The Buckeyes returned to the Covelli Center on Friday night to face conference foe Maryland. The crowd was electric all night thanks to the great planning of Coach Tom Ryan. It was Military Appreciation night, Alumni night, and the 5-year celebration of Ohio State winning the National Championship. Ohio State won 9/10 matches on their way to a 43-3 victory. Ohio State also scored 53 takedowns in the match to Maryland’s one. Please read below for match by match details.
The match started at 125 pounds with Ohio State’s Malik Heinselman, a Sophomore. He came into the match with a 9-12 record on the season. Heinselman’s opponent, Brandon Cray, a redshirt Junior came into the match with a 3-13 record. Heinselman got the only takedown in the first period ending 2-0. Cray chose to go down to start the second period and was able to escape making the score 2-1. Heinselman was able to score another takedown and accrue over 1 minute of riding time to end the second period with a 4-1 lead. Heinselman chose to go down to start the third period and was able to get a reversal increasing his lead to 6-1. Cray was then able to escape making the score 6-2. Cray was unable to get to his offense before time ran out so the final score was a 7-2 decision for Heinselman. Heinselman’s victory made the team score 3-0 OSU.
At 133 pounds, Ohio State’s Jordan Decatur, a true freshman and the No. 21 133-pounder in the country came into the match with a 10-5 record. Decatur’s opponent, King Sandoval, a redshirt freshman came into the match with a 9-11 record. Sandoval was able to score an early takedown on Decatur and was able to turn him for 4 nearfall points making the score 6-0 to end the first period. Decatur chose to go down to start the second period and was able to get the reversal making the score 6-2. After a stalling warning on Maryland, Decatur chose an optional start which means he allowed Sandoval to get up. This made the score 7-2 to end the second period. Sandoval chose to go down to start the third period and was able to escape making the score 8-2. Decatur was then able to get to his offense scoring 3 straight takedowns. Unfortunately, this was not enough and Decatur ran out of time losing by a 10-8 decision. Sandoval’s victory made the team score 3-3.
At 141 pounds, Ohio State’s Luke Pletcher, a Senior and the No. 1 141-pounder in the country came into the match with a 20-0 record. Pletcher’s opponent, Hunter Baxter, a redshirt Sophomore came into the match with a 6-14 record. Pletcher came out of the gate firing with a takedown and escape making the score 2-1. Pletcher then scored another takedown and turned Baxter for 4 nearfall points increasing his lead to 8-1. Pletcher chose an optional start which made the score 8-2. Pletcher continued to be aggressive scoring two more takedowns increasing his lead to 12-3. Pletcher then went to work on top turning Baxter for the Pin in 1:57. Pletcher’s Pin made the team score 9-3 OSU.
At 149 pounds, Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso, a redshirt Freshman and the No. 2 149-pounder in the country came into the match with an 18-2 record. Sasso’s opponent, Ryan Garlitz, a Freshman came into the match with a 3-4 record. The match started out with a stalling call against Maryland. Sasso then went to work scoring 3 takedowns, ending the first period with a 6-2 lead and over 1.5 minutes of riding time. Sasso chose to go down to start the second period, Garlitz was called for his second stalling making the score 7-2. Sasso was then able to escape increasing his lead to 8-2. Sasso tacked on two more takedowns increasing his lead to 12-3. Garlitz was then called for his third stalling of the match increasing Sasso’s lead to 13-3 to end the second period. Garlitz chose to go down to start the third period and was able to escape making the score 13-4. Sasso then scored 5 straight takedowns ending the match in a 23-8 tech fall. Sasso’s victory made the team score 14-3 OSU.
At 157 pounds, Ohio State’s Quinn Kinner, a redshirt Freshman came into the match with a 9-4 record. Kinner’s opponent, Lucas Cordio, a redshirt Sophomore came into the match with a 13-9 record. The match started out with a flurry of action from both wrestlers which resulted in Cordio being awarded a takedown. Ohio State threw their challenge brick stating Kinner scored an earlier takedown. The call was reversed, awarding Kinner the takedown making the score 2-0. The wrestlers were reset to the center of the mat and Cordio was able to get an escape making the score 2-1. Kinner scored another takedown and quickly tilted Cordio for 4 near fall points three separate times ending the match in a 16-1 tech fall. Kinner’s victory made the team score 19-3 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 14-8 record. Smith’s opponent, Kyle Cochran, a redshirt Sophomore came into the match with an 11-5 record. The match started out with a scramble on the edge of the mat which resulted in a penalty being called on Cochran. This made the score 1-0 Smith. Smith then got to his offense scoring a takedown and turning Cochran for 4 nearfall points. This increased his lead to 7-0. Cochran was then able to escape making the score 7-1. Smith was able to score two more takedowns to end the period with an 11-2 lead. Smith chose to go neutral to start the second period. Smith tacked on one more takedown in the second period ending the period with a 13-3 lead. Cochran chose to go down to start the third period quickly escaping making the score 13-4. Smith tacked on 3 more takedowns winning the match in a 20-7 major decision. Smith’s victory made the team score 23-3 OSU.
At 174 pounds, Ohio State’s Kaleb Romero, a redshirt Sophomore and the No. 7 174-pounder in the country came into the match with a 14-3 record. Romero’s opponent, Philip Spadafora, a redshirt Sophomore and the No. 24 174-pounder in the country came into the match with a 14-9 record. Romero scored the first takedown of the match but Spadafora was able to quickly escape making the score 2-1. Spadafora was then called for a stalling. Romero was able to tack on two more takedowns to end the first period with a 6-2 lead. Spadafora chose to go down to start the second period and was able to escape making the score 6-3. Romero tacked on one more takedown in the second period increasing his lead to 8-3 to end the period. Romero chose to go neutral to start the third period. Romero tacked on two more takedowns in the third period winning by a 13-4 major decision. Romero’s victory made the team score 27-3 OSU.
At 184 pounds, Ohio State’s Rocky Jordan, a redshirt Freshman and the No. 24 184-pounder in the country came into the match with a 22-6 record. Jordan’s opponent, Kyle Jasenski, a redshirt Sophomore came into the match with a 9-11 record. Jordan started the match out with a fast takedown and 4 nearfall points making the score 6-0 Jordan. Jasenski was then called for a technical violation due to pulling on the edge of the mat. This increased Jordan’s lead to 7-0. Jasenski then escaped making the score 7-1. Jasenski was called for his first stalling of the match prior to being taken down by Jordan. Jordan’s takedown increased his lead to 9-1 to end the first period. Jordan chose to go down to start the second period and was able to score a reversal increasing his lead to 11-1. Jasenski was able to escape cutting Jordan’s lead to 11-2. Jordan then scored another takedown increasing his lead to 13-2. Jasenski was then called for his second stalling of the match making the score 14-2. Jordan then tilted Jasenski for 4 nearfall points ending the match in an 18-2 tech fall. Jordan’s tech fall made the team score 32-3 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 20-0 record. Moore’s opponent Niko Cappello, a redshirt Junior came into the match with a 4-9 record. Moore got to his offense quickly not allowing Cappello to gain any ground. Moore scored 5 takedowns before pinning his opponent at the 2:36 mark. Moore’s pin made the team score 38-3 OSU.
At heavy weight, Ohio State’s Gary Traub, a redshirt Junior and the No. 23 heavy weight in the country came into the match with a 17-5 record. Traub’s opponent, Parker Robinson, a redshirt Freshman came into the match with a 1-16 record. Traub came out of the tunnel to chants of “Gary” “Gary” “Gary”. Traub came out of the gate firing with three takedowns in the first period making the score 6-2 after one. Robinson chose to go down to start the second period and was able to escape making the score 6-3. Traub was able to tack on five more takedowns in the second period increasing his lead to 17-7 after two periods. Traub chose to go down to start the third period quickly escaping which increased his lead to 18-7. Traub went back on the attack scoring the final three takedowns, ending the match in a 24-9 tech fall. Traub’s victory made the final team score 43-3 OSU.
Ohio State may be ranked top 5 nationally but Coach Tom Ryan wants more for his young team. He has continued to make adjustments to the lineup ensuring the best ten athletes are on the mat. This week Ohio State’s Quinn Kinner wrestled at 157 pounds after making the jump from 133 pounds. Kinner looked impressive in a tech fall victory. In a recent interview, Coach Tom Ryan also stated Koontz is on his way down to 125 pounds and Gavin Hoffman is currently at 215 pounds. I personally think Koontz can be very tough at 125 pounds and Hoffman moving to heavy weight may be more for next season. Either way, look for this team to be firing on all cylinders in March.
Written by Brandon Dodson
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