Sports
Wrestling: Ohio dominates Northern Illinois
By: Jerod Scheetz
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Ohio University’s wrestling team picked up its first MAC victory and bumped their dual meet record to 2-3 on Friday night. The Bobcats rolled over the Huskies of Northern Illinois (6-5, 0-2 MAC) by a final team score of 27-6.
Ohio jumped out from the beginning of the match and put together an evening that had Bobcat fans and the team’s coaching staff smiling.
“Gabe (Ramos) got us on the board and on the right track from the start,” Ohio head coach Joel Greenlee said after the match. “We had a lot of strong individual performances tonight.”
While the team looked impressive on the mats, losing only two decisions, Greenlee still has areas he wants to see his group improve in.
“Our preparation for tonight wasn’t where we need it to be,” Greenlee said. “We had guys not hit the right weights and that has to change moving forward.”
Here’s a quick match-by-match look at the Bobcat victory:
• 125 lb. weight class
The Bobcat’s Gabe Ramos gave his team the first lead in a 2-0 decision over Derek Elmore. The first two periods of this matchup were uneventful, with both wrestlers looking to gain control. In the third period, Ramos managed a takedown, and those two points were all he would need to grab the three for his team.
• 133 lb. weight class
Ohio’s Drew Hammer, the first of four freshman wrestling in the match for the Bobcats, jumped out early on his opponent, Rob Jillard, with two takedowns in the first period. Hammer added another takedown and an escape in the third period to seal the 7-2 decision.
• 141 lb. weight class
The Huskies’ Kevin Fanta gave his team some renewed hope in his matchup with Darrin Boing. A late takedown in the first period gave Fanta the edge, and he rolled on to a 7-2 decision. Bobcats led 6-3 as a team after this match.
• 149 lb. weight class
Andrew Romanchik reestablished Ohio’s momentum with a 4-0 victory over Tyler Argue. Romanchik grabbed two points in the second period with a stellar reversal move and then managed a takedown in the third period to seal a shutout.
• 157 lb. weight class
Ohio’s Harrison Hightower used a tremendous first period to put away NIU’s Sam Bennett. Hightower grabbed four points, while Bennett used one escape for a point. With no points scored in the other two periods, Hightower put the Bobcats up 12-3 as a team.
• 165 lb. weight class
Miles Chapman jumped out in front of NIU’s Dan Burk with a takedown just 30 seconds into the first period. Chapman’s reversal in the second period put this matchup out of reach, as Burk’s escape in the third period was too little too late for the Huskies. Chapman won the decision 4-1.
• 174 lb. weight class
Ohio’s senior Nick Purdue entered the match ranked #14 in the nation, and picked up his 14th individual victory with a 5-1 decision over Caleb Busson. A takedown from Purdue in both the first and second period had the Bobcat in control. Busson managed a point with a late escape as Purdue went for the pin.
• 184 lb. weight class
Ryan Garringer put the Bobcats up 21-3 as his decision over Shane Rosenberry continued Ohio’s domination. In a match that had a lot of stalling from Rosenberry, Garringer managed two takedowns and posted a 4-0 shutout.
• 197 lb. weight class
NIU’s Mike Lukowski salvaged some pride with his 5-2 decision over Beau Wenger. Wenger used two escapes in the second period to enter the third with a 2-0 advantage. However, Lukowski dominated the final period, grabbing five points with two takedowns and an escape of his own.
• 285 lb. weight class
Ohio’s Jeremy Johnson has been stellar all season long and kept it going against Jared Torrence. Johnson, now ranked #7 in the nation, moved his personal record to 22-5 with his first period pin. The sophomore came out aggressive from the start and got a hold of Torrence’s left leg with about a minute left in the period. Johnson finished off the pin with what was easily the performance of the night.
Ohio will attempt to build off this 27-6 victory when they play host to Kent State (6-4, 1-0 MAC) next Friday night in the Convocation Center.
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