Sports
OU Wrestler Ranks 7th In Nation
By: Molly Nocheck
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With a “work hard, work hard, work hard” mentality, Ohio University wrestler Jeremy Johnson hopes to be a national champion within the next two years.
Johnson, an Ohio University sophomore from Broadview Heights, is already taking the Mid-American Conference by storm.
He has won 25 matches this season and is ranked number seven in the nation’s heavyweight class.
Johnson attributes his success to a rigorous practice schedule: two-a-day practices consisting of a run or a lift in the morning and a wrestling workout in the afternoon. “That usually gets me huffing and puffing,” Johnson said.
But Johnson’s success goes beyond a workout, though.
“I like to have a pretty good diet… I don’t like to eat junk food really, I feel like it slows me down even though I’m heavy weight.”
For Johnson, training seems to be paying off.
During last week’s bout against Buffalo, he continued his undefeated duel record while improving his duel mark to 8-0.
In the matchup, Johnson had his 10th pin of the year and fifth consecutive victory against Buffalo’s Jedd Mason.
Wrestling Head Coach Joel Greenlee credits Johnson’s success to his non-stop work ethic. “Doesn’t matter if he’s ahead by a point of behind by a point, he’s still going to work at the same pace,” Greenlee said.
Johnson says the credit goes to his coaches. “I just do everything my coaches say," Johnson said. "I trust them and they trust me, that’s kind of the relationship we have.”
Greenlee expects Johnson to be the number one seed when OU hosts the MAC championships on March 4.
Currently, the Bobcats are 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the MAC.
The Bobcats will take on the West Virginia Mountaineers on 7 p.m. Friday in the final home match of the season.