Feb. 8, 2008

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio men's wrestling team will play host to the No. 21 ranked Golden Flashes of Kent State at 7 p.m. on Friday night in the Convocation Center.

Ohio's Clay Tucker (Martins Ferry, Ohio) will be looking for his sixth straight victory at 157 pounds when he squares-up against either Sli Bostelman or Patrick Lanham. Bostelman holds a 7-12 record in matches at both 157 and 165 while Lanham has a 2-10 record competing solely at 157.

Tucker holds an 11-14 record this season, with a 5-7 mark at 149 pounds and a 6-7 tally at 157. Tucker first competed at 157 at the Ohio Duals on Dec. 16 and took over full time at the weight at the Southern Scuffle on Dec. 30 when previous 157 pound starter Jake Frerichs sustained a knee injury.

Tucker's winning streak includes wins against two MAC opponents including Northern Illinois' Bryan O'Connor and Buffalo's Jon Cummings. Tucker's lone conference loss came in his final bout at 149 pounds to Eastern Michigan's Maurice Cox.

The Bobcats have lost its first three conference match-ups and the final two bouts, against No. 21 Kent State on Friday night and No. 5 Central Michigan on Feb. 24 could be the most difficult yet.

Kent State features four nationally ranked wrestlers, including #13 Jermail Porter, #14 Kurt Gross, #18 Drew Lashaway and #20 Dan Mitcheff.

Probable Starters

Weight  Ohio                                        Kent State                                

125:      Heath Allen (1-20)                    Nic Bedylon (21-8)

133:      Quentin Keyes (9-10)                #20 Dan Mitcheff (23-6)

141:      Germane Lindsey (15-11)          #18 Drew Lashaway (22-10)

149:      Kevin Christensen (8-11)           Clint Sponseller (13-11)

157:      Clay Tucker (11-14)                  Sli Bostelman (7-12)

165:      Kent Smith (6-9)                       #14 Kurt Gross (13-4)

174:      Ryan Knapp (1-9)                     Chris Estep (10-21)

184:      Erik Schuth (9-13)                    Eric Chine (26-10)

197:      Chris Iammarino (8-16)            Michael Blackwell (23-10)

HWT:    Jason Marshall (7-14)                #13 Jermail Porter (26-8)

------------------------------

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