Cleveland State 30 John Carroll 7

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio - The Vikings scored first in all 10 of their matches en route to an 8-2 showing and a 30-7 overall score against John Carroll in the wrestling team's first dual meet of the year on Tuesday night (Nov. 23).

"We're starting strong," head coach Ben Stehura said. "I liked our aggressiveness, and this win gives us something to build on as our season progresses."

After John Carroll took an early 3-0 lead on Vinny Pizzuli's 4-2 decision over Koort Leyrer in the 157, senior Robbie Michaels got the Vikings on the board with a pin against Connor Suba in 2:40. Aric Thurn followed that with an 8-3 win over Todd Gaydosh in the 174 to give CSU a 9-3 advantage.

The Blue Streaks pulled within two points after Bryan Steinmetz defeated Nick Anthony, 13-4, but the Vikings won the next six matches to ensure their first win of the season and their first 1-0 start to a year since the 2007-08 campaign.

CSU also never trailed in a match after the 184 contest. John Carroll pulled to a 2-2 tie in the 125, and JCU's David Malkus came within a point of victory in the 149 (losing 3-2), but the Vikings remained in control of the meet.

"I liked our lightweights, I thought they did well," Stehura said. "I also thought our heavyweight did well. We have good technique in those matches and we wrestled well."

Cleveland State struck first in all ten matches, with each Viking recording a takedown in the first round to open the scoring.

"I liked our aggressiveness at the beginning of the matches," Stehura said. "I think it's a good thing that we're going out ready. Instead of building on that, however, we kind of sat on it. I'd like to see us get better at taking that strong start and keeping it going throughout the match."

Josh Palivoda had one of the best wins of the night for Cleveland State, recording seven takedowns and a near fall before earning the 18-3 victory on a tech. fall in the 149 match. Palivoda nearly pinned his opponent, having the count start four times before time ran out in the final round.
Three freshmen, Ben Willeford (wrestling at 125), Nick Flannery (133) and Ryan Crabtree (197), earned their first dual meet victories as Vikings.

The Vikings will be back on the mat on Dec. 3 when they travel to Eastern Michigan for a 7:00 p.m. dual meet.

Cleveland State 30, John Carroll 7
125 - Ben Willeford (CSU) 4-2 dec. John Cobos (JCU)
133 - Nick Flannery (CSU) 5-1 dec. Kevin Nycz (JCU)
141 - Josh Palivoda (CSU) 18-3 tech. fall Greg Ryan (JCU)
149 - Lawrence Cavello (CSU) 3-2 dec. David Malkus (JCU)
157 - Vinny Pizzuli (JCU) 4-2 dec. Koort Leyrer (CSU)
165 - Robbie Michaels (CSU) fall 2:40 Connor Suba (JCU)
174 - Aric Thurn (CSU) 8-3 dec. Todd Gaydosh (JCU)
184 - Bryan Steinmetz (JCU) 13-4 dec. Nick Anthony (CSU)
197 - Ryan Crabtree (CSU) 9-4 dec. Alex Garred (JCU)
HWT - Chris Weber (CSU) 9-2 dec. Tim Lambert (JCU)