Ohio State
Rutgers University
No. 6 Ohio State Picks Up 22-12 Win at No. 14 Rutgers
2/4/2024 3:02:00 PM | Wrestling
Buckeyes win seven of 10 bouts, including close wins at 174 lbs., 197 lbs. and heavyweight
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State wrestling team won seven of 10 bouts and picked up a 22-12 victory over No. 14 Rutgers on Sunday at Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, N.J. The dual swung on a trio of close wins for the Buckeyes at 174 lbs., 197 lbs. and heavyweight, as Ohio State was able to win all three of those matches by two points or less.
The Buckeyes improved to 13-2 this season and are now 5-1 in Big Ten duals. Rutgers in 10-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten.
In the opening match of the afternoon, Isaac Wilcox got the Buckeyes off to a hot start with critical bonus points in the 157-pound bout against Jacob Butler. Wilcox scored six takedowns – two in each period – and also earned a riding time point. He improved to 14-6 on the season.
In the next match, at 165 pounds, 20th-ranked Bryce Hepner did all of his scoring in the first quarter with a takedown and also added an escape in the second period and riding time bonus point for a 5-0 decision over Anthony White. The win gave Ohio State a 7-0 lead.
True freshman Rocco Walsh won the first toss-up match of the afternoon with a 4-3 decision at 174 pounds against 13th-ranked Jackson Turley. Walsh scored a takedown in the first period and allowed just two escape points the rest of the way.
Rutgers got on the scoreboard for the first time on the afternoon in the 184-pound bout, as Brian Soldano pinned Ryder Rogotzke with 36 seconds remaining in the second period. Rogotzke led 8-6 at the time of the pin.
Redshirt freshman Luke Geog was able to swing the momentum back in Ohio State's favor at intermission with a 4-3 upset of 12th-ranked John Poznanski at 197 pounds. Geog scored a first-quarter takedown and also tacked on a riding time bonus point.
Following intermission, Nick Feldman's takedown with 1:23 remaining in the third period proved to be the difference in a 4-2 win over seventh-ranked Yaraslau Slavikouski. The win gave the Buckeyes a 16-6 lead with just four bouts remaining.
With two takedowns – including one in the final seconds of the third period – Brendan McCrone extended the Ohio State team lead to 19-6 via his 7-1 decision over 13th-ranked Dean Peterson. Rutgers would eek out a 5-4 decision at 133 pounds when Dylan Shawver scored an escape over Nic Bouzakis as the third period buzzer sounded.
Jesse Mendez's decision over 20th-ranked Mitch Moore at 133 pounds clinched the dual for Ohio State. Mendez rode Moore the entire second period and scored a third period takedown to lock up riding time and score a 5-0 decision. Rutgers would close out the dual with a victory in SV-1 at 149 lbs. when Michael Cetta upset No. 9 Dylan D'Emilio, 12-9.
No. 6 Ohio State 22, No. 14 Rutgers 12
Jersey Mike's Arena; Piscataway, N.J.
Records: Ohio State 13-2, 5-1; Rutgers 10-4, 3-3
157: Isaac Wilcox (OSU) major decision over Jacob Butler (RU) 19-6 | OSU 4, RU 0
165: No. 20 Bryce Hepner (OSU) decision over Anthony White (RU) 5-0 | OSU 7, RU 0
174: No. 11 Rocco Welsh (OSU) decision over No. 13 Jackson Turley (RU) 4-3 | OSU 10, RU 0
184: No. 21 Brian Soldano (RU) fall over Ryder Rogotzke (OSU) 4:24 | OSU 10, RU 6
197: No. 22 Luke Geog (OSU) decision over No. 12 John Poznanski (RU) 4-3 | OSU 13, RU 6
HWT: No. 12 Nick Feldman (OSU) decision over No. 7 Yaraslau Slavikouski (RU) 4-2 | OSU 16, RU 6
125: No. 24 Brendan McCrone (OSU) decision over No. 13 Dean Peterson (RU) 7-1 | OSU 19, RU 6
133: No. 13 Dylan Shawver (RU) decision over No. 12 Nic Bouzakis (OSU) 5-4 | OSU 19, RU 9
141: No. 3 Jesse Mendez (OSU) decision over No. 20 Mitch Moore (RU) 5-0 | OSU 22, RU 9
149: Michael Cetta (RU) decision over No. 9 Dylan D'Emilio (OSU) 12-9 (SV-1) | OSU 22, RU 12
Players Mentioned
