The Ohio wrestling team's perfect start to the New Year might be in jeopardy as the Bobcats play host to what will prove to be one of the most competitive meets of the season.
It's not often Ohio faces a team that has more ranked opponents - or higher ranked opponents - than the Bobcats have. But that will be the case Sunday when Northern Illinois travels to The Convo in what could be a foretelling of whom will finish where in the Mid-American Conference.
This is definitely going to be a great match between top teams
said wrestler Travis Smith (184-pound weight class). Central Michigan is number one and then it's a battle between Northern Illinois and Ohio.
Coach Joel Greenlee said this match could very well jeopardize Ohio's six-match win streak in match play, but what is more important is watching the team wrestle well.
To me it's performance
he said. I'm not happy with wins or losses. I'm happy with and disappointed with performance. If we go out and wrestle well and lose
I'll be happy. But if we go out there and wrestle poorly and win
I won't care about the win.
Greenlee said he could be satisfied coming away without a win. For the wrestlers, however, this is not the case.
I think we can go out and wrestle well and if we don't win
this doesn't really play into us being MAC champions
said wrestler Anthony Carrizales (133). But the bottom line is to go out and win.
Carrizales, along with wrestlers Smith and Mike Allen (149), will be expected to do a little more than usual this weekend, as each will face ranked opponents.
Carrizales has faced opponent Sam Hiatt twice in the MAC tournament. The first match went in favor of Carrizales in the semi-finals, the second to Hiatt, who is ranked 10th, in the finals the following year.
It's going to be close no matter what
Carrizales said. Honestly
I go into it expecting to win. But
no matter what
