Josh Dooley
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Catching up with Ohio State Wrestling
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The OSU grapplers have completed three duals thus far and witnessed the triumphant return of All-American Sammy Sasso.
Tom Ryan’s Ohio State wrestling squad kicked off dual action in mid-November, reeling off three consecutive (and dominant) wins of 30+ team points. The grappling Bucks also claimed seven individual titles at the season-opening Clarion Open and saw reigning 141-pound national champion Jesse Mendez defeat his stiffest competition and NCAA co-finalist at the NWCA All-Star Classic in State College, PA — Penn State’s backyard/home venue and the mecca of modern wrestling.
As impressive as OSU’s start to the season has been, it pales in comparison to the individual triumph(s) of both Tom Ryan and Sammy Sasso.
Ryan was involved in a serious automobile accident in April, which resulted in the Buckeyes’ coach being pulled from his car by the jaws of life. He then underwent 20+ hours of anesthesia and surgery to repair fractures in his femur and tibia, a shattered kneecap, and a torn rotator cuff. He also underwent a skin graft and received stitches for a head injury.
Ryan was hospitalized for nearly two weeks but has since recovered well enough to join his team and be available for early season action. He even signed a contract extension that runs through the 2027 season.
As for Sasso, well, his story is (also) nothing short of remarkable. Ohio State’s unquestioned leader, 4x All-American, and 2x Big Ten Champion was shot in the stomach during a carjacking attempt in August of 2023. He survived but was told – after multiple surgeries and 41 days in the hospital – that he may never walk again, let alone wrestle.
But there’s a reason (multiple, really) that Sasso is referred to by many as “The Savage”. He was determined and undeterred.
For more than a year, Sasso endured intense rehab while also spending as much time as possible with coaches and teammates, eventually reaching the point where he was mentally and physically ready to compete again. But Ryan and his staff don’t just hand out spots in the lineup. Even to an individual as accomplished, admired, and respected/revered as Sasso... “The Savage” was required to earn a spot, which he did. And I think it’s safe to assume that he wouldn’t have preferred the recent situation to play out any other way.
Now, not only is Sasso back in OSU’s lineup, but he is also wrestling at 165 pounds — two weight classes above the one at which he previously competed (149). He is 3-0, with one major decision and a boatload of respect and admiration from everyone familiar with his story.
Several other Buckeye grapplers have impressed during and throughout the first month of the season, including but not limited to Brendan McCrone (125 lbs., 8-0), Nic Bouzakis (133, 7-1 with 3 wins via pinfall), Dylan D’Emilio (149, 8-0 with 4 major decisions), and Luke Geog (197, 7-1 with 4 tech falls). 2023-24 All-Americans Mendez and Nick Feldman are also doing just fine – and performing as expected – with 13 combined wins, 11 of which have come via MD, TF, or pin.
Ohio State is currently ranked 5th in the NWCA Coaches Poll (team), with several individuals ranked inside the top-10 at/of their respective weight classes. Mendez leads the way as an NCAA favorite, but it’s really worth keeping an eye on the entire OSU lineup. Because Ryan and Co. once again have a squad that is loaded with talent and poised to compete for B1G and NCAA glory.
Next up for the Buckeyes is this weekend’s Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, an event in which Ohio State has consistently performed well. Ryan’s squad has won the event five times since 2011 and took third place last year.
The 2024 edition of the Keen Invitational will feature several of the NCAA’s best teams, providing a solid litmus test for OSU prior to Big Ten competition, which is slated to begin shortly after the first of the year. The Big Ten race is shaping up to be a dogfight again this season, with five teams currently ranked inside the top-10 (NCWA poll).
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Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The OSU grapplers have completed three duals thus far and witnessed the triumphant return of All-American Sammy Sasso.
Tom Ryan’s Ohio State wrestling squad kicked off dual action in mid-November, reeling off three consecutive (and dominant) wins of 30+ team points. The grappling Bucks also claimed seven individual titles at the season-opening Clarion Open and saw reigning 141-pound national champion Jesse Mendez defeat his stiffest competition and NCAA co-finalist at the NWCA All-Star Classic in State College, PA — Penn State’s backyard/home venue and the mecca of modern wrestling.
the call stands … @PhenoMendez is still#GoBucks
@SJanickiPhoto pic.twitter.com/ytC6zId8YP
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) November 17, 2024
As impressive as OSU’s start to the season has been, it pales in comparison to the individual triumph(s) of both Tom Ryan and Sammy Sasso.
Ryan was involved in a serious automobile accident in April, which resulted in the Buckeyes’ coach being pulled from his car by the jaws of life. He then underwent 20+ hours of anesthesia and surgery to repair fractures in his femur and tibia, a shattered kneecap, and a torn rotator cuff. He also underwent a skin graft and received stitches for a head injury.
Ryan was hospitalized for nearly two weeks but has since recovered well enough to join his team and be available for early season action. He even signed a contract extension that runs through the 2027 season.
As for Sasso, well, his story is (also) nothing short of remarkable. Ohio State’s unquestioned leader, 4x All-American, and 2x Big Ten Champion was shot in the stomach during a carjacking attempt in August of 2023. He survived but was told – after multiple surgeries and 41 days in the hospital – that he may never walk again, let alone wrestle.
But there’s a reason (multiple, really) that Sasso is referred to by many as “The Savage”. He was determined and undeterred.
For more than a year, Sasso endured intense rehab while also spending as much time as possible with coaches and teammates, eventually reaching the point where he was mentally and physically ready to compete again. But Ryan and his staff don’t just hand out spots in the lineup. Even to an individual as accomplished, admired, and respected/revered as Sasso... “The Savage” was required to earn a spot, which he did. And I think it’s safe to assume that he wouldn’t have preferred the recent situation to play out any other way.
Now, not only is Sasso back in OSU’s lineup, but he is also wrestling at 165 pounds — two weight classes above the one at which he previously competed (149). He is 3-0, with one major decision and a boatload of respect and admiration from everyone familiar with his story.
Several other Buckeye grapplers have impressed during and throughout the first month of the season, including but not limited to Brendan McCrone (125 lbs., 8-0), Nic Bouzakis (133, 7-1 with 3 wins via pinfall), Dylan D’Emilio (149, 8-0 with 4 major decisions), and Luke Geog (197, 7-1 with 4 tech falls). 2023-24 All-Americans Mendez and Nick Feldman are also doing just fine – and performing as expected – with 13 combined wins, 11 of which have come via MD, TF, or pin.
Ohio State is currently ranked 5th in the NWCA Coaches Poll (team), with several individuals ranked inside the top-10 at/of their respective weight classes. Mendez leads the way as an NCAA favorite, but it’s really worth keeping an eye on the entire OSU lineup. Because Ryan and Co. once again have a squad that is loaded with talent and poised to compete for B1G and NCAA glory.
Next up for the Buckeyes is this weekend’s Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, an event in which Ohio State has consistently performed well. Ryan’s squad has won the event five times since 2011 and took third place last year.
The 2024 edition of the Keen Invitational will feature several of the NCAA’s best teams, providing a solid litmus test for OSU prior to Big Ten competition, which is slated to begin shortly after the first of the year. The Big Ten race is shaping up to be a dogfight again this season, with five teams currently ranked inside the top-10 (NCWA poll).
Continue reading...