Entering the final weekend of the season, the main goal for the Ohio wrestling team was to give its all and prove how much the team has progressed this season.
The Bobcats did that by winning two of their three road meets in two days this weekend.
Ohio (5-7) split a tri-meet with Duke and North Carolina State Friday night before rallying past Gardner-Webb for another victory Saturday.
“I'm pretty happy with how we played this weekend," Ohio coach Joel Greenlee said. "I think we have improved a lot this season, and even from two weeks ago against West Virginia. It's great to peak at this time.”
The Bobcats competed in two very different matches at Cameron Indoor Stadium Friday.
Against Duke, Ohio dominated the entire dual. After picking up the first five wins of the night and jumping out to a 23-0 lead, the Bobcats finished with eight wins in the 35-9 victory.
Duke had only one win by decision and Peter Terrezza won by forfeit in the 125-pound match in the only other win for the Blue Devils.
Ryan Garringer (184-pound weight class) and Jeremy Johnson (heavyweight) each pinned their opponents to pick up wins. Both grapplers pinned every opponent they battled this weekend.
"I am really impressed with how those two guys wrestled this weekend," Greenlee said. "Ryan is on a roll lately with getting points for the team and Jeremy is just Mr. Steady and has been all year long."
In the second meet of the evening, Ohio was slowed down in a 27-15 loss to N.C. State. The Wolfpack won six of the first seven bouts, gaining a lead the Bobcats could not come back from.
Drew Hammer (133-pound) was the only Bobcat to win his match, aside from Garringer’s and Johnson’s pin victories.
Ohio then traveled to Gardner-Webb in the final meet before the Mid-American Conference Championships March 4.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs led 15-12 after the first six bouts of the meet, but Ohio rallied from behind to win three of the final four matches to clinch a 28-18 victory, its fifth and final of the season.
Ohio won four matches by pins from Darrin Boing (141-pound), Andrew Romanchik (149-pound), Garringer and Johnson.
Quick Stats:
— Ohio won 16 of 30 total matches this weekend
— The Bobcats recorded seven pin victories in three meets
— Jeremy Johnson finished 11-0 in dual meets
— Ohio will not compete again until March 4 in the MAC Championships
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