Wrestlers shoot for win, revenge

by Eric Pfahler
Staff Writer

Every streak is tested to prove its worth.

The Ohio wrestling team will have its seven-straight win streak tested by No. 10 West Virginia and Mid-American Conference rival Kent State this weekend.

Ohio coach Joel Greenlee said the game plan for the Bobcats who beat West Virginia 27-9 last season, is simple--wrestle hard.

“They want to come in here and pay us back,” Greenlee said. “But if you look up and down the lineup I think we’re fairly evenly matched.”

Ohio (10-9-1 overall, 1-3 MAC) has not lost this month, but West Virginia (8-2) has won six straight matches, including victories against No. 19 Lock Haven and No. 24 Nebraska.

The Mountaineers’ roster contains six ranked wrestlers, including three in the top 10. West Virginia wrestler Greg Jones is ranked No.3 in the nation in the 174-pound weight class. Tom McMath (165) and Joe Carr (157) are ranked No. 6 and No. 10, respectively.

Ohio wrestler Luke Moore, who defeated then No. 16 Gerald Harris of Cleveland State, is scheduled to wrestle Jones.

Moore said wrestling against Jones should be an opportunity to prove he belongs with the big shots in his weight class.

“I personally believe I should be ranked with those guys,” Moore said. “Just because (Greg Jones is) ranked third in the country doesn’t mean I’m intimidated.”

Greenlee said Moore has no reason to be concerned.

“(Moore) is kind of a big-match wrestler,” Greenlee said. “If we need a win from Luke or he’s wrestling somebody that’s supposed to be ranked higher than him, Luke wrestles that much better.”

The Bobcats then will try to avenge this season’s Jan. 11 loss to Kent State (18-5, 2-1 MAC) Sunday.

Ohio wrestler Ryan Smith (157), who is ranked No. 20, lost to No. 15 Mike Tolar 6-3 in the meet. Smith defeated Tolar twice in the 2001 season.

Smith said Tolar caught him off balance early in the first match.

“He’s good at settling and keeping the match close,” Smith said. “I’ve been looking forward to (the rematch) just because I know I’m a much better wrestler than he is.”

The Bobcats wrestle against West Virginia at 7 p.m. Saturday and face Kent State 2 p.m. Sunday at The Convo.