Ohio's wrestlers defeated # 12 Central Michigan 21-17 Friday night for 1st win over Central since 1998

Congratulations

David

Could this be a program changing win? Or should I say a program restoring win since wrestling arguably has been the most successful sport at OU on a national scale? Well it's a great start to climbing back up the conference and national recognitian ladder. Central Michigan has been a juggernaut since the late 90s so that win has got people talking. Two of the five Bobcat wins in that dual were defensive pins which turned out to be the deciding factor.

Joel and his staff have similar issues as most of the MAC schools that being a lack of funding. The nicer the facilities are the bigger impact there is but where some schools have an advantage is money for extra assistant coaches and grad assistants. Recruiting elite wrestlers is all about how much competition you can create in that wrestling room.

OU has only 2 paid positions, head and assistant and 1 grad assistant. Kent State mesanwhile has a head coach and 2 paid assistants, 1 volunteer assistant, 2 directors of operations, a club coach and a camp consultant. Most of those 8 positions are manned by wrestlers who recently finished college wrestling and are trying to keep in shape for a chance to make a national team for international competeition. Creating that type of environment in the wrestling room is why good recruits go to the better supported schools because they want to be the best. By the way rumor is the Central Michigan's coach is a millionaire so that can't hurt either.

The wrestlers did get their locker room renovated but only after a visiting volleyball team complained after being assigned that room for a match held here.

After a setback loss to Kent last weekend OU tied for the MAC reular season title by beating Estern Michigan 28-9 Sunday while Central was handing Kent a 20-14 loss. All three teams tied at the top in the conference regular season standings with records of 4-1. This is the Bobcats first MAC title since the 2001 season.