Ohio failed to finish its Mid-American Conference dual season on the high note it wanted on Sunday, as the league's hottest team in Old Dominion defeated the Bobcats 22-15 inside the Convocation Center. It was the team's first home loss since December 1st, 2012.
Heavyweight Jeremy Johnson and 197-pound Phil Wellington each earned decisions to clinch perfect regular season records against in-conference competition. Meanwhile, 165-pound Harrison Hightower came through with his team-leading 13th pin of the season.
The loss 149-pound Tywan Claxton suffered ended a streak of eight straight victories by the junior, while 174-pound Cody Walters had a five-match win streak snapped.
Full results:
285-pound: Jeremy Johnson dec. Matt Tourdot 4-1 (Ohio 3-0)
125-pound: KeVon Powell dec. Brandon Jeske 5-4 (Ohio 6-0)
133-pound: Michael Hayes fall Sebastian Pique 5:50 (Tied 6-6)
141-pound: Chris Mecate dec. Noah Forrider 7-1 (Old Dominion 9-6)
149-pound: Alexander Richardson dec. Tywan Claxton 4-3 (OD 12-6)
157-pound: Tristan Warner dec. Sparty Chino 3-0 (OD 15-6)
165-pound: Harrison Hightower fall Devin Geoghegan 1:43 (OD 15-12)
174-pound: Billy Curling dec. Cody Walters 5-2 (OD 18-12)
184-pound: Jack Dechow maj dec. Ryan Garringer 14-4 (OD 22-12)
197-pound: Phil Wellington sudden dec. Kevin Beazley 3-1 (OD 22-15)
There are still a few weeks remaining before the conference tournament in March, a time frame which Hightower believes offers opportunites for improvement for the Bobcats.
"We've got a lot of things to build on, individually and as a team," Hightower said. "There's a few points where we know we can improve on in the next few matches."
