Fast Start Leads to 26-16 Ohio State Win Over Michigan

Sunday, February 1

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Photo by: Ohio State Athletics

Photo by: Kirk Irwin

Photo by: Kirk Irwin

Photo by: Ohio State Athletics

Fast Start Leads to 26-16 Ohio State Win Over Michigan

2/1/2026 2:24:00 PM | Wrestling

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No. 2 Buckeyes face No. 4 Iowa In final home dual Friday at Covelli

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- No. 2 Ohio State (16-0, 5-0) jumped to a 16-0 lead over visiting No.13 Michigan (8-3, 4-1) Sunday to down the Wolverines 26-16 at the Covelli Center.
It was the fourth-consecutive win over Michigan in the series.

Nic Bouzakis got things started with a pin at 125 before a pair of wins by technical fall from Ben Davino (133) and Jesse Mendez (141). Paddy Gallagher (165), Carson Kharchla (174) and Luke Geog (197) secured the victory down the stretch.

125 - (2) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. (24) Diego Sotelo (MICH), F, 3:47
Bouzakis earned the first takedown of the match after a called takedown by Sotelo was reviewed and reversed. After the stoppage, Sotelo escaped to make it 3-1 Buckeyes. Bouzakis working on an escape, flipped Sotelo to his back and got the pin at 3:47.

A second-period pin to get things started in Columbus ??@wrestlingbucks' No. 2 at 125 lbs Nic Bouzakis secured the pin at 3:47 against No. 24 Diego Sotelo ?? pic.twitter.com/ZGZVfWzDl2
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 1, 2026

133 - (2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. Gauge Botero (MICH), TF, 19-4
Davino scored first with a takedown and added another for a 6-1 lead midway through the opening period. Two more Davino takedowns made it 12-3 after the opening period. an ascape in the second made it 13-3 Buckeyes. Another takedown sent the match to the third with Davino leading 16-3. Davino finished off the match for the win by technical fall, 19-4.

141 - (1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (25) Dylan Ragusin (MICH), TF, 19-3
Mendez struck first with a double-leg takedown for a 3-1 lead after a Ragusin escape. Ragusin was called for stalling and Mendez added a late takedown to lead 7-1 after three minutes. Mendez increased the lead to 13-3 after five minutes. A Mendez escape, a three-point near fall and reversal got the win by technical fall, 19-3.

No. 1 at 141 lbs Jesse Mendez proving why he's the No. 1 ??

The @wrestlingbucks two-time @NCAAWrestling Champion just defeated No. 25 Dylan Ragusin via a 19-3 TF ?? pic.twitter.com/wX1cKxgQw9
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 1, 2026

149 - (13) Lachlan McNeil (MICH) def. Brogan Fielding (OSU), MD, 15-3
McNeil got the opening takedown for a 3-1 lead after a Fielding escape. McNeil led 6-1 after the opening period. McNeil added two takedowns and stalling point for a 13-2 advantage after five minutes.

157 - (14) Cameron Catrabone (MICH) def. Landon Desselle (OSU), F, 1:36
Catrabone scored first after a scramble for a 3-0 lead with a takedown. Catrabone then got the pin at 1:26.

165 - (17) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. Justin Gates (MICH), D, 8-2
A minute into the opening period, Gallagher scored the first takedown of the match. Gates got an escape point before a Gallagher takedown late made it 6-1 going to the second. Gallagher added an escape point early in the second and led 8-1 after two periods and then earned the win by decision, 8-2.

174 - (5) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (11) Beau Mantanona (MICH), D, 9-6
Mantanona got the opening takedown before a Kharchla reversal made it 3-2. Mantanona added an escape point to lead 4-2 after three minutes. Another Michigan escape to open the middle period made it 5-2 before Kharchla tied it at 5-all with a takedown. A Mantanona escape and another Kharchla takedown made it 8-6 Buckeyes after five minutes. Kharchla opened the third with an escape and got the win by decision, 9-6.

184 - (9) Brock Mantanona (MICH) def. (7) Dylan Fishback (OSU), D, 4-1
After a scoreless opening period, Fishback opened the scoring with an escape early in the second. Mantanona escaped in the third to even the match at 1-all. Montanona added a late takedown to win by decision, 4-1

197 - (10) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (18) Hayden Walters (MICH), MD, 11-3
Geog got the opening takedown in under a minute in the first. Walters escaped before another Geog takedown. The Buckeyes led 6-2 going to the second and 6-3 after five minutes. Geog escaped in the third and added a takedown and a point for riding time for a win by major decision, 11-3.

Victory, Buckeyes??

Luke Geog's major decision seals No. 2 @wrestlingbucks' fourth straight win over rival Michigan. pic.twitter.com/t133zdlnCq
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 1, 2026

HWT - (7) Taye Ghadiali (MICH) def. (3) Nick Feldman (OSU), SV, 4-1
After a scoreless opening period, Feldman earned an escape point to start the second for a 1-0 lead after five minutes. Ghadiali tied it at 1-all with an escape in the third. The bout went to sudden victory. Ghadiali was given a stalling warning before Ghadiali got the takedown for the win by decision, 4-1.

Up Next: Ohio State is home Friday at 8 p.m. against No. 4 Iowa at the Covelli Center.

Lineups vs. No. 13 Michigan

Wt.	No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 13 Michigan	OSU	UM
125	(2) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. 24) Diego Sotelo (MICH), F, 3:47	6	0
133	(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. Gauge Botero (MICH), TF, 19-4	11	0
141	(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (25) Dylan Ragusin (MICH), TF, 19-3	16	0
149	(13) Lachlan McNeil (MICH) def. Brogan Fielding (OSU), MD, 15-3	16	4
157	(14) Cameron Catrabone (MICH) def. Landon Desselle (OSU), F, 1:26	16	10
165	(17) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. Justin Gates (MICH), D, 8-2	19	10
174	(5) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (11) Beau Mantanona (MICH), D, 9-6	22	10
184	(9) Brock Mantanona (MICH) def. (7) Dylan Fishback (OSU), D, 4-1	22	13
197	(10) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (18) Hayden Walters (MICH), MD, 11-3	26	13
HWT	(7) Taye Ghadiali (MICH) def. (3) Nick Feldman (OSU), SV, 4-1	26	16
	Attendance: 4,299