Ohio University Looks For Continued Success

Joel Greenlee Previews OU at the MAC

The Ohio University wrestling team took a big step forward this year with a great regular season that saw the Bobcats place in the top-ten at the Reno Tournament of Champions and the Southern Scuffle. Good health, consistency, and continued development are behind their resurgence. The challenge for OU in the post season is to continue building that momentum.

"We have a pretty good year so far and we need to keep things going at the MAC Tournament," said Greenlee after practice on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bobcats are led by a trio of ranked wrestlers that have their eyes set on a MAC title and earning an invitation to nationals; Germane Lindsey, Nick Purdue, and Erik Schuth. With a conference crown all three could be seeded at nationals.

"For the guys that are ranked they want to be in the finals this weekend," offered Greenlee. "They are going to have some tough matches but I think they are going to do well. The MAC is the focus now but all three have the ability to do well at nationals."

In order earn an automatic qualifier Purdue and Schuth have to place in the top three at 184 and 197 pounds; Lindsey will need to win a title at 141 pounds. Qualifying a spot at their weight for the MAC, all three will be in a position to garner an at-large invitation based on what they did during the regular season.

Other Bobcats entering the MAC Tournament with high expectations are Seth Morton, Clay Tucker, and Jacob Ison. Each has been ranked during the season but fell short of qualifying a spot for the MAC. To advance Morton will have to place in the top three at 149, Ison needs to be in the finals at 174, and Tucker has to win a title at 157 pounds.

Wrestling at 133 pounds Quentin Keyes has also been ranked and looks to be in a position earn an invite. The MAC has four automatic bids to nationals at his weight.

Heavyweight Andy Hartshorn fell short of earning the MAC another bid but he can steal someone else’s spot if he is in the finals. Hartshorn lost in overtime this year to both of the top seeds to give the Bobcats reason to believe.

Gabe Ramos and Kevin Christianson complete the OU lineup and each will be fighting for a spot on the podium. Both will have to be in the finals if they want to continue their season. Ramos will have to win a title at 125 pounds while Christianson has to be in the top two.

Ohio has made a lot of progress this season. What happens this weekend won’t change what they accomplished during the regular season. At the same time to end the year strong they need to do well in Mount Pleasant and they have to have guys advancing to nationals. The Bobcats are an improved team from top to bottom, the MAC Tournament is an opportunity to make a statement.

Previewing the MAC with Joel Greenlee

We caught up with Ohio University head coach Joel Greenlee before he came to Columbus to watch the Ohio High School State Wrestling Tournament. In previewing the MAC Tournament with Greenlee he discussed where he thought his team was at heading into the weekend and the progress they have made this season, gave a weight by weight breakdown of the lineup, and talked about what Ohio University needs to do to contend for a MAC title.