Bobcats to Battle in Blacksburg with Hokies :: Ohio takes on fourth ACC opponent

Jan. 31, 2008

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio wrestling team will head back on the road on Friday for a dual with Virginia Tech. The Bobcats have dropped three straight duals but hold a 1-2 record against teams from the ACC this season. While the Bobcats will look for a victory in Blacksburg, Va. before battling No. 23 Kent State, West Virginia and North Carolina next weekend at the Convocation Center, Clay Tucker will be looking to continue his longest winning streak of the season with a victory against the Hokies. Ohio (5-12, 03 MAC) and Virginia Tech have both competed in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, the Southern Scuffle and in the Virginia Duals but never matched up.

Scouting the Hokies

Virginia Tech is led by two talented underclassmen - sophomore # 23 Eric Decker and freshman Tommy Spellman. Spellman, recently named VT's athlete of the week for his two wins against Virginia's #10 ranked Rocco Caponi and North Carolina's Nick Tenpenny, has a record of 20-8 on the season while Decker holds a 17-8 mark. Decker, who competes at 165 and hails from Wells Bridge, N.Y., qualified for nationals last season after taking second at the ACC Championship as a freshman. Decker has recorded two pins this season and holds a 41-25 mark for his career. Spellman has notched four pins in his first season competing in collegiate sports, with the fastest coming in 1:31. The Hokie with the most pins (7) this season is Matt Epperly. Epperly defeated Ohio's Kent Smith 13-5 at the Cliff Keen Invitational.

Ohio vs. The ACC

Ohio has battled three teams this season from the ACC and will take on two more. Ohio defeated Duke 26-17 at the Indiana Duals, lost to Virginia 36-3 in the first round of the Virginia Duals and lost to NC State 23-18 most recently, on Jan. 20, at the Convocation Center. Virginia Tech will be the third ACC squad to take on the `Cats with the final, North Carolina, scheduled to make a trip to Athens on Feb. 15.

Winning Streaks

Clay Tucker will put his four match winning-streak on the line when he takes on Andre Johnson on Friday night in Blacksburg, Va. Johnson, schedule to compete against Tucker at 157 pounds, holds just a 2-13 record this season overall and a winless 0-8 mark in dual competition. Johnson has an 8-27 record overall in his two year career. Tucker defeated Johnson 12-4 on Dec. 30 at the Cliff Keen Invitational. It was only Tucker's fourth match at 157 and his first win at the new, higher weight.

Probable Ohio Starters Against Virginia Tech

Weight Name Class Hometown Record

125 Heath Allen Freshman Bellefontaine, Ohio 1-19

133 Seth Morton Sophomore Canal Winchester, Ohio 7-11

141 Germane Lindsey Freshman Cincinnati, Ohio 15-10

149 Kevin Christensen Sophomore Springfield, Ohio 7-11

157 Clay Tucker Sophomore Martins Ferry, Ohio 10-14

165 Kent Smith Sophomore Bowling Green, Ohio 6-8

174 Ryan Knapp Senior McConnelsville, Ohio 1-8

184 Erik Schuth Freshman Spencerport, N.Y. 8-13

197 Chris Iammarino Freshman Lyndhurst, Ohio 8-15

HWT Jason Marshall Sophomore West Liberty, Ohio 7-13

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Joe Waltasti is the wrestling contact for the Ohio Media Relations department. He can be reached via email at waltasti@ohio.edu.