Feb. 24, 2008
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Ohio wrestling team fell to No. 4 Central Michigan, 45-0, on CMU's Senior Night on Sunday at Rose Arena. The Chippewas clinched their 10th consecutive MAC regular season championship by blanking the Bobcats.
Central Michigan earned three pins and three major decisions in the victory and improved its overall record to 16-2 in dual competition, 5-0 in conference action; the Bobcats fell to 6-16 overall and 0-5 in the league. The 45 points was the highest for CMU this season while it was the second time the Bobcats surrendered 45 points in a dual meet (Ohio State 45-3 on Dec. 16, 2007). It was also the second dual this season the Bobcats were shutout (Michigan State 36-0 on Jan. 4).
Ohio's best performance came at 141 pounds, where freshman Germane Lindsey (Cincinnati, Ohio) held on against Eric Kruger, the No. 11 ranked competitor in the nation at 141 pounds, but eventually lost on a 3-0 decision. Sophomore Jacob Ison (Batavia, Ohio) also lost by just three points in a close match, 9-6, against CMU's No. 4 ranked Brandon Sinnott at 174 pounds.
Against Central Michigan's seven nationally ranked wrestlers, the Bobcats battled to two pins, one major decision and three decisions.
The Bobcats will now have two weeks to prepare for the MAC Championships on March 7 at Kent State. Clay Tucker will enter the tournament with a 4-2 record in conference competition - 4-1 at 157 pounds.
Redshirt freshman Quentin Keyes (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) will bring the Bobcats' best record into the MAC Championships with a 19-12 mark overall, 7-8 in dual competition. Lindsey holds the next best record with a 17-13 mark overall, 9-10 in dual meets. Three other Bobcats hold 10 or more wins at the close of the regular season - Clay Tucker (Martins Ferry, Ohio) with 13, Ison with 11 and Erik Schuth (Spencerport, N.Y.) with 10.
No. 4 Central Michigan 45, Ohio 0
125: No. 18 Luke Smith (CMU) pins Heath Allen (OU) at 4:04; CMU leads 6-0
133: Conor Beebe (CMU) maj. dec. Quentin Keyes (OU), 11-3; CMU leads 10-0
141: No. 11 Eric Kruger (CMU) dec. Germane Lindsey (OU), 3-0; CMU leads 13-0
149: Brandon Carter (CMU) pins Kevin Christensen (OU) at 1:58; CMU leads 19-0
157: Steve Brown (CMU) maj. dec. Clay Tucker (OU), 14-5; CMU leads 23-0
165: No. 9 Trevor Stewart (CMU) win by forfeit; CMU leads 29-0
174: No. 4 Brandon Sinnott (CMU) dec. Jacob Ison (OU), 9-6; CMU leads 32-0
184: No. 4 Christian Sinnott (CMU) dec. Erik Schuth (OU), 10-3; CMU leads 35-0
197: No. 4 Wynn Michalak (CMU) pins Chris Iammarino (OU) at 6:36; CMU leads 41-0
