Bouzakis, McCrone Earn Black Shirts

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Redshirt sophomores Nic Bouzakis and Brendan McCrone are the 19th and 20th wrestlers all-time to earn "Black Shirt" status within the Ohio State program. The pair were recognized last week.

Both Bouzakis and McCrone qualified for the NCAA championships as redshirt freshmen in 2024.

Bouzakis represented the United States in the 2024 U23 World Championships last summer after winning the 2024 U23 US Nationals with a 7-0 record.

McCrone won the 2024 Clarion Open at 124 earlier this year with a 4-0 record and most recently earned the Most Falls award at the 2024 Cliff Keen Las Vegas event with three.

No. 6 Ohio State returns to dual competition Jan. 5, 2025 at the Covelli Center in Columbus against Oregon State. Match time is set for 1 p.m.

The OSU Black Shirts
All OSU wrestlers training inside the Jennings Wrestling Facility began wearing gray shirts in 2019-20. Only those individuals deserving of elite distinction will be bestowed a 'black shirt' and earn the privilege of wearing black in The Jennings. Once donning a black shirt, a student-athlete then joins the coaching staff in determining future 'black shirt worthy' teammates.

Becoming a Black Shirt ...

* Rewards those who are doing things that in our program are non-negotiable - J Jaggers.

*Nominees must receive unanimous approval from coaching staff and current "Black Shirts"

* Must outwardly display a deep love for what you do -- elite discipline, grit, selflessness, excellence

* Help team become more conscious of making decisions that will help the team to the next level

Black Shirts -- By the Numbers
(2019-24)

61 OSU Letters Earned
49 NCAA Qualifiers
25 All-Americans
18 NWCA Scholar All-Americans
7    Big Ten Championships
7    All Big Ten Selections
11 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars
2    Big Ten Medal of Honor Winners
1 NCAA Champion
1    Big Ten Freshman of the Year
1    InterMat Freshman of the Year

Noting the Black Shirts
Kollin Moore (197)
•   Four-Time All-American (2017-20)
•   Four-Time NCAA Qualifier (3rd, 4th,
       2nd, 2020 canceled)
•   Four-Year letterwinner (2017-20)
•   Big Ten Medal of Honor (2020)
•   Three Time Big Ten Champion
       (2017-18-20)
•   Three-Time All-Big Ten (2017-18-20)
•   Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2017)
•   Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2020)
•   Undefeated in 2020 (27-0)
•   NWCA Scholar All-American (2019-20)

Luke Pletcher (133/141)
•   Four Year letterwinner (2017-20)
•   Three Time All-American (2018-20)
•   Three-Time NCAA Qualifier (4th, 4th,
       2020 canceled)
•   Big Ten Champion (2020/141)
•   All-Big Ten (2020)
•   NWCA Scholar All-American
       (2018-19-20)

Sammy Sasso (149/165)
•   Four-Year letterwinner (2020-21-22-23)
•   Four Time All-American (2020-21-22-23)
•   NCAA Qualifier (2020 canceled,
   2021/2nd, 2022/5th, 2023/2nd)
•   Big Ten Champion (2021, 2023)
•   Big Ten Runner Up (2020, 2022)
•   All-Big Ten (2021, 2023)
•   Freshman of the Year (2020, InterMat)
•   NWCA Scholar All-American (2020)

Ethan Smith (174)
•   Five-Year letterwinner (2019-23)
•   Three Time All-American (2020-21-23)
•   NCAA Qualifier (2020 canceled,
   2021/5th, 2022, 2023/7th)
•   NWCA Scholar All-American (2021)

Kaleb Romero (184)
•   Five-Year letterwinner (2019-23)
•   Three-Time All-American (2020-22-23)
•   NCAA Qualifier (2020 Canceled,
   2021, 2022/Sixth, 2023/3rd)
•   Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021)
•   NWCA Scholar All-American
       (2019-20-21)

Malik Heinselman (125)
•   Five-Year letterwinner (2019-23)
•   NCAA Qualifier (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
•   NWCA Scholar All-American
       (2019-20-21)

Dylan D'Emilio (141/149)
•   Four-Year Letterwinner (2021-22-23)
•   Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021-23)
•   NWCA Scholar All-American (2021)
•   All-American (2023)
•   NCAA Qualifier (2021, 2022, 2023/6th, 2024)

Carson Kharchla (165)
•   Three-Time Letterwinner (2022-23-24)
•   All-American (2022)
•   Academic All-Big Ten (2021-22-23-24)
•   OSU Scholar Athlete (2021-22-23-24)
•   NCAA Qualifier (2022/7th, 2023)

Tate Orndorff (Hwt)
•   Three-Year Letterwinner (2021-22-23)
•   All-American (2021)
•   NCAA Qualifier (2019, 2020, 2021/8th,
   2022, 2023)
•   OSU Scholar Athlete (2021-22-23)
•   NWCA Scholar All-American (2021)

Fritz Schierl (174)
•   Five-Year letterwinner (2018-22)
•   Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021)
•   Academic All-Big Ten (2018-21)
•   OSU Scholar Athlete (2017-21)

Gavin Hoffman (197)
•   Five-year letterwinner (2020-24)
•   NCAA Qualifier (2022/6th, 2023)
•   All American (2022)
•    Academic All-B1G (2020-21-22-23-24)
•    OSU Scholar-Athlete
           (2019-20-21-22-23-24)

Jesse Mendez (133/141)
•   NCAA Champion (2024 at 141)
•   NCAA Qualifier (2023/6th, 2024/1st)
•   All-American (2023-24)
•   Big Ten Champion (141/2024)
•    All-Big Ten (2024)
•    Bronze at 2023 U20 World Championships at 65kg

Isaac Wilcox (157/165/174)
•    Four-year letterwinner (2021-22-23-24)
•    NCAA Qualifier (2024)
•    Won in three weight classes in 2022-23 (157, 165, 174)
•   OSU Scholar Athlete (2021-22-23-24)
•   Academic All-Big Ten (2022-23-24)

Paddy Gallagher (157)
•    Three-Time Letterwinner (2022-23-24)
•   NCAA Qualifier (2023)
•   OSU Scholar Athlete (2022-23-24)
•   Academic All-Big Ten (2023-24)

Nick Feldman (HWT)
•    Won 1st collegiate event, Clarion Open (5-0, Nov. 5, 2023)
•    NCAA Qualifier (2024/5th)
•    Two-match deciding wins in 21-20 victory over No. 8 Cornell and No. 13 Michigan

Rocco Welsh (174)
•    2nd at NCAA as freshman in 2024
•    NCAA Qualifier (2024/2nd)
•    Won first collegiate event with a 5-0 record at the Clarion Open (Nov. 5)
•    Named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (11/8/23)

Ryder Rogotzke (184)
•    Won five matches, all by fall, in first collegiate match to finish fifth at the Clarion Open (Nov. 5)
•    NCAA Qualifier (2024)
•    Earned second (184) at the 2023 Cleveland State Open with a 4-0 record and a no contest decision in title match vs. teammate Seth Shumate

Nic Bouzakis (133)
•    NCAA Qualifier (2024)
•    Won 2024 U23 US Nationals (7-0)
•    Won 1st Collegiate Event MSU Open with 4-0 record in 2022
•     Two-Time Letterwinner (2023-24)

Brendan McCrone (125)
• NCAA Qualifier (2024)
• Two-Time Letterwinner (2023-24)
• Won 2024 Clarion Open (4-0)
• Most Falls at 2024 CKLV (3)

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