Wrestling Bucks too much for the Big Red
The Ohio State Buckeyes returned to action Sunday December 1st against 17th ranked Cornell. The Buckeyes have wrestled Cornell 15 times over the last 90 years with a record of 7-7-1. The last match was last season when Ohio State came out victorious 25-9. Ohio State won 7/10 matches on their way to a 23-6 victory to improve their dual record to 3-1. Please read below for details on each match.
The dual started out at 141 pounds with Ohio State’s Luke Pletcher, a senior and the No. 1 141 pounder in the country came into the match with an 8-0 record. Pletcher’s opponent Noah Baughman, a senior, came into the match with a 9-1 record. Pletcher had two takedowns in the first period taking a 4-2 lead. Pletcher went down to start the second period and was able to quickly escape increasing his lead to 5-2. Baughman was able to secure a takedown in the second period but Pletcher was able to quickly escape making the score 6-4 to end the second period. Baughman chose to go down in the third period and was able to get an escape cutting Pletcher’s lead to 6-5. Pletcher was able to secure one last takedown making the final score an 8-6 decision. Pletcher may not have scored any bonus points in this match but he showcased his superior defense and scrambling ability which will serve him well against ranked opponents. Pletcher’s victory made the team score 3-0 Ohio State.
At 149 pounds, Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso, a redshirt freshman who is the No.10 149 pounder in the country came into the match with a 7-1 record. Sasso’s opponent Hunter Richard, a junior, came into the match with an 8-1 record. Sasso started the first period fast with two quick takedowns making the score 4-2. Richard then picked up two stalling calls in the first period making the score 5-2. Richard chose to go down to start the second period and Sasso was able to get over a minute of riding time before Richard escaped cutting Sasso’s lead to 5-3. Sasso was able to get one more takedown in the second period making the score 7-3. Cornell challenged the call stating the wrestlers were off the mat but the call was upheld maintaining Sasso’s 7-3 lead at the end of the second period. In the third period, it appeared Sasso shut down his offense which allowed his opponent to get three takedowns before the match ended in a 12-9 decision for Sasso. Sasso’s victory made the team score 6-0 Ohio State.
At 157 pounds, Ohio State’s Elijah Cleary, a redshirt junior came into the match with a 6-4 record. Cleary’s opponent Colton Yapoujian, a freshman, came into the match with a 10-1 record. There was very little offense in the first period ending 0-0. Cleary went down to start the second period and was able to escape making the score 1-0 Cleary to end the second period. Yapoujian chose to go down in the third period and was able to get an escape tying the score at 1-1 after the third period. There was minimal action in the first sudden victory. In the first over time Cleary chose down and was rode out the entire 30 seconds. Yapoujian chose to go down in the second overtime period. Cleary struggled to maintain a hold on Yapoujian so he grabbed the ankle and failed to improve his position leading to a second stalling call, this penalty made the score 3-1 after the escape point was rewarded. Cleary’s 3-1 defeat made the team score 6-3.
At 165 pounds, Ohio State’s Ethan Smith, a redshirt sophomore is the No. 14 165 pounder in the country. Smith came into the match with a 6-3 record on the season. Smith’s opponent Milik Dawkins, a senior, came into the match with a 5-0 record on the season. Smith started this match where he left off against McFadden. Smith had 4 takedowns in the first period taking a commanding 8-3 lead with over 1 minute of riding time. Dawkins deferred to start the second period so Smith chose to go down. Smith was able to get a quick escape increasing his lead to 9-3 to end the second period. Dawkins chose to go down to start the third period and was able to escape making the score 9-4. Smith was able to get one more takedown before the third period ended making the score 11-4. With riding time tacked on Smith won by a 12-4 major decision, increasing Ohio State’s lead to 10-3.
At 174 pounds, Ohio State’s Kaleb Romero, a redshirt sophomore and the No. 13 174 pounder in the country. He came into this match with a 7-0 record. Romero’s opponent Brandon Womack, a senior, is the No. 11 174 pounder in the country. Womack came into the match with a 4-1 record. Womack was able to secure a takedown in the first period making the score 2-1. Romero chose to go down to start the second period and was able to get a quick escape tying the match 2-2 to end the second period. Womack chose to go down to start the third period and Romero chose an optional start which means he allowed his opponent to get up. This made the score 3-2. Romero was able to get two takedowns late in the third period defeating his opponent by a 6-5 decision. Romero’s victory increased Ohio State’s lead to 13-3.
At 184 pounds, Ohio State’s Gavin Hoffman, a redshirt freshman came into the match with an 8-3 record. Hoffman’s opponent Ben Darmstadt, a redshirt sophomore, and the No.4 184 pounder came into the match with a 7-2 record. Darmstadt was able to get a quick takedown to start the match and was able to get 2.5 minutes of riding time before the first period ended. Darmstadt deferred to start the second period and Hoffman chose to go neutral. There was minimal activity in the second period ending 2-0. Darmstadt chose to go on top to start the third period and tacked on two near fall points increasing his lead to 4-0. Due to riding time the match ended with a 5-0 decision for Darmstadt, making the team score 13-6.
At 197 pounds, Ohio State’s Kollin Moore, a redshirt senior who is the No. 1 197 pounder in the country came into the match with an 8-0 record. Moore’s opponent, Jonathan Loew, a freshman came into the match with a 10-1 record. Loew was able to get the first takedown of the match but Moore was able to quickly escape making the score 2-1. Moore was able to get two takedowns before the first period ended making the score 5-3. Moore chose to go down to start the second period and was able to quickly escape making the score 6-3. Moore was able to tack on two more takedowns before the second period ended making the score 10-4. Loew chose to go down to start the third period and was able to get an escape making the score 10-5. Moore was able to get two more takedowns with 2 near fall points making the score 17-6. Due to riding time Moore won by an 18-6 major decision making the team score 17-6 Ohio State.
At heavy weight, Ohio State’s Gary Traub, a redshirt junior came into the match with a 10-1 record. Traub’s opponent Brendon Furman, a sophomore came into the match with a 9-2 record. Furman bull rushed Traub to begin the first period causing him to leave the circle. This led to a stalling call for Traub in the first 6 seconds of the match. Furman was able to get a takedown but Traub was able to escape making the score 2-1 after the first period. Furman chose to go down to start the second period and was able to get an escape increasing his lead to 3-1 at the end of the second period. Traub chose to go down to start the third period and was able to get an escape cutting Furmans lead to 3-2. At this point in the match Furman was gassed and the crowd knew it. The crowd roared for Traub and he utilized that energy to get a late takedown on the edge of the mat taking the victory by a 4-3 decision. Traub’s hard fought victory increased Ohio State’s lead to 20-6.
At 125 pounds, Ohio State’s Malik Heinselman, a sophomore came into the match with a 5-4 record on the season. Heinselman’s opponent, Dom Lajoie, a sophomore came into the match with an 8-3 record on the season. Heinselman was able to secure a takedown in the first period making the score 2-1. Lajoie chose to go down to start the second period and Heinselman was able to turn Lajoie for two near fall points before Lajoie escaped making the score 4-2. Heinselman was able to get one more takedown before the period ended making the score 6-3. Heinselman chose to go down to start the third period and was able to get a reversal making the score 8-3. Lajoie was able to get a late escape making the final score an 8-4 decision for Heinselman. Heinselman’s victory increased Ohio State’s lead to 23-6.
At 133 pounds, Ohio State’s Dylan Koontz, a redshirt sophomore came into the match with a 5-4 record on the season. Koontz’s opponent, Chas Tucker, a senior is the No. 6 133 pounder in the country and came into the match with a 6-0 record. Tucker was able to get 3 takedowns in the first period making the score 6-2 after the first period. Tucker chose to go down to start the second period and was able to escape quickly increasing his lead to 7-2. Tucker was able to tack on one more takedown before the second period ended making the score 9-3. Koontz chose to go down to start the third period and was able to escape cutting Tucker’s lead to 9-4. Tucker was able to tack on one more takedown before the match ended making the score a 12-5 decision due to riding time. The final team score was 23-9 Ohio State.
Overall Ohio State looked much better against Cornell than they did a week ago against Virginia Tech. There are still a couple question marks in this lineup but as a whole the lineup is developing into the national contender we expect from our Buckeyes. This was the final dual before the Buckeyes head out west for the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Wrestling Invitational. Tune in later this week for a preview of this tournament.
Written By Brandon Dodson
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