In between drill segments, Germane Lindsey shouted to his teammates, 1-0 in the MAC! 1-0 in the MAC! Concentrate on that!
As far as Lindsey is concerned, tonight's Mid-American Conference duel with Northern Illinois marks the beginning of a new season.
We have to take small steps
Lindsey said. I think focusing on beating Northern Illinois 1-0 is the first step to becoming the MAC champs.
Last season, Ohio was 0-5 in the MAC, including a 26-10 loss to Northern Illinois. At the MAC Tournament, they tied for fourth.
Lindsey said that is unacceptable.
At all of our MAC matches we want people to be like 'Ohio's the best in the MAC ' said Lindsey.
Assistant coach Ozzie Saxon said the coaches preach the
importance of MAC duals all year.
It's very important that we go out there and beat guys we should beat during the MAC schedule
Saxon said. That's going to affect our seeding for the MAC Tournament. You beat certain guys
you're going to get seeded higher
and that's important.
Most of the Bobcats will be wrestling familiar opponents.
Lindsey didn't wrestle Northern Illinois' Patrick McLemore in last season's dual because McLemore was injured. He did, however, match up with the 141-pounder in high school.
He was a junior at Archbishop Moeller High School when he lost a 7-4 decision in the Walsh Ironman Tournament to McLemore, who was then at Padua Franciscan High School.
He's a MAC opponent
Lindsey said. He's ranked and I know I can beat him.
Erik Schuth ,184 pounds, said that a major difference between facing MAC and non-conference opponents is that they can better prepare for the conference matches. He said they can breakdown film to find their tendencies.
Schuth, a sophomore from Spencerport, N.Y. , will wrestle against Brad Diekhaus, whom he defeated in a major decision 14-4 last year.
We just want to start off the year with a win
said Schuth. Our goal is to win a MAC championship.
It will be Schuth's first meet since he injured his ribs on Nov. 29 at the Hoosier Duals.
It's been killing me
Schuth said. But I'm excited to get back in there and take it to this kid.
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