Sports
Ohio Wrestling loses defensive dual meet vs SIUE
By: Austin Yau
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — After a sixth place finish at the National Wrestling Coaches Association Duals, the Ohio Bobcats Wrestling team returned home to take on conference opponent, SIUE Cougars, who were ranked 22nd by Intermat. It was recognition night of former athlete and coach Harry Houska, who captured the NCAA title in the 191 weight class in the 1964 season and won 11 MAC team titles during his time as head coach from 1968 to 1997. Ohio fell behind 13-0 to start, and could never rebuild momentum in a defensive match, ultimately losing 25-11.
In the 125-pound class freshman Brayden Teunissen faced off against Drew Davis. Teunissen had a slow match, being unable to get much offence going. This was prevalent in the third period, when Davis was called for stalling and forced stalemates to prevent Teunissen from getting any takedowns. This strategy paid off for Davis as he won 5-1, putting SIUE up 3-0
Junior Ryan Meek wrestled against No. 22 ranked Marcel Lopez of SIUE in the 133-pound class. Lopez got a quick takedown but allowed Meek to escape. After another two takedowns, Lopez controlled the match, turning Meek’s escapes into takedown opportunities for himself. A late escape did prevent the tech fall for Meek who lost 17-4, extending SIUE’s lead to 7-0.
Another Ohio Freshman hit the mats for the 141-weight class as Abe Hermes took on Danny Martinez. Hermes took the lead after a takedown. However, in the second period Martinez escaped quickly and then got a takedown to take a one point lead. The two were unable to do much in the third period as Martinez held on to his slim lead winning 4-3, helping SIUE to a 10-0 lead.
The 157 weight class was the first one where Ohio looked like clear favourites. No. 27 ranked Derek Raike of Ohio took on Hayden Whidden. Both wrestlers were able to work each other to the ground but neither was able to get into a position for a takedown in the first period, leaving it scoreless. Raike got a late takedown to finish the second period. After an escape point, Raike achieved Ohio’s first victory of the match, winning 4-1. This put Ohio ten points behind 13-3.
Ohio faced off against another ranked wrestler in 165 as No. 33 Brock Woodcock wrestled Jack Lledo of the Bobcats. Woodcock got a quick takedown and then dominated Lledo well he was down. He repeated that twice, getting back points and coasting to a 15-0 tech fall. This helped put SIUE in a dominant 18-3 lead for the match.
The Bobcats’ highest-ranked wrestler, No. 15 Garrett Thompson, wrestled Dominic Lopez from SIUE in the 174-pound class. Thompson got an early takedown and then almost got a pin on Lopez, but was unable to get the call. Thompson slowed down in the third period, which made him unable to get the tech fall, but he still won 12-3, drawing the match to a 18-7 score.
Ohio’s Jeremy Olszko wrestled against Deron Pulliam in 184. Olszko gained an escape point to seize the lead 1-0 in the second. With strong defense he held that lead until the last minute of the third. Pulliam first got an escape, and eventually worked a takedown with 13 seconds left to get him the 4-1 victory. This win had SIUE tripling Ohio’s score in the match at 21-7.
Another ranked wrestler hit the mats for the Bobcats as No. 25 Zayne Lehman matched up against Nick Nosler in 197. Lehman got a takedown late in the first period to give him a 3-0 lead. After an escape and subsequent takedown Lehman was up 7-0 going into the last period. With a late takedown and a riding time point, Lehman blanked Nosler 11-0, putting Ohio into double digits for the duel, 21-11.
Wyatt Schmitt and Bryson Buhk finished out the match in the Heavyweight class. Buhk was able to dominate Schmitt while he was on the ground after getting taken down. Schmitt was unable to get offence going in a very neutral second period. Buhk won the match 8-0 after getting a point for dominating riding time. Secured the victory for the Cougars at 25-11.
“I don’t think we were aggressive enough and took enough shots,” head coach Joel Grenlee speaking on Ohio’s offensive struggles. “You got to go out there every single time and try to impose your will on the other person and I don’t think we did that today.”
Ohio will head to face another conference opponent, Northern Illinois on Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. as the Bobcats hope to get to 2-1 in conference play.