Ohio turned in a dominating performance at the Convocation Center this afternoon, defeating West Virginia. Ohio's record improves to 11-4 on the season, 6-1 at home.
Ohio got out to a big lead early, after a dominating major decision by 157-pound Spartak Chino, followed by a first period fall by 165-pound Harrison Hightower put the Bobcats in front 10-0 after just two matches.
Hightower now has 14 pins on the season, which is the best in the country in his class, and third among all Division I wrestlers.
West Virginia earned a pin in the 174-pound class, but its momentum didn't last long as 197-pound Phil Wellington (28-3) stepped in and dominated his match en route to a 17-3 decision. The win was Wellington's eight straight.
Heavyweight Jeremy Johnson (31-4) cruised to victory in similar fashion, earning an 11-0 major decision. Johnson has now won ten straight matches, and remains undefeated in dual play this season.
West Virginia came back to win the final three matches of the dual, two of which coming against Bobcats non-starters. The dual ended with 149-pound Tywan Claxton dropping his second straight decision after winning eight in a row.
Coach Greenlee thought the dual was a great way for Ohio to bounce back from last Sunday's Old Dominion loss.
"I think it was a great dual for us. Some of those matchups were toss-ups. We didn't have a starter in there at 174, and 184 wrestled a great match for us. It was exciting, I thought we wrestled well."
Full results:
157-pound: Spartak Chino maj dec. Jason Luster 12-4, Ohio 4-0
165-pound: Harrison Hightower fall Ross Renzi 1:39, Ohio 10-0
174-pound: Bubba Scheffel fall Marshall Willet 2:50, Ohio 10-6
184-pound: Ryan Garringer dec. Mac Mancuso 9-6, Ohio 13-6
197-pound: Phil Wellington maj dec. Leo Trindade 17-3, Ohio 17-6
285-pound: Jeremy Johnson maj dec. A.J. Vizcarrondo 11-0, DQ, Ohio 23-6.
125-pound: KeVon Powell dec. Cory Stainbrook 6-5, Ohio 26-6.
133-pound: Nathan Pennesi maj dec. Sebastian Arroyo 11-1, Ohio 26-10.
141-pound: Colin Johnston fall Garret Garness 5:42, Ohio 26-16.
149-pound: Mike Morales dec. Tywan Claxton 6-4, Ohio 26-19.
