Nov. 8, 2005

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland State wrestling team got their first taste of competition this season with their annual preseason intra-squad match on Tuesday (Nov. 8) night at Woodling Gym.

"It's hard to get excited about intra-squad match because it's like you are going up against yourself," head coach Jack Effner said. "The part to get excited about is that competition has finally started. The most important thing we accomplished tonight was that we made weight, came up here and wrestled."

Senior Ron Howard, ranked 18th nationally in the USA Today/NWCA Division I poll at 184 pounds, scored a quick pin in 2:13 in his first bout and built up over three minutes of riding time in his second bout for a dominant 9-6 win.

Sophomore Joe Dennis, the 12th-ranked wrestler at 197 pounds, wrestled to a tough, 6-4, decision over heavyweight Rashard Goff, while sophomore Ryan Hurley, ranked 11th in the nation at 149 pounds, recorded a quick takedown in overtime to pick up a 3-1 sudden victory.

Sophomore Mike Hurley, whose season was cut short last year due to injury, showed no signs of a let down in the 141 bout, registering a 15-0 technical fall at 5:10.

Freshman Chuck Koz tallied a pair of wins at 174 pounds, claiming a 2-1 overtime decision over JT Miller before hanging on for a 10-9 victory over David Gilkey. Miller would later add a pin at 5:51 of the 174 consolation bout.

"I felt like we were a little stale coming into this match," Effner continued, "but we showed that we are strong and well conditioned and have good reason to be excited about this year."

The Vikings head to the SUNY Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic on Saturday (Nov. 12) in Brockport, N.Y. Competition begins at 10:00 a.m. and will feature top national and regional teams including Oklahoma, Kent State and Bloomsburg.

Cleveland State Intra-Squad Results
174 - David Gilkey (G) dec. Anthony Mestek, 6-3
174 - Chuck Koz (R) dec. JT Miller, 2-1 OT
184 - Ron Howard (G) fall Roman Dolgov, 2:13
133 - David Armstrong (G) dec. Paul Felton, 5-2
125 - Jayrl Hunt (R) dec. Joe Wornoff, 7-2
141 - Mike Hurley (G) tech. fall Dan Castillo, 15-0 (5:10)
Exh. - Ryan Hurley (G) dec. Victer Crenshaw, 3-1 SV
165 - Josh Ging (G) dec. Nate Kmetz, 5-3
Exh. - Joe Dennis (G) dec. Rashard Goff, 6-4
174 - Chuck Koz (R) dec. David Gilkey, 10-9
174 - JT Miller (G) fall Anthony Mestek, 5:51
Exh. - Ron Howard dec. Ishmal Williams, 9-6