Even though the Ohio University wrestling team’s season does not kick off until this Sunday, this past weekend’s competition was integral to the team’s immediate success.
The Bobcat grapplers were pitted against each other in a Green and White — or green and black, as the uniforms imply — scrimmage at Gallia Academy High School in Gallipolis, where the black team cashed in on a come-from-behind 21-13 victory against its counterpart.
Results aside, the Bobcats were able to get in one last tune-up before heading to the Hokie Open in Blacksburg, Va., on Sunday.
“I’m very excited,” Ohio coach Joel Greenlee said of the trip to Virginia Tech. “We’re at the point in the year where we are tired of wrestling each other. It’s time to go beat up somebody else.”
The Bobcats have spent plenty of time wearing out the mats in the Convocation Center, drilling home their pre-match routines and getting into regular season shape.
“If you look at us, there are lightyears of difference between when we had matches in our room last weekend and this weekend’s matches,” Greenlee said. “The way they cut weight and performed was 100 percent better. The way they warmed up for it was 100 percent better.”
The scrimmage concluded with few surprises. The green squad jumped out to an early lead, which they were able to hold onto through the 184-pound bout, where redshirt sophomore Ryan Garringer won an 8-4 decision against freshman Phil Wellington.
Freshman Cody Rodgers righted the ship for the black group in the next match, downing redshirt sophomore Kyle Sanders in a 6-4 decision that Greenlee deemed “a little bit surprising.”
From there, black never looked back. Redshirt sophomore Jeremy Johnson secured the only pin of the day against freshman Ryan Sanders in the final match.
This week, Greenlee said the Bobcats will focus on the little things in preparation for the Hokie Open, in which they will face off with 10 other schools including Duke and North Carolina.
“We have to get a little better.” Grenlee said. “Once we get to the edge (of the mat), we have to fight like mad to not be the person that goes out.”
Last season, Ohio did fairly well in the Hokie Open, winning 31 matches. It will be the Bobcats’ third appearance at the event.
jr992810@ohiou.edu
