As the youngest squad at the 2008 MAC Championships in Kent this weekend, Ohio had to take a spot at the bottom of the podium for this season, earning fourth place as No. 4 Central Michigan cruised to the title.
Tied with Buffalo in the last position, the Bobcats will be sending one wrestler to the NCAA Championships: 141-pound freshman Germane Lindsey. He finished in the third spot of his weight division and earned an at-large bid, marking 2007-08 the second consecutive season Ohio has sent a wrestler to the tournament.
Lindsey has made known his aspirations to become a national champion while at Ohio, and he said this year's bid was a big step in that direction.
I was feeling pretty shocked yesterday. I felt like I won state all over again
he said. All the hard work this year has paid off.
With fewer than two weeks to prepare for his first opportunity at a national championship, Lindsey said he plans on staying focused and calm.
I'm going to be tuning up on some stuff with the coaches he said. I'll be trying not to get all nervous.
Although the rest of the team will not be competing anymore this season, sophomore Jacob Ison said they all take pride in Lindsey's accomplishment. Ison even plans to organize a group trip to St. Louis, Mo., to show support for Lindsey at the tournament.
We're going to be working hard with him in the room Ison said. We're all excited.
Kevin Christensen was the only other Bobcat to earn a top three position. He finished second in the 149-pound division, but was not awarded an at-large bid. He fell to Central Michigan's Brandon Carter in the championship, but then was victorious against Northern Illinois' Kalen Kull in the consolation match to earn silver.
Three other Bobcats advanced to the second day of competition at the tournament. Quentin Keyes (133-pound), Jacob Ison (174-pound) and Chris Iammarino (197-pound) each moved deep into the consolation bracket. Ison lost in the consolation championship, while Iammarino and Keyes dropped out in the semifinals.
Ison said the weekend felt like the proper progression as the team has improved over the season.
We weren't expected to come in anything but dead last
he said.
Lindsey agreed.
We were like the Miami Dolphins this year. We're doing so badly
he said. We all worked pretty hard. The last tournament really paid off.
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Dylan Scott
