Sports
Bobcats Fall Despite Wins From Wellington, Claxton, Johnson
< < Back to bobcats-fall-despite-wins-wellington-claxton-johnsonOhio Wrestling suffered its first team loss of the season in its Mid-American Conference debut to ninth-ranked Missouri on Friday, 23-10.
The Bobcats had significant wins in the match despite the overall team loss. Phil Wellington, 197 pounds, defeated J’den Cox by a 6-4 decision in the second match of the event. Wellington is currently ranked 15th in the nation and Cox ninth, according to InterMatWrestle.com
The win allows Wellington to extend his winning streak to seven consecutive matches, the hottest winning streak for the Bobcats.
Ninth-ranked Jeremy Johnson, heavyweight 285, followed Wellington with an 11-2 major decision. The win allowed the Bobcats to take their only lead of the match, 7-4.
Ohio then lost two consecutive matches but refused to let up. No. 18 Tywan Claxton, 157, defeated Missouri’s top-ranked Drake Houdashelt 5-3 to keep Ohio alive late in the match. His win drew the score to 14-10.
The Bobcats went on to lose their final three matches.
Ohio matched up reasonably well against a top-ranked Missouri team. Ohio went 2-4 against the Tigers’ top-25 wrestlers, losing only one match by a major decision.
The victories by Wellington and Claxton against top opponents are very hopeful as these Bobcats continue to make a name for themselves. Wellington and Claxton won their weight classes in Ohio’s last individual matches at the Navy Classic.
Ohio will be back at it on Dec. 15 when it hosts Appalachian State in its first home meet of the season.
The Bobcats will not face another conference opponent until mid-January when they take on Northern Illinois.