John Carroll may have dropped a 25-17 decision at the hands of Cleveland Tuesday evening at the DeCarlo Varsity Center, but the Blue Streaks can take some solace in a spirited effort that produced the closest margin in the series since 1999.

John Carroll and Cleveland State met for the 36th time on this night to continue a series that dates back to 1966. For a majority of the rivalry, Cleveland State has enjoyed the spoils of victory as a 29-4-2 record against the Blue Streaks would indicate.

In fact, since a 19-19 tie in 1998, Cleveland State has won nine consecutive matches. Over that span of time, John Carroll has won more than two individual bouts just once. That happened in 2003, when Dan Ralph, Mark Hawald and Artie Mauser all produced victories.

So it seemed that was the direction the 2008 match was heading after victories by freshman Jordan Keller at 125, sophomore Josh Palivoda at 133 and freshman Lawrence Cavello at 141 staked the Vikings a 9-0 lead.

John Carroll senior Dan Mizener turned the tide at 149. Trailing 7-5 early in the third period, Mizener recorded two takedowns to emerge a 9-8 victor over Antonio Nicholson. Watch a video of Mizener's comeback by clicking here.

CSU scored a forfeit win at 157, but John Carroll junior Devon Jurczak put the Blue Streaks back on the winning track with an impressive 13-1 major decision at 165. Jurczak scored nine points in the final minute to get the bonus point. Watch Jurczak's dominant third period effort to achieve the major decision by clicking here.

Travis Hammer lost a close match at 174, but a forfeit win by Bryan Steinmetz at 184 but John Carroll in position to win in the series for the first time since 1998. JCU would need victories in the final two bouts and one would have to be more than a standard decision.

James Nemunaitis did his part at 197 pounds, as he used a series of near fall points to run up a 15-3 major decision to pull his team to within a 19-17 score. Watch highlights of Nemunaitis' win by clicking here.

The upset would be denied by Cleveland State senior Rashard Goff, who recorded a pin at 285 late in the second period.

John Carroll drops to 1-1 with the loss, while Cleveland State improved to 2-1 on the young season.

125 – Keller (CSU) dec. Naoum, 13-6; 133 – Palivoda (CSU) dec. Nycz, 7-0; 141 – Cavello (CSU) dec. Romeo, 4-0;  149 – Mizener (JCU) dec. Nicholson, 9-8; 157 – Carlo (CSU) wins by forfeit; 165 – Jurczak (JCU) maj. dec. Doty, 13-1; 174 – Miller (CSU) maj. dec. Hammer, 8-0; 184 – Steinmetz (JCU) wins by forfeit; 197 – Nemunaitis (JCU) maj. dec. Schwartz, 15-3; 285 – Goff (CSU) pinned Lambert, 4:47