The Bobcats won’t have to worry about travel expenses for the rest of the regular season. After having only two home duals over the span of nearly three months, Ohio will spend the rest of its season in the more comfortable capacity of The Convo.
Ohio has seen mixed results to begin its season. The Bobcats lost five of their first seven duals, but then rebounded to beat three straight conference opponents.
Coach Joel Greenlee thinks he knows where things began to go right for his team.
“Oklahoma was a little bit of a turning point for us,” Greenlee said. “We didn’t wrestle great in that dual, but we went to Missouri the next weekend and wrestled probably the best we have all season long. We’re on a streak. I feel good about it.”
Greenlee is confident in his entire team, from the 125-pound weight class to the heavy weights.
“I love the guys we have on our team,” Greenlee said. “I think they’re hard workers, each of them are individuals in their own little way.”
Many things will be easier at home for the Bobcats. The wrestlers won’t have to worry about the troubles of being on the road, missing classes or getting used to different facilities that they don’t use that often.
That doesn’t mean that the team will be any more relaxed compared to road duals or tournaments.
“You have to compete the same way every time,” Greenlee said.
While being at home will be nice for the Bobcats, it doesn’t necessarily mean that their schedule will be easy going forward. All three of the remaining Mid-American Conference opponents are ranked in the top 10 in the conference, including No. 3 Central Michigan, Ohio’s next opponent. Greenlee is looking forward to what might be his team’s most challenging remaining conference dual.
Greenlee also spoke highly of No. 9 Buffalo.
“They’re a team that’s just gritty, tough, scrappy, in your face and never give anything up,” Greenlee said.
The Bobcats also have to prepare for many double-header weekends coming up, some of which include having two duals in one day.
There are some slight routine differences during double-header weekends. Because the wrestlers have to participate in weigh-ins twice in one weekend, it affects what they do in between duals. They might eat or drink less after the first weigh-in and may not have time to go out with their family or friends after a dual.
The most difficult weekend for Ohio will be at the end of the season, when it faces Utah Valley on Friday and then has to compete against both Buffalo and Gardner-Webb that following Sunday.
That may seem daunting, but Greenlee wants to make sure that his team doesn’t look too far ahead and takes the rest of the season one dual at a time.
“You can’t overlook anybody,” Greenlee said.
Ohio has a chance to use home field advantage in order to continue its hot streak, but none of it will come easily. The Bobcats’ next dual will be against Central Michigan at The Convo on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.
