KENT -This weekend Jake Percival became the third Mid-American Conference wrestler to win four MAC titles.
In the quarterfinals of the 157-pound weight class, Percival rolled over Buffalo's Scott Rendos, 18-2, before the technical fall was called a little more than five minutes into the match. The second round saw Percival face Chad Roush of Eastern Michigan and overpower him, registering a 17-3 major decision.
It was only the championship match against Central Michigan's Eric Neil that saw Percival score in single digits as he defeated Neil, 6-0. Percival also nabbed his third straight MAC Wrestler of the Year award and was named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler for the second consecutive season.
I ended on a good note
Percival said. That's all I could hope to do. However, as a team the Ohio wrestlers only took home fourth place overall, as Central Michigan won its seventh tournament title in eight years.
The Chippewas took home eight of 10 championship crowns and defeated Ohio's 197-pound wrestler Joel Weimer in the finals and heavyweight Jeremiah Beltran in the semifinals.
Weimer fell 4-1 to Central Michigan's Wynn Michalak, making this year his fourth consecutive second-place finish.
It's a good and a bad thing Weimer said. I'm pretty happy with second to be honest with you -and now nationals is all that matters -but it is going to hurt for a while knowing that I never won (the MAC). Weimer received a wild-card bid and will join Percival in the NCAA Tournament in St. Louis, Mo., on March 17-19.
Other Bobcats who placed were Beltran, who finished third after falling to Kent State's Tomas Rodriguez 4-1; 141-pound wrestler Jon Spires who, after falling to Northern Illinois' Josh Wooton, 3-0 in the finals, defeated Eastern Michigan's Nick Conklin, 5-3, to win second place; and 165-pound wrestler Tony DeAnna who placed fourth after deciding to forfeit the semifinal match of the consolation bracket because of injury.
All Bobcats who placed were seniors, some making their last impression on a college mat.
It is kind of odd Spires said. None of us have really thought about it (being our last match) much but in the back of our minds we know this is it.
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Katie Carrera
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Ohio University wrestler Joel Weimer (left) registers a 9-3 decision over Eastern Michigan University's Tony Lyssiotis (right) in a match at The Convo Jan. 20, 2005. Weimer finished second in the 197-pound weight class this weekend at the MAC Championship
