Although its dual meet season has passed, Ohio will channel its early-season adversity in an attempt to win its 12th MAC Championship in program history.
Last season the Bobcats finished second to Miami, but will look to take the title home for the first time since 2011.
“We’ve been tapering up and feel really relaxed,” junior Tori Bagan said. “We haven’t had too many hard practices lately and so we’re really excited about the meet.”
The MAC Championships, which will span three days at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, will begin preliminary events at 11 a.m., Thursday, followed by final events at 7 p.m.
“I have high expectations,” coach Derick Roe said. “The team’s looking good and we feel like we’ve made the right adjustments.”
Ohio last competed on Feb. 8 against Miami and has since completed its schedule of light practices and tapering, which the team does yearly before the conference meet.
After being picked third by MAC coaches in the preseason poll, Ohio will enter with a chip on its shoulder after winning just two of its five conference dual meets this season.
Eight teams will compete for the MAC title, but Ohio has already taken the pool against five conference opponents this season:
— Miami, which won nine of its 10 dual meets and the Miami Invitational, outpaced the Bobcats 186-111 three weeks ago.
— Akron is hosting the MAC Championships, but finished eighth in last year’s meet. However, on Jan. 25 Akron defeated Ohio 156-144 in the same pool the teams will compete in against this weekend. The Zips finished their dual meet season with a 3-3 record.
— Ball State lost to Ohio 162-138 to begin the Bobcats’ season. The meet was also the first Roe served as the team’s head coach. The Cardinals did not defeat a MAC team in a dual this season and placed seventh in last year’s meet.
— Bowling Green handed the Bobcats’ their second MAC loss this season on Jan. 31, but finished its dual season by winning five consecutive meets. The Falcons finished third at last season’s MAC Championships.
— Buffalo lost to Ohio 143-89 on Nov. 2, finishing its season 6-3 in duals. Buffalo finished fifth in last season’s MAC Championships.
— Eastern Michigan is one of two teams the Bobcats’ did not swim against this season. The Eagles finished their dual season 4-2 in the MAC.
— Toledo, the other MAC team Ohio did not face off against, last took the in last year’s conference meet when the Rockets finished sixth. Toledo ended this year’s dual meet season with a 148-94 against Michigan State.
@lukeoroark
lr514812@ohiou.edu
