After winning the first of three straight matches at the Convo, Ohio is hoping that home-cooked meets will continue to show results on the mats.
The Bobcats (2-3, 1-2 Mid-American Conference) were victorious against Northern Illinois Friday, as they recorded their first MAC win and fourth consecutive victory against the Huskies in dual meets.
Ohio dominated Northern Illinois (6-5, 0-2 MAC) the entire evening in almost every weight class, resulting in the 27-6 decision. The Bobcats won eight of the 10 bouts, including five in a row in the middle of the dual.
“We just keep getting better every meet,” coach Joel Greenlee said. “We won tonight, and I like the effort I keep seeing from our guys. As long as we continue the hard work, I am happy with how we are doing.”
Jeremy Johnson ended the meet with a bang, as he pinned the Huskies’ Jared Torrence in the heavyweight matchup. Johnson is ranked seventh in the country for his weight class.
“We keep getting better and are still staying focused,” Johnson said. “I continue to stay on track to reach my goals, and the team is placing higher. Can’t ask for much more.”
Other Bobcats winning matches were Gabe Ramos, Drew Hammer, Andrew Romanchik, Harrison Hightower, Miles Chapman, Nick Purdue and Ryan Garringer.
Ohio will host four of its next five opponents at the Convo, while it hopes to continue to win MAC duals in effort to reach the top of the conference standings.
The Bobcats are pleased that they will be able to focus on getting better between meets without worrying about traveling. The team has competed in four other states this season, including two trips to Michigan and Tennessee and a tournament in Reno, Nev.
“Being home for these next couple weeks will be a big help for us,” Greenlee said. “We have pretty much been on the road the entire season. I think staying focused in our own gym will be key to success.”
Ohio will face three more MAC opponents before the conference championships March 4.
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