The EWL Wrestler of the Week for the week ended November 17, 2002, is Cleveland State University’s Rocco Mansueto. Rocco is a New York native and a senior, who has placed fourth, second and third at past EWL Tournaments.

This past weekend Coach Jack Effner’s Cleveland State squad competed in the rugged Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic, and finished a strong third in the ten-team field. The winning team was the University of Oklahoma with 183.5 points and second was Ohio State with 154.5. Cleveland State racked up 144 points.

Rocco Mansueto hammered out a pin and a major decision on his way to the 125-pound final. His finals’ opponent was the very highly ranked Bo Maynes of Oklahoma. In the first period Maynes got the initial takedown and put about 90 seconds riding time on the clock before Mansueto escaped. Maynes chose down to start the second period and Rocco rode him the entire period. Mansueto took down to start the third period, escaped to make the match score 2-2, and then went after Maynes, but could not take him down. In over time, according to Coach Effner, Mr. Mansueto again was the aggressor, but did not get the takedown. Maynes, who had the initial takedown, selected down for the sudden-death period, and Mansueto rode him out for the victory!

Congratulations to Rocco Mansueto, our Eastern Wrestling League’s Wrestler of the Week! Also, we tip our EWL headgear to the entire Viking team for its excellent performance at the Oklahoma Gold Classic and to the West Virginia Mountaineers, who dominated their West Virginia Open held November 16. Two other EWL wrestling teams who wrestled very well in early November tournaments were Edinboro University at the Eastern Michigan Open and the University of Pittsburgh at the Michigan State Open.

Come on out and support your favorite college wrestling team this week. America needs amateur wrestling and wrestlers! Thank you.