Nov. 24, 2009

Contact: Renee Adam

Complete Release in PDF Format

SETTING THE SCENE: The Cleveland State wrestling team continues its 2009-10 season with the second home meet of the year when they host John Carroll on Tuesday (Nov. 24) at 7:00 p.m. in Woodling Gymnasium.

REVIEWING LAST WEEK: The Vikings hosted Eastern Michigan last Tuesday (11/17), dropping a 36-6 decision with Marcus Effner and Nick Anthony posting victories in the 174 and 184 weight classes respectively. CSU then traveled to Columbus, Ohio for the Ohio State Duals last Sunday (11/22) where they faced Notre Dame, Findlay and Ohio State. Effner recorded two victories, one each against Notre Dame and Ohio State in the 174 pound weight class, while Corey Carlo knocked off his 157 weight class competitor from Findlay.

THE HEAD COACH
Ben Stehura (Lockhaven '00)
AT CSU: 4-13 (1 year)
OVERALL: 30-63-1 (5 years)

THE STEHURA FILE: Ben Stehura enters his second season as the head coach of the Cleveland State wrestling program. Stehura returns after leading a young Viking team to a 4-13 record during his first season at the helm. Stehura continued the trend of coaching a wrestler to the NCAA Championships last season, and for the 48th straight year a Viking wrestler advanced to the NCAA Championship with Rashard Goff representing CSU in 2009. Stehura also coached Goff to an EWL Heavyweight championship, the first league champion for CSU since the 2006 season. Stehura will use his experience with coaching a young program and lead the Vikings during the 2009-10 season, working to improve in the EWL and continuing the history and tradition of CSU wrestling.

PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: The Vikings go into their second home meet of the season with 23 individual victories, including a Michigan State Open title held by Jordan Keller in the 125 pound weight class. The CSU starting line-up for this week has combined for 23 victories this season, including a team high five from Marcus Effner and Rob Michaels. Out of the 14 probables, four have previously wrestled against the Blue Streaks, going a perfect 5-0. The group includes, Jordan Keller (1-0), Rob Michaels (1-0), Marcus Effner (2-0) and Jeff Schuller (1-0).

EFFNER EXCELS: Redshirt senior Marcus Effner is making the most of his sixth year at CSU, by posting a 4-1 record just three weeks into the 2009-10 season. Effner's lone loss came during the Eastern Michigan Open when he took home a sixth place finish. He recorded his 80th career win last weekend when he beat TC Pendleton from Ohio State by a 5-1 decision.

FRESHMEN FRENZY: The freshmen class is making a strong impact in the early going, as six out of the 14 probables for the second home meet of the season are newcomers. Zachary Zupancic, Zech Huff, Ronald Butler, Nick Anthony, Gahad Suleiman and Chris Weber are those included in the line up as of now. The freshmen class accounts for more than 50-percent of the roster so it comes as no surprise that they will be heavily relied upon this year.

TRIPLE THREAT: The trio of Marcus Effner, Corey Carlo and Nick Anthony have recorded the five dual meet victories for the Vikings this season. Effner leads the way going a perfect 3-0, while Carlo and Anthony have each posted one victory.

MICHAELS SEARCHES FOR FIFTY: Junior Rob Michaels will be out for his 50th career victory this season needing only nine more wins to achieve the task. Over his freshman and sophomore seasons he posted 23 and 18 victories respectively, putting 50 wins well within his reach.

TEAM LEADERS: Rob Michaels and Jordan Keller are the lone returners that led the squad last season in statistical categories. Michaels led the Vikings with five pins, and was also fourth with 18 wins. Keller was first on the squad with 11 major decisions and second behind Rashard Goff with 23 wins. So far this season, the duo has a combined record of 9-2.

CSU ALL-TIME VS. JOHN CARROLL: The Vikings hold a 35-4-2 record against John Carroll, including a 10 meet win streak dating back to November 23, 1999 when CSU topped JCU 34-6 in Woodling Gymnasium. CSU has allowed the Blue Streaks to record double digit points only twice in the past 10 seasons, 10 during 2003 and 19 last season.

NEXT UP: The Vikings will have a little over a week of training before hitting the mat again when they travel to Athens, Ohio on Friday, December 4 to face Ohio in a dual meet at 9:00 a.m.