As cheers echoed through The Convo, Gabe Ramos stood over his opponent at center mat with his hand held high by the referee, looking satisfied that his match could not have ended better.
In an increasingly common occurrence at Ohio's meets, Ramos abruptly ended the 125-pound bout with Chattanooga after only 2:58, putting the Bobcats back in the match and pushing the crowd's decibel level to its highest point all night.
Ramos, a redshirt sophomore, recorded his second pin of the season that Jan. 3 evening despite missing almost a month with injury leading up to the meet. Since then he's made it a habit, winning four of his last five matches by fall.
Pins are awesome because first of all
the match is over right after that so you're just kind of happy about that Ramos said. Usually everybody gets pumped up. It just feels great to pin someone rather than grinding out a win.
Three Bobcats have more pins than Ramos, but his last two falls helped the Bobcats build a three-match win streak.
The Hopatcong, N.J., native, pinned his opponent in 2:43 at Northern Illinois on Jan. 14. Last weekend he tallied a pin (3:34) and a tech-fall against Campbell and N.C. State.
It feels good to show that I can help out the team
Ramos said.
Coach Joel Greenlee said Ramos' flexibility gives him an advantage over other 125-pound wrestlers.
With him
he's just kind of awkward
wrestles a little different style
Greenlee said. He puts other guys in bad positions
and he's pretty good in those bad positions. Traditionally, 125 pounds has been a weak spot for Ohio, however Ramos is not a traditional 125-pound wrestler. Most athletes at the weight come short and stocky, but Ramos is thin and tall.
Many wrestlers with his build eventually move up to 133 or 141 pounds.
I'm really only (practicing) with bigger people
Ramos said. I don't really have anyone to beat up on in the (wrestling) room
so I'm always working hard every day.
Last season, Ramos emerged from a group of three young wrestlers to become Ohio's starter. He compiled a 13-7 record in 2009-10, and is 6-3 so far this season.
Open tournament
While the starters were in North Carolina last weekend, four freshmen headed to Ashland, Ohio, to compete in the 12th Annual Simonson Open. Beau Wenger went 3-1 and placed second at 197 pounds. Miles Chapman went 3-2 at 165, Joe Dennis went 1-2 at 149 and Tucker Gregor finished 1-2 at 157.
@ThePostSports
