The Ohio State wrestling team boosted its overall record to 8-7-1 with an impressive 5-1 showing last week.The team hosted Clarion, Delaware State and North Carolina Saturday. The Buckeyes edged out a victory against nationally ranked Clarion, 23-17, and bullied Delaware State, 48-0, but faltered against North Carolina, 24-11. “I think we were too keyed up for Clarion, and North Carolina just caught us off guard,” Coach Russ Hellickson said. The team traveled to Ashland Sunday for the Wendy’s Classic, where the Bucks swept all three teams they faced. Overall, Hellickson said he was impressed with his team’s performance. “That was the best competition for us at this juncture,” Hellickson said. “Last weekend should really help the team’s confidence.” The Buckeyes have little time to bask in last week’s success, however, because they will take on two tough teams this weekend. The Buckeyes travel to Pennsylvania Saturday to face Pittsburgh (5-3) at 1 p.m. and Edinboro (2-3) at 7 p.m. “Both teams are very similar and should offer us very good competition,” Hellickson said. Hellickson said the team will have to stay focused to be ready for the two nationally-ranked teams. Pittsburgh and Edinboro are ranked 11th and 14th in the nation respectively, according to the Jan. 9 Amateur Wrestling News rankings. “Pittsburgh has a very solid program and seems to improve each year,” Hellickson said. “They (Pittsburgh) are a team that has produced All-Americans nearly every year.” Hellickson said Edinboro also has a tough squad, and said he thinks they are very similar to the Panthers. “They are both very good teams and both matches should be very close,” Hellickson said.The matches should be close, said All-American Mitch Clark, who is currently undefeated (24-0) and ranked number one in the country at 177 pounds by Amateur Wrestling News and Intermat Wrestling.”Pittsburgh and Edinboro are two solid teams, but if we show up to wrestle, we can pull it out,” Clark said.Clark could face a challenge this weekend, when he faces Pittsburgh freshman John Withrow. Withrow holds a 13-2 record and is currently ranked number four in the nation. Clark will also confront John Strait from Edinboro. “He (Strait) is one of the guys that beat me last year, so I’m looking forward to our match,” Clark said. Hellickson said the team must stay psychologically and physically solid to endure the level of competition they will face this weekend. He said the teams that he thought were good turned out to be great. “We have a little bit too tough of a schedule for the team,” Hellickson said. “If we stay strong, we’ll benefit from it. If not, it could wreak havoc on the season.”