Dec. 17, 2008

Contact: Ryan Mulford

SETTING THE SCENE: The Vikings will travel to Lewisburg, Pa on Friday, December 19 to compete in the Bucknell quad. CSU will face Wagner, Drexel and host Bucknell with action set to begin at 12:00 p.m.

PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: First year coach Ben Stehura will lead his 2-1 Vikings into Lewisburg, Pa to compete against the Drexel Dragons, Wagner Seahawks and host Bucknell Bisons. Rashard Goff has dominated dual competition with a 3-0 record, including two pins. Six other Vikings, including Jordan Keller (125), Josh Palivoda (133), Lawrence Cavello (141), Antonio Nicholson (149), Corey Carlo (157) and JT Miller (174) have all posted 2-1 records in dual meets.

RECAPPING LAST WEEK: The Vikings hosted the CSU Open on Sunday (12/14) in Woodling Gym. Dan Castillo led the way for the Vikings posting a solid 3-2 record. Tyler Young also fought hard at the open for the Vikings in a losing effort.

EARLY WINS EQUAL SUCCESS: In the two victories of the season for the Vikings, four of the first five lowest weight classes have won their matches. Jordan Keller (125), Josh Palivoda (133), Lawrence Cavello (141), and Corey Carlo (157) have combined to go 8-0 getting the Vikings out to an early lead in duals meets.

MAJOR SUCCESS FOR FRESHMAN: The Vikings have two freshmen in their starting line-up, Jordan Keller from Wichita, Kansas and Corey Carlo from Fairview Park, Ohio. Keller began his collegiate season earning a second place finish at the Eastern Michigan Open. Since then Keller has accumulated 10 victories this season, with half (5) of those victories coming by major decision. Carlo has been a consistent wrestler this season for the Vikings with nine victories in 16 matches. Like Keller, Carlo also has tallied four major decision victories. Combined the two have totaled nine of the teams 18 major decisions.

RANKED VIKINGS: Four Vikings are currently ranked in the top five of their respective weight classes in the latest EWL rankings. JT Miller tops the list at second place at 174 pounds. The Vikings are also represented by Rashard Goff at 285pounds who is ranked third as well as Jordan Keller at 125 pounds and Rob Michaels at 165 pounds are each ranked fifth.

FIRST TIME OPPONENTS: The Bucknell Quad will give the Vikings an opportunity to face off against Bucknell and Wagner for the first time in program history. The Bison are currently 2-4 after defeating Franklin and Marshall 32-3, on December 2. Most recently, the Bison finished 20th of 48 and 21st of 44 at the Cliff Keen Invitational held in Las Vegas, on December 5 and 6.

ALL-TIME VS. DREXEL: The Vikings are 0-2 against the Dragons. The Dragons have a 2-6 record this season, collecting two victories over East Stroudsburg. The last meeting with CSU came on January 8, 2005, when the Dragons narrowly defeated the Vikings 18-15, in Philadelphia, Pa.

STEHURA ON THE VIKINGS: "Our team is performing at a very high level right now. We have been working hard in the practice room all season, and at the open tournaments we have been competing at has given our starters a chance to develop and hone the skills that we have been teaching."

UP NEXT: The Vikings will end 2008 traveling to Evanston, Illinois to compete in the two-day Midlands Invitational December 29 and 30. The invitational is scheduled to begin at 8:00a.m.