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Writer's pictureBrandon Dodson

Ohio State out-duel the Scarlet Knights

The Buckeyes returned to action Friday night against conference foe No. 24 Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights came into the match 6-0. The Buckeyes won 6/10 matches on their way to a 22-13 victory. Friday night’s victory improves Ohio State’s record to 5-1. Please read below for match by match details.


The dual started out at 141 pounds with Ohio State’s Luke Pletcher, a Senior and the No. 1 141-pounder in the country. Pletcher came into the match with a 15-0 record on the season. Pletcher’s opponent, JoJo Aragona, a redshirt Junior, came into the match with a 5-6 record. The match started out slow but Pletcher was able to get one takedown before the first period ended, making the score 2-0. Pletcher chose to go down in the second period and escaped quickly making the score 3-0. Pletcher was able to get two takedowns in the second period and accrue over 1 minute of riding time making the score 7-1 to end the second period. Aragona chose to go down to start the third period and Pletcher allowed him to escape making the score 7-2. Pletcher tacked on two more takedowns making the final score a 12-4 major decision. Pletcher’s major decision made the team score 4-0 OSU.


At 149 pounds, Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso, a redshirt Freshman and the No. 6 149 pounder in the country came into the match with a 13-2 record. Sasso’s opponent, Gerard Angelo, a redshirt Freshman came into the match with a 10-6 record. Sasso came out of the gate firing with two quick takedowns and four near fall points making the score 8-1. Sasso was attempting to get more nearfall points but got too aggressive allowing Angelo to get the reversal, making the score 8-3 at the end of the first period. Sasso chose to go down to start the second period and was able to get the reversal and four nearfall points making the score 14-3 to end the second period. Angelo chose to go neutral to start the third period and was able to tack on two takedowns before the period ended making the final score a 16-7 major decision for Sasso. Sasso’s major decision made the team score 8-0 OSU.


At 157 pounds, Ohio State’s Elijah Cleary, a redshirt Junior came into the match with a 11-6 record. Cleary’s opponent, Michael Van Brill, a redshirt Junior came into the match with a 13-8 record. Van Brill was able to get one takedown in the first period and accrued over 1.5 minutes of riding time before Cleary escaped, making the score 2-1 to end the first period. Cleary chose to go down to start the second period and was able to get a reversal making the score 3-2 Cleary. Van Brill was able to escape tying the match 3-3 to end the second period. Van Brill chose to go down to start the third period and quickly escaped making the score 4-3. Cleary was unable to break through Van Brill’s defense and the match ended in a 5-3 decision for Van Brill. Van Brill’s decision made the team score 8-3 OSU.


At 165 pounds, Ohio State’s Ethan Smith, a redshirt Sophomore and the No. 13 165-pounder in the country came into the match with a 11-6 record. Smith’s opponent, Brett Donner, a redshirt Junior came into the match with a 13-7 record. Donner was on the attack early and took down Smith near the edge of the mat but the officials called the wrestlers out. Rutger’s coaches challenged the call but it was upheld as no takedown. Smith then got to his offense getting two takedowns before the first period ended making the score 4-1. Donner chose to go down to start the second period and quickly escaped making the score 4-2. Smith tacked on one more takedown making the score 6-3 to end the second period. Smith chose to go down to start the third period and was able to escape making the score 7-3. Smith then went back on the attack getting two more takedowns making the score 11-4. Donner was then called for a penalty which made the score 12-4. It appeared Donner grabbed Smith’s singlet while on the edge of the mat which led to the penalty being called. Due to riding time the final score was a 13-4 major decision for Smith. Smith’s major decision made the team score 12-4 OSU.


At 174 pounds, Ohio State’s Kaleb Romero, a redshirt Sophomore and the No. 9 174-pounder in the country came into the match with a 10-2 record. Romero’s opponent, Joe Grello, a redshirt Junior and the No. 19 174-pounder in the country came into the match with a 5-2 record. Romero was able to get two takedowns in the first period making the score 4-1 to end the first period. OSU deferred to start the second period so Grello chose to go down. Grello was able to escape making the score 4-2. Grello was then called for his second stalling making the score 5-2. Romero tacked on one more takedown to end the second period leading 7-2. Romero chose to go neutral to start the third period. Romero was able to get a late takedown but was unable to get one minute of riding time. The final score was a 9-2 decision for Romero. Romero’s decision victory made the team score 15-3 OSU.


At 184 pounds, Coach Tom Ryan made the decision to move Rocky Jordan from 174 pounds to 184 pounds. Jordan is a redshirt Freshman with a 20-3 record on the season. Jordan’s opponent, Billy Janzer, a redshirt freshman came into the match with an 11-4 record. Janzer went on the offensive first with a takedown that made the score 2-0. Jordan was able to get an escape before the period ended making the score 2-1. Janzer chose to go down to start the second period and was able to escape making the score 3-1. Late in the second period Jordan was able to get a takedown tying the match at 3-3. Jordan chose to go down to start the third period and Janzer immediately allowed Jordan to escape making the score 4-3 Jordan. Jordan showed great defense but Janzer was able to break through as time ran out and score a takedown winning the match by a 5-4 decision. Janzer’s decision victory made the team score 15-6 OSU.


At 197 pounds, Ohio State’s Kollin Moore, a redshirt Senior and the No. 1 197-pounder in the country came into the match with a 15-0 record. Moore’s opponent, Jordan Pagano, a graduate Senior and the No. 17 197-pounder in the country came into the match with a 14-4 record. Moore started the match very aggressive scoring 4 takedowns in the first period making the score 8-3 to end the first. Moore chose to go down to start the second period. Pagano was called for his second stalling making the score 9-3. Moore was then able to escape increasing his lead to 10-3. Moore went back on the attack scoring two more takedowns, making the score 14-4 at the end of the second period. Pagano chose to go down to start the third period and was able to escape making the score 14-5. Moore was able to get two more takedowns increasing his lead to 18-7. Pagano then broke through Moore’s defense scoring a takedown. Moore was able to quickly escape making the final score a 20-9 major decision. Moore’s major decision victory made the team score 19-6 OSU.


At HWT, Ohio State’s Gary Traub aka “Gas Tank Gary”, a redshirt Junior came into the match with a 15-2 record. Traub’s opponent, Matthew Correnti, a redshirt Junior came into the match with a 10-3 record. There was very little action in the first period ending 0-0. Correnti chose to go down to start the second period and was able to quickly escape making the score 1-0 Correnti. There was no more scoring in the second period. Traub chose to go down in the third period and was able to get the reversal making the score 2-1. Correnti was then able to escape tying the match 2-2 to end the third period. The match then went to overtime as the crowd chanted “Gary” “Gary” “Gary” over and over. There was no scoring in the first overtime so the match went to sudden victory. Traub chose to go down and was unable to escape in the 30 second period. In the second sudden victory, Correnti chose to go down. Despite Correnti’s best efforts to escape Traub rode him out. The match went to the third sudden victory. Both wrestlers started on their feet knowing the next score wins the match. Traub lived up to his name and took a well-timed shot that landed. Traub scored a takedown winning the match 4-2. The crowd went nuts as he ran around the mat celebrating with fans. Traub’s victory made the team score 22-6 OSU.


At 125 pounds, Ohio State’s Malik Heinselman, a Sophomore, came into the match with a 9-7 record. Heinselman’s opponent, Nicolas Aguilar, a redshirt Freshman and the No. 14 125-pounder in the country came into the match with a 14-4 record. Aguilar was able to get a quick takedown and accrue over 1 minute of riding time to end the first period 2-0. Ohio State deferred and Aguilar chose to go down to start the second period. Aguilar escaped then took Heinselman down making the score 5-0. Aguilar was then able to tilt Heinselman getting four nearfall points increasing his lead to 9-0 to end the second period. Heinselman chose to go neutral to start the third period. Aguilar was able to tack on two more takedowns to end the match with a 14-1 major decision. Aguilar’s major decision made the team score 22-10 OSU.


At 133 pounds, Ohio State’s Jordan Decatur, a Freshman came into the match with a 9-1 record. Decatur’s opponent, Sammy Alvarez, a Freshman and the No. 11 133-pounder in the country came into the match with a 15-4 record. There was no scoring in the first period ending 0-0. Alvarez chose to go down to start the second period and was able to get the escape making the score 1-0. Alvarez was then able to get a takedown increasing his lead to 3-0 to end the second period. Decatur chose to go neutral to start the third period. Alvarez was able to get back to his offense scoring another takedown but Decatur was able to quickly escape making the score 5-1. Decatur attempted to get to his offense but Alvarez’s defense was too much. The match ended in a 6-1 decision for Alvarez. Alvarez’s victory made the final team score 22-13 OSU.


Ohio State continues to grow as a young team but I continue to have multiple questions regarding their lineup. I believe Rocky Jordan can grow into an excellent 184-pounder but what about 125 pounds and 157 pounds. If this team wants to compete for a Big Ten Championship and a National Championship they will need to get more out of those two weights.


Written by Brandon Dodson

Follow on Twitter @recruitingbucks

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