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

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RB07OSU said:
Mostly you're correct. It's relatively easy to identify talent and if you get them in, you're usually going to be good. Last few cycles we've had top recruits and not phenomenal results. This year will tell it all, if we aren't vastly improved, we have a problem.
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It's an interesting debate - I don't know enough about the recruiting rankings, but it sure seems that Iowa and Penn State get phenomenal classes.

It also seems like Iowa chokes and PSU thrives on the big stage. PSU sure seems to peak at the right time and seem to be more aggressive in general.
 
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bigdog3300 said:
It's an interesting debate - I don't know enough about the recruiting rankings, but it sure seems that Iowa and Penn State get phenomenal classes.

It also seems like Iowa chokes and PSU thrives on the big stage. PSU sure seems to peak at the right time and seem to be more aggressive in general.
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I'm shooting from the hip here, but I think we've outrecruited every team except PSU (including Iowa) over the last 10 years overall. PSU gets about anyone they want at this point, though we've had some victories over them here and there. Not every year, but more times than not.

Problem is that we've had so many guys not pan out that were highly ranked, which is odd for wrestling. Just going from memory on recent guys, we have Singletary, Hoffman (maybe jury is out there, he did AA but he was ranked #1 coming out), the Decaturs, Heinselmann, R Jordan, and Kinner all underperform, by a lot. All were top recruits. Kharchla has been injured and still has time, so I'll withhold judgment. Ethan Smith was over-performing, then probably fell back to where he was ranked. Romero was the #1 guy in the country coming out and has had some moments, but not quite to where he was ranked. Sasso should be a champion at this point with his talent.

When Ryan had the team at their prime, guys stood up in the clutch. Stieber, Courts, the 197 guy that refused offense (can't recall his name, kudos to who reminds me), and many more that came up in the NCAAs and got aggressive. We're just not getting that right now, but it was admittedly a rebuilding year. But the rebuild better be done and ready to go with the class we have coming in.
 
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Akron Rick said:
Would add Myles Martin,Kyle Snyder, and Nathan Tomasello. Are you thinking of Mark Martin at 197?
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Definitely those guys as well, all legends and fun to watch. I was thinking of Nick Heflin at 197 (finally just researched it since it was eating me up)...always thought he was about the most boring guy to watch possible, but come NCAA's he always seemed to turn it on.
 
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Several interesting matches last week at the Dapper Dan showcase in Pittsburgh. Format was a match in each weight class with a Pa.wrestler versus a wrestler from another state. Jesse Mendez went up against a kid named Priest who was a state champ and Mendez destroyed him 21-7. Nick Feldman also wrestled against Harley Andrews, a top 20 recruit headed to Nebraska. He was pinned by Nick. The other match of some interest was Mac Stout beating highly ranked Rylan Rogers 7-5. Interesting because Stout was just beaten in the Pa. States by Sonny Sasso who I hope will be a Buckeye commit. Also Pa.lightweight Mason Leiphart beat USA #6 Joey Cruz, notable because at Pa.States Leiphart was beaten rather easily by OSU commit Vinny Kilkeary.
 
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Akron Rick said:
Several guys moving on...good luck to them
1. Kevon Freeman in the portal
2. Anthony Echemendia also in the portal
3. Rocky Jordan transferring to U.Tenn.Chattanooga.
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Didn't even know Freeman or Echemendia were still on the roster honestly. Rocky I am a little surprised kept going and to Chattanooga of all places, but hopefully he finds some success, great kid.
 
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RB07OSU said:
Didn't even know Freeman or Echemendia were still on the roster honestly. Rocky I am a little surprised kept going and to Chattanooga of all places, but hopefully he finds some success, great kid.
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Echemendia's next hurdle comes April 4th in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. Once he gets through the legal system he probably needs some anger management counselling at least. I figured Rocky might go to Wisconsin where his cousin wrestled, but maybe they're set. I'll echo your wishes for him.
 
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125 - MALIK HEINSELMAN, SR.
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133 - ANDRE GONZALES, RS-FR.
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141 - DYLAN D’EMILIO, SO.
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149 - SAMMY SASSO, JR.
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157 - PADDY GALLAGHER, RS-FR.
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165 - CARSON KHARCHLA, SO.
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174 - ETHAN SMITH, SR.
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184 - KALEB ROMERO, SR.
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197 - GAVIN HOFFMAN, JR.
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285 - TATE ORNDORFF, SR.
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Thanks for the post, always love predicting the lineup as we wait for the season. I will go out on a limb and say Bouzakis wins 133 as a true frosh (#2 overall recruit in the incoming class regardless of weight), although Gonzales and him will be a battle. Bouzakis is very advanced technically and comes from great coaching at Wyoming Seminary. Now if Mendez gets down to 133, he might be your guy but I don't think he can cut that much. Speaking of Mendez, I wouldn't be shocked if he knocks off D'Emilio to take 141...Dylan is a very good wrestler but Mendez is the #1 overall recruit of the incoming class and INSANELY talented, like could win NCAA's as a true frosh talented. Finally, I will say with strong confidence that Feldman takes the HWT spot from Orndorff unless the staff just wants to redshirt Feldman for some reason. Feldman imo is the best HWT prospect since Steveson and his style just screams Kyle Snyder.

So yes, you could very well see 3 true frosh starting this year. That sounds a little crazy, but these guys are legit and when you are that good at wrestling, this a sport where there are countless examples of true frosh winning it all or at the very least making a run. Will be very interesting to see if those guys can grab the spots.
 
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bigdog3300 said:
Is next years team, if they can stay healthy and the freshman get their fair chance, capable of winning the B1G? I know Iowa loses a lot, not sure about PSU.
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Imo the freshmen (I will call them the Big 3, that is what they are, that being Mendez, Bouzakis, and Feldman) probably need to all to be AA status and Gallagher also has to be. Hope Malik can live up to the potential at 125, but don't see it. Decatur isn't cutting it at 133 and we'll see on Gonzales if Bouzakis doesn't win the job. D'Emilio is good, but probably not an AA type of guy. Sasso should win a title at 149. I can't wait to see Gallagher. Kharchla is a monster and will make a run next year. Smith I think the same on. Again with Romero. Hoffman had a hell of a tourney but that was a blip on the radar thus far, hopefully he tapped in to what he was touted to be coming in. Orndorff also AA'ed but I really don't think it happens again...I like Feldman's odds better.

In short, we better be top 3, but I think we are a year out against PSU with all the guys they have back. They will be loaded and unless they have some injuries and we have the incoming guys competing for titles, I don't think we will come all that close to PSU.
 
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Bouzakis and Feldman both won freestyle championships at the U20 by tech falls in the finals. The U20 is an incredibly difficult tournament and those two just murdered everyone in it. Gonzalez took runner up in a damn good performance overall, and also had a great tournament. That is in the "junior" division (I think the cutoff is some point in the early college years, not sure the exact criteria), but still damn tough. For reference, at the senior level Pletcher took 4th and Sasso got 5th. We are in for a treat with these guys, you don't wrestle like that in a tourney like the U20 if you are not elite.
 
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Poster on the Bucknuts site says 4 time NCAA qualifier Taylor Lamont is in the portal and is visiting Ohio State. He has wrestled 4 seasons at 125 for Utah Valley St. which is where Tate Orndorff also wrestled. You may remember him as the guy who beat Heinselman in this year's NCAAs. If he signs with the Buckeyes he's expected to fill the 133 slot if Bouzakis and Mendez are redshirted.
 
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