The Bobcats recently learned what they must do to ensure their seasons do not end this weekend.
The qualifier allocations for the NCAA Championships were unveiled last Thursday. The release detailed the number of bids to the national tournament that conference tourneys receive at each weight class.
Each Ohio wrestler now knows the lowest he can place at this weekend's Mid-American Conference Championships and still receive an automatic bid to the national tournament.
Redshirt junior Quentin Keyes, for example, can finish as low as fourth this weekend and still qualify because his weight class, 133 pounds, has four bids.
Though it would seem Keyes has some margin for error this weekend, he is focused solely on wrestling with confidence.
I think if you go into a tournament saying
'If I (finish in the) top-four I should be fine ' that doesn't work Keyes said. You have to go in there with a winning attitude.
Junior Germane Lindsey, one of Ohio's best wrestlers, finds himself on the other end of the spectrum. His weight class, 141 pounds, was allotted the minimum of one bid.
Lindsey was ranked second in the MAC coaches' rankings behind Conor Beebe of Central Michigan. Lindsey has to win the MAC Championship over Beebe, who defeated Lindsey in his first dual meet loss of the season Feb. 19, to receive an automatic bid to the national tournament.
My weight class isn't one of those strong weight classes
Lindsey said. It sucks
but you just have to make the most of it.
The MAC was allotted 22 bids overall, with most weights receiving two or three. To give some perspective, the Big 12 Conference was assigned 37 bids, while the Big Ten got 56.
The disparity in the number of bids between conferences and weights is due to the complex selection process.
Wrestlers were measured on winning percentage against Division I opponents (minimum of .725), rank in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Coaches Panel Rankings (top-28) and RPI (top-28 in RPI ranking).
RPI, or rating percentage index, is a system also used by the NCAA in basketball and football rankings. The formula, applied to individuals in wrestling, factors in winning percentage, opponents' winning percentage and opponents' opponents' winning percentage.
Wrestlers who met at least two of the three requirements were awarded a qualifying spot for their weight class.
Though this process might seem convoluted, for the wrestlers it is all very simple. This weekend, it is win or go home.
Whatever the circumstances
I know I can beat anybody in the MAC
so I'm not worried about it
Lindsey said. I just have to go in with the mindset that if I get my job done then I will be fine.
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