Sports
Bobcats Set for Second Match in Two Days
By: Tony Heim
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Ohio wrestling will compete in its second match in as many days against Clarion on Saturday.
The Bobcats will be wrestling the day after “The Grudge Match,” the annual rivalry match against Kent State. Ohio’s stamina is sure to be tested, as the team has not competed in any back-to-back dual meets this season. Unlike Ohio, Clarion will be wrestling for the first time in a couple of weeks. The Golden Eagles last match was the Lock Haven Invitational on December 29th.
Ohio (5-2, 1-2) comes into the weekend after a virtual tie to Central Michigan that ended in a loss; the 15-15 count was awarded a win to the Chippewas because of individual points scored.
Clarion (4-7, 2-2), a Division II school wrestling out of the Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference, will travel to Athens with a chip on their shoulder. Last year the Bobcats easily handled the Golden Eagles 42-5 at Clarion. At that meet, nine of the Bobcats starting ten recorded individual victories.
The Golden Eagles most difficult task will be trying to handle four of the top wrestlers in the country. Freshman Cam Kelly and redshirt seniors Spartak Chino, Cody Walters and Phil Wellington were all named to this week’s FloWrestling’s Top 25 in their respective weight classes, and Ohio is ranked 21st in the country as a team.
Saturday will not mark Clarion’s first attempt at a major Division I upset. In fact, the Golden Eagles have a wealth of experience against top-tier foes. Clarion defeated Michigan State earlier this year in the Eastern Michigan Duals as well as wrestling against the likes of Appalachian State, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Illinois and Northern Illinois.
The match begins at 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.