The 2002 dual meet season for Clarion University is about to come to a close. The Golden Eagles host Cleveland State on Thursday, February 21^st at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium beginning at 7pm.

The regular season finale will also serve as the annual "Senior Night" celebration. Clarion senior 149-pounder Dom Surra (Kersey - St. Marys) will be honored in pre-match ceremonies.

The match can be heard on WCCR-FM (91.7) or on the internet at www.redzonemedia.com with Rich Herman and Bob Bubb providing the play by play and color commentary.

Clarion enters the dual meet with a 5-11 overall record and a 2-4 mark in the EWL. Fifth year head coach Ken Nellis’ team is coming off a big 32-14 win over Virginia Tech last Saturday. Clarion has also posted an EWL win over Bloomsburg 28-13, while losing EWL bouts to West Virginia (23-12), Lock Haven (25-13), Edinboro (23-15) and Pitt (22-13). Of Clarion’s 11 losses, 8 have come against top 25 ranked teams.

Cleveland State, led by fourth year head coach Jack Effner, comes to Clarion with an overall record of 5-6 and an EWL mark of 2-3. The Vikings defeated Virginia Tech last Sunday by a 26-11 margin and have defeated Bloomsburg 27-10. EWL losses have been to Edniboro (18-15), Pitt (19-16) and Lock Haven (30-13). Key wins have come against Kent State (22-12) and Eastern Michigan (24-17).

"Senior Night is always a special night here at Clarion and we hope to have a big turnout to honor Dom," said Clarion’s coach Nellis. "He is a quality student and athlete here at Clarion and is an outstanding leader on our team. We want to wish him well as he prepares to graduate."

Surra, one of Clarion’s tri-captains, enters his final dual with a 14-13 record this season. He placed third at the PSAC Championships in January. Last year Dom was an NCAA D-I Qualifier after finishing 4^th at the EWL Tournament. He was 0-2 at nationals, but finished the season with a strong 21-15 record. Dom also placed 4^th at the PSAC’s in 2001. A starter at 126-pounds as a true freshman, Surra notched a 15-19 record that season and placed 6^th at PSAC’s and 5^th at EWL’s. He enters the CSU match with a career record of 55-51. He is the son of Dan and Victoria Surra and is a Secondary Ed/ History major at Clarion.

The Golden Eagle lineup will also feature its three ranked wrestlers #8 Rad Martinez (25-4) at 133, #8 John Testa (28-5) at heavyweight and #14 Eric Mausser (27-7) at 197. Also ready to wrestle will be Peter Derstine (17-10) at 125, Starlin Jimenez (7-9) at 141, Jeremy Reitz (15-10) at 157, Jim Perry (5-15) at 165, Todd Schuchert (13-4) at 174 and Marcus Surin (2-23) at 184.

Cleveland State has some very strong individuals including #17 rated Phil Mansueto (12-5) at 133, #19 Nick Boucher (6-6) at 141, #17 Gerald Harris (20-5) at 174 and #18 Russ Davie (13-5) at heavyweight.. Other top wrestlers include Rocco Mansueto (14-8) at 125, Anthony Coleman (11-12) at 149, Jason Effner (12-12) at 165, Joe Phillips (11-12) at 184 and Stipe Miocic (14-7) at 197.

CLARION NOTES: Clarion defeated Cleveland State last year 37-3 and owns a series record of 19-9 against the Vikings... In EWL competition Clarion holds a 17-7 advantage... CSU’s last win was a 24-15 triumph in 2000... The Golden Eagles will be off until EWL’s at Lock Haven on March 9-10.