-6 score with a 9-3 decision over junior Ryan Riggs.

"Hats off to Kent State," head coach Jack Effner said. "We were outwrestled in every way. We weren't sharp and we just didn't show up to wrestle.

"The good news is that it's still early in the season. We still have time."

Video of the contest between Cleveland State and Kent State can be found at www.ohiowrestling.net.

The Vikings are on the road for the remainder of January, and have three dual meets at the Purdue Duals on Saturday, Jan. 6. CSU's first contest in West Lafayette, Ind. will be at 10:00 a.m. against Appalachian State.

DUAL RESULTS

157 - Victer Crenshaw dec. Kurt Gross (KSU), 3-1 (OT)                                          3-0 CSU

165 - Marcus Effner dec. Sli Bostelman (KSU), 3-0                                                 6-0 CSU

174 - Aaron Miller (KSU) FALL Kyle Chittick , (5:59)                                                6-6

184 - Eric Chine (KSU) TECH FALL David Gilkey , 22-7                                         11-6 KSU

197 - Armian Ramadani (KSU) dec. Chris Hahn , 5-3                                             14-6 KSU

285 - Jermail Porter (KSU) dec. Rashard Goff , 5-3                                                 17-6 KSU

125 - Chad Sportelli (KSU) dec. Ryan Riggs , 9-3                                                    20-6 KSU

133 - Danny Mitcheff (KSU) dec. David Armstrong , 4-3                                         23-6 KSU

141 - Clint Sponseller (KSU) won by forfeit                                                               29-6 KSU

149 - Ryan Hurley dec. Jason McGee (KSU), 7-5                                                     29-9 KSU