Vikings Down Eastern Michigan, 18-15
Goff gets pin, Kmetz wins key match down the stretch
Jan. 13, 2007
Contact: Josh Rattray
YPSILANTI, Mich. - Cleveland State won three of the meet's first four matches and got a series of key wins down the stretch to defeat Eastern Michigan, 18-15, at EMU's Convocation Center on Saturday. With the win, CSU improves to 4-2 while the Eagles fall to 2-3.
"It was a hard-fought battle," head coach Jack Effner said. "Our guys were as sharp as they've been all year. It was a good team effort."
Sophomore heavyweight Rashard Goff (19-9) pinned EMU's Charlie Walker in 3:39 to give CSU a 6-0 lead and junior Ryan Riggs (4-10) followed with a 5-1 decision to put the Vikings ahead 9-0. After a Chris Jenkins win over junior David Armstrong at 133 pounds, junior Mike Hurley (13-7) won, 10-4, over Zach Donofrio at 141 pounds to put the Vikings ahead 12-3.
"It was nice to see Riggs get a win today," head coach Jack Effner. "He came up big for us."
EMU took two of the next three bouts to pull within 15-9 before sophomore Nate Kmetz (4-12) won a huge bout for the Vikings, 6-4, over Josh Lewis to give CSU a nine point lead.
"Nate's win was a great win," Effner said. "He stepped up to fill in at 174 pounds and gave us a great effort."
EMU's John McClure and Tony Lyssiotis would get decisions over senior David Gilkey and sophomore Chris Hahn, respectively, in the final two bouts for the final score.
"We still have some work to do, but we still have time before the EWL schedule begins," Effner said.
The Vikings travel to the Ashland Duals on Sunday, Jan. 21. The day begins with a dual against Air Force at 10:00 a.m. CSU also will wrestle against host Ashland at 2:00 p.m. and Ohio at 4:00.