2005-06 Ohio State Wrestling Outlook – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | General, Wrestling
Nov. 4, 2005
The Ohio State wrestling team is embarking upon a daunting task of facing the challenges of the 2005-06 campaign as a young and inexperienced team. However, Russ Hellickson, who is entering his 20th season as OSU head coach, and the Buckeyes refuse to use youth as an excuse. Hellickson’s team will try to become a Top 20 squad in the nation by the end of the season, as well as a Big Ten contender. For Ohio State, the challenge to improve from an 8-11 dual mark and a 1-7 conference record in 2004-05 will depend on the mindset of a group that is composed of 18 true and redshirt freshmen, nine sophomores, seven juniors and four seniors. A pair of sophomores in T.J. Enright and Kirk Nail is expected to lead this developing squad, as both qualified for the NCAA championships, along with junior J.D. Bergman, who will be redshirting this season.
“We are a team dominated by freshmen and sophomores,” Hellickson said. “But that is no excuse. We have to be competitive because there is a lot of talent here. We may be a young team, but we can’t act like it.”
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
The Buckeyes will be forced to confront the reality they do not have much time to develop their skills and prove their talents on the mats. With a tough upcoming schedule waiting, many will receive a fresh start at the collegiate ranks. However, Ohio State is prepared to bring its work ethic to a higher level, which can produce All-Americans by the end of the season, Hellickson said. The Buckeyes missed out on All-America accolades last year, but that is of little worry to Hellickson and Co. The 40-time producer of OSU All-Americans predicts Ohio State can garner multiple All-America candidates at the conclusion of the year, fulfilling an expectation that eluded the Buckeyes last season.
“With the challenge in front of them, there is no time for adjustment,” Hellickson said. “They have to think like seasoned veterans and act like they have been at the top before.”
There also will be greater expectations for the four seniors returning to the team. The senior class, comprised of Nathaniel Augustson, Brent Billet, Nathan Costello and Steve Sommer is presented with the same situation many of the underclassmen will work through; “they will have to do more than their experience would dictate they are capable of doing,” Hellickson said.
Augustson was a mainstay at 174 and was voted “Most Dedicated” by his teammates last season, leading the team in reversals (18) and was third in takedowns (53) and team points (48). Billet will step up at 184 after serving in a reserve role last season. Costello (125) recorded his best statistics to date at the collegiate level in 2004-05, registering career highs in wins (8), takedowns (30) and team points (28.5). At 157, Sommer also competed for Ohio State in a reserve role last year, but he too is predicted to be a stronghold in the 2005-06 starting lineup.
Adam Huddle, Jordin Humphrey, Jermaine Jones, Alex Picazo and Steve Wolery make up a sound junior class. Huddle will return after spending majority of last season as a back-up. Humphrey who transferred to Ohio State and Jones, who did not compete for the Buckeyes last season will battle teammate Costello for the start at 125. At 184, Picazo recorded career highs last season in wins (14), dual wins (6), takedowns (43) and team points (30.5). Wolery received the starting nod at 149 in 2004-05 as a walk-on.
UNDAUNTED UNDERCLASSMEN
Several sophomores, many redshirt freshmen from a year ago and numerous true freshmen will be thrust into action in 2005-06. In addition to qualifying for the NCAA championships, Enright, who will be jumping from 133 to 141, finished sixth at the Big Ten championships and was ranked in the Top 20 throughout the season, including a ranking as high as 11th. James King will compete for the starting role at 165 with Augustson and redshirt freshman Charlie Clark. Nail will be the go to guy at HWT after a successful 2004-05 campaign in which he finished eighth at the Big Ten championships before qualifying for the NCAA championships.
Corey Morrison will vie for the starting spot at 197 with fellow freshman James Aston, who competed for the 2005 football Buckeyes. Reece Humphrey, the younger brother of Jordin, is projected to handle the reigns at 133, while J Jaggers, Blake Maurer and Eric Wanner should receive a start at 149, 174 and 133, respectively.
“We have two good recruiting classes that will fortify what the seniors will bring to the table,” Hellickson said.
SCHEDULE
Ohio State revamped its slate this year, replacing several dates featured in past schedules with new venues and tournaments. The home season is highlighted by bouts with the Top 3 finishers at the 2005 Big Ten Championships in Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota, all of which placed in the Top 6 at the NCAA championships last year.
“We scheduled some new events this season,” Hellickson said. “We have a young squad and we decided to shift the schedule around and see how the team responds.”
Although the schedule includes several changes, the season starts per usual with the Michigan State Open Nov. 12-13 in East Lansing, Mich. After a three-week layoff, the Buckeyes continue tournament action at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Open Dec. 2-3.
The dual season begins Dec. 11 with a meet at Missouri, which placed 11th at NCAA’s last year after reaching as high as No. 2 in the national polls during the season.
After the date with the Tigers, Ohio State jumps back into tournament action, traveling to the Southern Scuffle in Greensboro, N.C., to round out the 2005 portion of the schedule Dec. 28-29. Past team champions at the Southern Scuffle include Minnesota in 2004 and Missouri in 2003.
Ohio State kicks off the New Year with a home dual against Pittsburgh Thursday, Jan. 5. The Panthers were rated in the Top 25 for most of the 2004-05 season and placed in the Top 30 at the national meet. Last season, the Buckeyes came out of Pittsburgh with a last-match, 20-17 victory over the Panthers. Two days later, Ohio State heads to northern Ohio for two duals against in-state opponents Kent State and Cleveland State Saturday, Jan. 7. The Buckeyes wrestle the Golden Flashes at 1 p.m. in Kent, Ohio, and then drive further north to downtown Cleveland to face the Vikings at 7 p.m.
The Kent State-Cleveland State doubleheader serves as the first leg of a six-match road swing that takes the Buckeyes to the state of Virginia twice in a 10-day span. The first trip to the Old Dominion State is a two-day event at the Virginia Duals Jan. 13-14. Joining Ohio State in the event field will be fellow Big Ten member the Indiana Hoosiers, who finished ninth at NCAA’s last season. Also included in the field are Penn and West Virginia, both of which placed in the national Top 30, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
On Friday, Jan. 20, the Buckeyes sandwich the Hoosiers between the Virginia treks to open the Big Ten season in Bloomington, Ind., at 7 p.m. After the dual with IU, Ohio State heads back to Virginia for its second two-city doubleheader of the year against the Cavaliers in Charlottesville, Va., at noon and completes the road swing vs. the Hokies at 7 p.m. in Blacksburg, Va.
The league schedule gets into full gear when Ohio State returns home for a date with Minnesota Friday, Jan. 27 in St. John Arena. The Golden Gophers took fifth at nationals last season, but narrowly defeated the Buckeyes, 19-15, in a dual bout Feb. 13 in Minneapolis. The two-match homestand comes to a close Sunday, Jan. 29 against reigning Big Ten champion Illinois at 1 p.m. The Illini posted a No. 6 finish at NCAA’s last season.
After the brief stop at home, Ohio State heads back to the road for three league duals at Northwestern (Feb. 3), Wisconsin (Feb. 5) and Purdue (Feb. 10).
The Buckeyes face two more stiff tests when they return home to conclude the regular season. First, Ohio State tangles with 2005 National Runner-Up Michigan Sunday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m., before closing the season with Penn State, 23rd at NCAA’s, Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.
“Our home schedule is as tough as possible,” Hellickson said. “All five duals should be a great test and opportunity for our guys to step up. All four Big Ten teams should be ranked in the Top 10 and Pittsburgh should be in the Top 25.
