The Bobcats won the first four bouts to jump out to a 14-0 lead. The Cougars countered with four-straight victories to snag a 15-14 lead, but Ohio earned decisive wins in the final two weight classes to seal their fourth MAC victory of the 2018-19 season.
Fittingly, senior Cameron Kelly (Bellbrook, Ohio) set the tone with the match opening at 141 pounds, giving the Bobcats a 5-0 lead with a 19-1 win by technical fall over redshirt junior Lucas Bernal. Kelly is now 13-2 on the year -- including a perfect 6-0 in dual meets and 5-0 in conference meets.
"He's been consistent throghout," said 22nd year head coach Joel Greenlee of Kelly's career. "From the time he stepped on the mat as a freshman, our first Kent State dual that he ever wrestled in, he beat a ranked guy. He's just kind of climbed from there. I'm excited for him. I think he's getting better and better. I think he's excited for the end of the year and the MAC tournament and national tournament.
Redshirt freshman Alec Hagan (Eureka, Mo.) followed with a 6-4 win by decision at 149 over redshirt junior Tyshawn Williams. Hagan is now 15-10 on the year with a 4-2 mark in MAC matches.
Redshirt junior Zac Carson (Akron, Ohio) extended the Bobcats' lead to 11-0 by earning a 7-1 win by decision at 157 over freshman Justin Ruffin. Carson improved to 17-6 overall, 8-2 in dual meets and 4-2 in conference matches.
Freshman Colt Yinger (Nelsonville, Ohio) made it four-straight wins for Ohio courtesy of a 6-4 win by decision at 165 over redshirt senior Nate Higgins. Yinger improved to 14-6 in his rookie season and picked up his fourth conference victory.
The Cougars began chipping away at Ohio's lead however, beginning at 174 with sophomore Kevin Gschwendtner earning an 8-6 win by decision. Freshman Sergio Villalobos then recorded a 5-4 win by decision at 184, senior Christian Dulaney won by fall in 4:20 at 197 and redshirt senior Colton McKiernan registered a 5-3 win by decision at 285.
Redshirt junior Shakur Laney (Canal Winchester, Ohio) put the Bobcats back in front, though, logging a 10-3 win by decision at 125 over redshirt junior Gage Datlovsky.
Redshirt sophomore Mario Guillen (Perrysburg, Ohio) then locked down the win for Ohio with a dominant 18-1 win by technical fall at 133 over redshirt freshman Jacob Blaha. Guillen is now 14-1 on the season with a 6-1 mark in dual meets and a perfect 5-0 record in MAC matches.
"We were fired up for today," said Guillen. "We just came out and felt like we had to prove something. It's always nice wrestling after Shakur because he's pretty good. He puts a show on out there, so that fires me up. I just try not to worry about if people are losing. I try to focus on myself and being ready to go. I just go out there and wrestle and keep scoring points and get the job done."
Prior to Saturday's match, the Bobcats honored their 2018-19 Senior Class of Kelly, Arsen Ashughyan (Vanadzor, Armenia), Nate Hall (Lewis Center, Ohio), Derek Hillman (Woodhaven, Mich.), Kyle Kaminski (Parma, Ohio), Devin King (Thornville, Ohio), Zack Parker (Felton, Del.) and Austin Reese (Urbana, Ohio). During intermission, Ohio's celebration of the program's 100th season of wrestling culminated in the unveiling of banners in the rafters of the Convo honoring the Bobcats' four national champions -- Kermit Blosser (1932; 191 pounds), Harry Houska (1964; 191 pounds), Andy Daniels (1978; 118 pounds) and Dwight Gardner (1998; 158 pounds).
Ohio is scheduled for two road matches next weekend, visiting Bloomsburg for a 7 p.m. ET matchup on Friday (Jan. 15), then traveling to Amherst, N.Y., for its final conference match of 2018-19 against Buffalo on Sunday (Jan. 17) at 1 p.m. ET.
Results:
141: Cameron Kelly (Ohio) def. Lucas Bernal (SIUE), 19-1 tech. (5-0)
149: Alec Hagan (Ohio) def. Tyshawn Williams (SIUE), 6-4 dec. (8-0)
157: Zac Carson (Ohio) def. Justin Ruffin (SIUE), 7-1 dec. (11-0)
165: Colt Yinger (Ohio) def. Nate Higgins (SIUE), 6-4 dec. (14-0)
174: Kevin Gschwendtner (SIUE) def. Logan Stanley (Ohio), 8-6 dec. (14-3)
184: Sergio Villalobos (SIUE) def. Mason Kroening (SIUE), 5-4 dec. (14-6)
197: Christian Dulaney (SIUE) def. Aaron Naples (Ohio), fall, 4:20 (14-12)
285: Colton McKiernan (SIUE) def Zack Parker (Ohio), 5-3 dec. (14-15)
125: Shakur Laney (Ohio) def. Gage Datlovsky (SIUE), 10-3 dec. (17-15)
133: Mario Guillen (Ohio) def. Jacob Blaha (SIUE), 18-1 tech. (22-15)
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