Nov. 25, 2002

CLEVELAND - Five wrestlers from Northeastern Ohio have signed national letters-of-intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at Cleveland State University, CSU Head Wrestling Coach Jack Effner has announced.

Ryan Hurley and Mike Hurley from Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, Nate Hough-Snee from Mentor High School, Ryan Riggs from Massillon Perry High School and Joe Wornoff from Garfield Heights High School have all signed on with the Vikings. Both Hurleys, Riggs and Hough-Snee are members of USA Wrestling's Junior National Team.

"We are very excited to add these five to our program since they all love to wrestle and are very good at it," noted Effner. "These signings spell a very solid and bright future for our program.

"Good kids tend to follow good kids, so we hope the best wrestlers choose to stay home in Cleveland, a nationally-known hotbed for wrestling."

Ryan Hurley currently is ranked eighth nationally at 152 pounds but is projected to wrestle at 149 in college. The Ohio Division II state champion as a sophomore in 2001, Hurley finished third last season at the state tournament and finished second as a freshman in 2000.

Wornoff placed third in the state at 112 pounds in 2002 for Division I Garfield, but will close out his high school career at 119. A two-time state qualifier, Wornoff is projected to wrestle at 125 pounds at CSU.

Hough-Snee, who Effner has projected at 197 pounds, was a Division I state qualifier at 189 pounds for the Cardinals last year. Riggs, now a 119-pounder, is a two-time Division I state qualifier at 112 pounds and a Cadet All-American.

Mike Hurley was the 2002 Division I state champion at 135 pounds for the Irish as a senior after finishing second in both 2001 and 2000. Mike Hurley, who was a national high school runner-up, is projected to wrestle at 141 for the Vikings.