Though this could end up being a historic season in Athens, not every wrestler is satisfied with how things have played out.
Anywhere from four to eight wrestlers are on pace to go to Nebraska for the NCAA Championships in March, which would be the most Ohio has sent in years.
Wrestlingreport.com ranks five Bobcats in the nation's top-33 wrestlers in their weight classes. In all, seven Bobcats have been listed in the rankings at one time or another.
Absent from this list is redshirt senior Clay Tucker. The team captain is 20-12 this year but has yet to crack any national rankings at the 157-pound weight class.
I think (Tucker is) the only one that's been doing real well for us that hasn't quite broken into the rankings yet
redshirt senior Jacob Ison said.
Tucker has lost several tight matches this season.
On Jan. 14 against Northern Illinois, Tucker was down one point as time in the third period ran down. As the crowd called for a stalling call on his opponent, time expired and Tucker lost, 3-2.
I'm proud as hell of the guys who got their name in the rankings Tucker said. But still sometimes I'm a little bitter that I'm not in (the rankings) and I'm trying to do what I have to do to get my name in there.
I've had so many close losses to guys that are ranked this year. Just one win, just one takedown and my name could be in there too.
Tucker will get two good chances to prove himself before the regular season is over. Ohio's next two opponents
Kent State and Central Michigan
both feature wrestlers ranked at 157 pounds. The Golden Flashes' Mallie Shuster is 33rd in the nation while the Chippewas' Steve Brown is 14th.
CONFERENCE RANKING RELEASED
The Mid-American Conference coaches released the second January rankings yesterday
and eight Ohio wrestlers are ranked in the top-four in the conference at their weights.
Juniors Germane Lindsey (141 pounds) and Erik Schuth (197 pounds) were both ranked first in their weight classes.
Senior Seth Morton (third
149 pounds)
Tucker (fourth
157 pounds)
senior Kevin Christensen (fourth
165 pounds)
