Strong Second Half Lifts No. 2 Buckeyes over No. 25 Badgers, 30-10

Friday, January 30

Columbus, Ohio

6 p.m.

Ohio State

University of Wisconsin

Photo by: Ohio State Athletics

Photo by: Kirk Irwin

Photo by: Ohio State Athletics

Strong Second Half Lifts No. 2 Buckeyes over No. 25 Badgers, 30-10

1/30/2026 8:27:00 PM | Wrestling

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Ohio State takes on No. 13 Michigan Sunday at Covelli

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- No. 2 Ohio State (15-0, 4-0) trailed 10-9 after the first five matches but rebounded over the final five to win 30-10 over No. 25 Wisconsin (10-3, 2-3) Friday at the Covelli Center,

The Buckeyes posted four bonus-point victories in the final five matches to remain undefeated. Heavyweight Nick Feldman, who was named the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week earlier in the day, finished off the match in exciting fashion with a late takedown in regulation to win 6-4 over No. 9 Braxton Amos. Feldman, ranked No. 3 nationally, has won the last three matches over Top 10 opponents.

HWT | No. 3 Nick Feldman gets a late takedown for a 6-4 decision over No. 9 Braxton Amos ?? pic.twitter.com/bXve4KRnYo
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) January 31, 2026

125 - (16) Nicolar Rivera (WIS) def. Vinny Kilkeary (OSU), D, 12-7
Rivera got on the board first with a takedown followed by a quick Kilkeary escape to make it 3-1 Badgers. Rivera added a takedown in the second to lead going to the final period leading 7-3. Rivera escaped early in the third for a 7-3 advantage. He added another takedown to make it 10-3 before a Kilkeary escape and takedown to make it 11-7 Wisconsin. Rivera added a stalling point for the win by decision, 12-7.

133 - (2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (11) Zan Fugitt (WIS), D, 7-2
Davino led 3-1 after the opening period with a takedown and Fugitt escape. Davino escaped to open the second and led 4-1 after five minutes. Fugitt escaped early in the third to trail 4-2. Davino added a late escape to win by decision, 7-2.

133 | No. 2 Ben Davino earns a 7-2 decision over No. 11 Zan Fugitt ?? pic.twitter.com/nowLp41wt7
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) January 31, 2026

141 - (1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. Carson Exferd (WIS), F, 0:51
Mendez struck first with a takedown and four-point nearfall before the pin at 0:51.

149 - (15) Joseph Zargo (WIS) def. (4) Ethan Stiles (OSU), SV, 7-4
Stiles and Zargo tangled early but neither was able to score before going out of bounds. Stiles got the first takedown at the end of the opening period for a 3-0 lead. Zargo escaped to open the second. Stiles went to the third with a 3-1 advantage and added an escape point to go up 4-1. Zargo tied it with a takedown to send the match to sudden victory. Zargo then got the win by decision, 7-4, with a

157 - Luke Mechler (WIS) def. Landon Desselle (OSU), MD, 20-9
Desselle got the opening score with a takedown. Mechler escaped before another Desselle takedown made it 6-1 Buckeyes. Mechler added an escape and takedown to trail 6-5 after the opening period. Mechler tied it at 6-all with an escape and took the lead with a takedown (9-6) midway through the second. Mechler went up 15-7 in the third with a pair of takedowns. Mechler finished off the match for a win by major decision,

165 - e'Than Birden (OSU) def. (24) Cody Goebel (WIS), MD, 16-3
Birden scored with a quick takedown to lead 3-1 after a Goebel escape. Two minutes into the opening period, Birden added another takedown for a 6-1 advantage. The lead increased to 9-2 Birden after another takedown near the end of the first three minutes. Birden went up 10-2 with an escape midway through the second. Birden added another takedown in the third for a 13-3 lead. He closed out the match for a major decision 16-3 win.

174 - (5) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. Luke Condon (WIS), TF, 17-2
Kharchla jumped to a quick 7-0 lead with a takedown and four-point nearfall. Condon escaped before Kharchla added another two takedowns to go up 13-2 after three minutes. Kharchla escaped and added a takedown for the win by technical fall, 17-2.

184 - (7) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. David Malin (WIS), TF, 15-0
With less than a minute gone in the opening period Fished scored a takedown. He added a two four-point nearfalls to go up 11-0 with two minutes gone. With another four-point nearfall, Fishback took the match by technical fall, 15-0.

197 - (10) Luke Geog (OSU) def. Wyatt Ingham (WIS), MD, 17-3
Geog went to the second period with a 3-0 lead after a first period takedown. Ingham added a takedown before a Geog takedown made it 6-1 Buckeyes. Another takedown sent the match to the third with Geog leading 9-2 with more than two minutes of riding time. Geog escaped and added a takedown for a 13-2 advantage. Geog finished off the match to win by major decision, 17-3.

HWT - (3) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (9) Braxton Amos (WIS), D, 6-4
Amos went up 3-1 after three minutes with a takedown and Feldman escape. Amos added an escape early in the second for a 4-1 lead after five minutes. Feldman quickly escaped to open the third and added a late takedown for the win by decision, 6-4.

Up Next: Ohio State is home Sunday at noon against No. 13 Michigan at the Covelli Center.

Lineups vs. No. 25 Wisconsin

Wt.	No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 25 Wisconsin	OSU	WIS
125	(16) Nicolar Rivera (WIS) def. Vinny Kilkeary (OSU), D, 12-7	0	3
133	(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (11) Zan Fugitt (WIS), D, 7-2	3	3
141	(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. Carson Exferd (WIS), F, 0:51	9	3
149	(15) Joseph Zargo (WIS) def. (4) Ethan Stiles (OSU), SV, 7-4	9	6
157	Luke Mechler (WIS) def. Landon Desselle (OSU), MD, 20-9	9	10
165	e'Than Birden (OSU) def. (24) Cody Goebel (WIS), MD, 16-3	13	10
174	(5) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. Luke Condon (WIS), TF, 17-2	18	10
184	(7) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. David Malin (WIS), TF, 15-0	23	10
197	(10) Luke Geog (OSU) def. Wyatt Ingham (WIS), MD, 17-3	27	10
HWT	(3) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (9) Braxton Amos (WIS), D, 6-4	30	10
	Attendance: 4,337