Wrestling matches are won individually. When those individuals put together their own wins that add up to team victories, the whole team benefits.
Still buzzing from its win against Mid-American Conference rival Northern Illinois last week, Ohio heads south this weekend for a two-match road trip.
As the Bobcats have steadily crossed names off the injury list and added tallies to the win column, the overall mood of the team has improved.
We're getting better and better every week
coach Joel Greenlee said. Getting a win at Northern Illinois might have put a little spring in our step.
The victory against the Huskies broke a dual-meet-losing streak that spanned three opponents and an entire month. The win also started Ohio's MAC season with a win and helped atone for the Bobcats' performance in their previous match, a 20-18 loss to Chattanooga at The Convo Jan. 3.
Greenlee said beating Northern Illinois, combined with the strong performance of some reserves during an open tournament last weekend, has the whole team more motivated.
Our guys are a little more positive Greenlee said. (They're) working a little bit harder feeling a little bit better about it. This might be one of the best weeks (of practice) we've had in quite some time.
After coaches put the team through a week of intense practices after the loss to Chattanooga, the Bobcats looked in better shape against the Huskies, Greenlee said.
If you look at the way we wrestled against Northern Illinois and how we looked compared to how they looked
that made us feel pretty good. It's a huge thing to build off of.
The Bobcats could use the momentum. This weekend they face N.C. State and Campbell, neither of which is ranked among Intermatwrestle.com's top-56 teams in the nation.
Two of Ohio's next three opponents, though, are in the top 20. Ninth-ranked American comes to The Convo Jan. 30, followed by No. 11 Central Michigan Feb. 4.
Greenlee said Ohio should be on upset alert this weekend because it has little to gain but much to lose if it drops matches to N.C. State or Campbell.
They're going to fight hard against us
I guarantee you that
Greenlee said. We can't overlook them. We can't ignore them in any way
shape or form. I think we can beat both those teams
but it's not going to just happen.
We have to go down there and wrestle hard and make it happen.
@ThePostSports,",2,Sports,Nathaniel Maund,33384a.jpg,Ohio junior Nick Purdue wrestles Chattanooga junior Brandon Wright Jan. 3 in The Convo. The Bobcats lost a close match 20-18. Their next match is at N.C. State tomorrow. (Maddie Meyer | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER),",",",Up Next,TOMORROW
OHIO vs. N.C. State
OHIO vs. Campbell
4 and 5:30 p.m.
Raleigh
N.C.
- N.C. State's 149-pound wrestler is a former national champion
- Redshirt freshman Jeremy Johnson beat the Wolfpack's heavyweight in the Southern Scuffle
- Campbell is 1-11 in dual meets this season
33383,2011-01-20 23:57:00,Women's Basketball: Ohio preps for MAC West,When the clock was all zeros at Millett Hall Tuesday night
the Bobcats finished another game far from perfection.,When the clock was all zeros at Millett Hall Tuesday night
the Bobcats finished another game far from perfection.
They shot a modest 36.5 percent from the field and committed 19 turnovers
