Ohio State Wrestling (2015/2017/2018 B1G Champs, 2015 National Champs, 2019 National Runners-up)

[ScriptOhio]

125-No. 10 Brendan McCrone (R-So.) def. Caelan Riley (Jr.) | D, 5-0
McCrone opened the Big Ten season with a takedown early in the first. He took a 3-0 score into the second and then added an escape for a 4-0 lead. With a point for riding time, McCrone got the win by decision, 5-0.

133-No. 2 Lucas Byrd (R-Sr.) def. No. 9 Nic Bouzakis (R-So.) | D, 8-5 SV-1
Bouzakis struck first with a takedown to lead quickly 3-1 after a Byrd escape. Bouzakis added an escape early in the second for a 4-1 lead. Byrd tied it at 4-all with an edge-of-the-mat takedown that was challenged by Ohio State but to no avail. Bouzakis reclaimed the lead with an escape to head to the third leading 5-4. Byrd escaped to tie the bout to send the match to sudden victory. Byrd then got the victory with a takedown to win, 8-5.

141-No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Jr.) def. No. 13 Danny Pucino (R-Jr.) | F, 1:47
Mendez opened the scoring with a takedown and then got the pin at 1:47.

149-No. 12 Dylan D'Emilio (Gr.) def. No. 11 Kannon Webster (R-Fr.) | D, 2-0
The first period ended with no score. D'Emilio went up 1-0 with an escape to send the bout to the third with the lead. D'Emilio did not allow a Webster escape in the third and with a point for riding time won by decision, 2-0.

157-Jason Kraisser (Gr.) def. No. 9 Paddy Gallagher (R-Jr.) | D, 15-9
Gallagher scored first with a takedown followed by a Kraisser escape. The Illini then went up 4-3 with a takedown heading to the second period. Kraisser added an escape point before a Gallagher takedown to regain the lead at 6-5. Kraisser tied it with an escape, then added a takedown and four-point nearfall to lead 13-6 after five minutes. Gallagher added a takedown followed by a Kraisser reversal and a point for riding time to take the bout by decision 15-9.

165-e'Than Birden (Fr.) def. No. 10 Braeden Scoles (R-Fr.) | D, 9-4
Birden got the opening takedown before a Scoles escape made it 3-1. Birden added another takedown to lead 6-2 after three minutes. There was no scoring in the second. Scoles escaped early to make it 6-3. Birden got another takedown for a 9-3 lead. Scoles added an escape to make it 9-4 but Birden held on for the win by decision.

174-No. 9 Carson Kharchla (Gr.) def. No. 21 Danny Braunagel (R-Sr.) | D, 11-5
Braunagel scored first after a scramble with a takedown for a 3-0 lead. Kharchla earned an escape and late takedown to lead 4-3 after three minutes. Braunagel tied it at 4-all with an early escape in the second. Kharchla added a takedown and after a Braunagel escape led 7-5. Kharchla added a point with an escape and added a takedown for an 11-5 win by decision.

184-No. 10 Edmond Ruth (R-Sr.) def. No. 14 Ryder Rogotzke (So.) | D, 7-3
Ruth scored first with a takedown two minutes in to the first period. Rogotzke escaped to trail 3-1 headed to the second period. Rogotzke added an escape point early in the second for a one point deficit. Ruth went up 4-2 with an escape in the third. Rogotzke was awarded a point for Illinois stalling but Ruth added a takedown for a 7-3 win by decision.

197-Seth Shumate (R-So.) def. No. 11 Zac Braunagel (R-Sr.) | D, 11-9
Shumate earned an early takedown to lead 3-1. Shumate added a takedown and two-point nearfall for an 8-2 lead after a Braunagel escape. Braunagel added another escape early in the second for the only scoring in the period. Shumate upped the lead to 8-3 with an escape in the third. Braunagel added a takedown followed by a Shumate escape. Braunagel added another takedown but Shumate held on to win by decision, 11-9

HWT-No. 7 Nick Feldman (R-So.) def. No. 11 Luke Luffman (R-Sr.) D, 7-3
Neither wrestler was able to score in the opening period. Feldman escaped to lead 1-0 to open the scoring in the second. That score held entering the third. Luffman evened the bout with an escape but Feldman got the first takedown of the match to lead 4-1 with a minute gone in the final period. Luffman added an escape but Feldman earned another takedown to win by decision 7-2.

 

[RB07OSU]

Really great win against a very good Illinois squad. Could have been even more lopsided, Bouzakis damn near had #2 Byrd beat and was on the wrong side of a questionable takedown call that was challenged but stood. Huge wins for Birden and Shumate without a doubt. Really quality win for D'Emilio and Mendez is a bonus machine with constant falls and tech falls against ranked opponents. Kharchla is really wrestling well and looks to be 100% healthy, so he could really make a run in his final campaign for us. Only downer was Paddy...there is no solution at 157 this year, just have to hope for the best from him but all the injury history is rearing its ugly head for him (I had heard that already, but it is showing in each match). Next year I would be surprised if Vince Bouzakis doesn't take the 157 spot.

Fun dual to watch if you have B1G+. Last night I was preoccupied (obviously) but caught it on record when I woke up. If the Bucks bball team hadn't slipped up against Oregon, this could've been the perfect sports week for me but very happy with a convincing dual win against a talented Illini squad and downing Tejas in the same night. Really proud of how this team has been wrestling in duals, they have definitely exceeded my expectations so far.

There is a lot to enjoy with this team and I am going to, but next year's lineup should be much better. Here is what I see the lineup being barring injuries or portal additions. I just love doing these projections.

125: McCrone
133: Davino (could be N. Bouzakis here and Davino at 141)
141: N. Bouzakis
149: Mendez
157: V. Bouzakis/Shaw (I think V. Bouzakis takes the spot at 157 or 165 and we redshirted two of our best to shoot for next season)
165: Birden/Shaw//V. Bouzakis (Birden is coming along, I expect him to make a big jump over the next year...might be a relative weak spot in the lineup but I wouldn't count on that...might also look for a portal pickup here, but Shaw was an enormous pickup as the #24 PFP in his class and it could be V. Bouzakis that is at 165 and Shaw at 157...real toss up at 157/165 because you will have all of Paddy, V. Bouzakis/Birden/Shaw all going for spots)
174: Rogotzke (I think he is best suited here unless he gets stronger, his funk up at 184 gets met by strength)
184: Shumate (I believe he comes back down to 184 and can be solid)
197: Geog (as of now that is what we've got...there is a chance of Feldman coming down here but I will strongly caution it is unlikely)
HWT: Feldman/Neeves (see the above, but if Feldman can be effective at 197 it would be a huge lineup boost to get Neeves in there at HWT)

- One note on that lineup projection...there are at least two very likely commits that could very well shake up the lineup and we might hit the portal between weights 157-197.