Sasso Advances to 149 lb. B1G Finals; Ohio State in Fourth Place
3/5/2022 10:41:55 PM | General, Wrestling
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sammy Sasso will wrestle on the Big Ten’s biggest stage tomorrow afternoon as the top seed at 149 pounds won two matches – including one via a takedown with 20 seconds remaining – to secure his spot in tomorrow’s championship final.
A total of three Buckeyes advanced to the semifinal round and a total of seven wrestlers remain alive in their respective weight classes. While top-seeded Carson Kharchla and Caleb Romero dropped semifinal matches, they have the opportunity to score critical team points in the consolation round tomorrow. And the same can be said for Malik Heinselman, Dylan D’Emilio, Ethan Smith and Tate Orndorff.
The Buckeyes are currently fourth in the team standings, trailing Michigan, Penn State and Iowa.
2022 Big Ten Wrestling Championships – Sessions One & Two (3/5/22)
125 | (4) Malik Heinselman (OSU) def. (13) Jerimiah Reno (NEB) | MD, 10-1
Heinselman scored first with a takedown midway through the first period. He then added a four-point near fall to lead 6-0 after three minutes. An escape to start the second and a late takedown added another three points to make it 9-0 with two minutes left in the match. With a point for riding time, Heinselman won by major decision, 10-1.
125 | (5) Devin Schroder (PUR) def. (4) Malik Heinselman (OSU) | D, 3-1
Neither wrestler was able to put points on the board in the first two periods. Schroder took the lead with an escape to start the third and then earned a takedown to go up 3-0. Heinselman was awarded a point for locked hands but lost by decision, 3-1
125 | (4) Malik Heinselman (OSU) def. (11) Tristan Lujan (MSU) | MD 14-4
Heinselman opened up an otherwise tight match in the second period with a sequence that included a takedown and four near-fall points. That gave him an 8-2 lead, and after an escape to start the start the third period and a riding time point, he had a 14-4 major decision.
125 | Malik Heinselman (OSU) def. (9) Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) | D, 8-3
Heinselman won his third match of the day with three takedowns, including one late in the third period to give himself a 7-3 lead. He went 3-1 on the day and will continue wrestling in the consolation round tomorrow morning.
133 | (3) Lucas Byrd (ILL) def. (14) Dylan Koontz (OSU) | D, 6-2
Byrd scored first with Koontz earning a quick escape to end the first with Illinois leading 2-1. Byrd added three points with an escape and takedown in the second to lead 5-1 heading to the third. Koontz managed an escape in the third to end the bout with a loss by decision, 6-2.
133 | (11) Kyle Burwick (WIS) def. (14) Dylan Koontz (OSU) | TF, 19-0 (4:46)
141 | (7) Dylan D’Emilio (OSU) def. (10) Frankie Tai Shahar (NU) | D, 7-1
There was no score before Tai Shahar earned an escape to start the second period. That was the only score until D’Emilio tied the bout with an escape in the third. After a scramble, D’Emilio scored the first takedown of the match and then added a four point near fall to win 7-1 by decision.
141 | (2) Jaydin Eierman (IOWA) def. (7) Dylan D’Emilio (OSU) | D, 10-3
Eierman took a 6-2 lead into the second with three takedowns and two D’Emilio escapes. Eierman added an escape in the third followed a takedown then finished off the match for the win by decision, 10-3.
141 | (7) Dylan D’Emilio (OSU) vs. (9) Dylan Duncan (ILL) | D, 4-1
After a scoreless first period, D’Emilio gave up an escape point quickly came back to secure the first takedown of the match and a 2-1 lead. In the third, D’Emilio tacked on an escape the riding time bonus point. He was also awarded an additional penalty point to make the final score 5-1.
141 | (7) Dylan D’Emilio (OSU) def. Parker Filius (PUR) | Fall, 3:51
D’Emilio punctuated his 3-1 day with a fall over Purdue’s Parker Filius in 3:51. The win also provided the Buckeyes with critical bonus points in the team standings.
149 | (1) Sammy Sasso (OSU) Bye
149| (1) Sammy Sasso (OSU) def. (9) Graham Rooks (IND) | D, 6-3
Sasso got on the board first in the quarterfinal match with a takedown in the first. A Rooks escape make it 2-1 Buckeyes headed into the second. Sasso escaped to start the second to go up 3-1 and added a takedown to lead 5-2 after two. Rooks escaped in the third but Sasso held on for the 5-6 win by decision, advancing to the semifinals.
149| (1) Sammy Sasso (OSU) vs. (4) Max Murin (IOWA)
Sasso scored the winning takedown and clinched his spot is Sunday’s 149 lb. championship match with a takedown with just 20 seconds remaining in the third period.
157 | (9) Bryce Hepner (OSU) def. (8) Robert Kanniard (RUT) | D, 10-6
Kanniard posted the first points with a takedown early in the first period. Hepner escaped, added a takedown an a four-point near fall to take a 7-2 lead. Kanniard added a takedown to send the match into the third with the Buckeyes leading 7-4. Hepner escaped to start the third and added a takedown and maintained the lead in a win by decision, 10-6.
157 | (1) Ryan Deakin (NU) def. (9) Bryce Hepner (OSU) | Fall, 4:14
Hepner fell behind 2-1 on a Deakin takedown and escape. Deakin added another takedown to lead 4-1 after three minutes. Deakin added a point and a takedown early in the third and went on to win by fall.
157 | (7) Garrett Model (WIS) def. (9) Bryce Hepner (OSU) | Fall, 3:16
Hepner’s run at this year’s conference championships came to an end with a fall 16 seconds into the second period against seventh-seeded Garrett Model of Wisconsin.
165 | (1) Carson Kharchla (OSU) Bye
165 | (1) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (8) Clayton Wilson (NEB) | D, 7-2
Kharchla started his first Big Ten Championship match with a pair of first period takedowns to lead 4-1 after three minutes. Wilson escaped to start the second and Kharchla opened the third with a reversal to take a 6-2 lead and win by decision 7-2 to advance to the semifinals.
165 | (1) Carson Kharchla (OSU) vs. (4) Cameron Amine (MICH)
The only takedown in the 165 lb. semifinal between Kharchla and Amine came is sudden victory overtime, as Amine finished towards the edge of the mat and moved on to tomorrow’s final. Kharcha, meanwhile, will have the chance to score more team points in the consolation round.
174 | (5) Ethan Smith (OSU) def. (12) Nick South (IND) | D, 6-4
Smith scored the early takedown followed by a South escape. Smith added a reversal and a takedown in the second. Leading 6-4 in the third, Smith held on for the win by decision.
174 | (4) Michael Kemerer (IOWA) def. (5) Ethan Smith (OSU) | D, 5-4
Smith opened his bid for a trip to the semifinals trailing Kemerer 2-1 after the first period. Smith tied the match at 2-all with an escape to start the second and added another to take a 3-2 lead. Kemerer tied the match and took the lead with an escape and takedown and held on for the 5-4 win by decision.
174 | (5) Ethan Smith (OSU) def (11) Andrew McNally (WIS) | MD, 14-3
Smith scored early and often over McNally, racking up eight points in the first period thanks to two takedowns and a four-point nearfall. He scored three more takedowns in the second and third periods to secure the major decision and bonus team points.
184 | (3) Kaleb Romero (OSU) def. (14) Jack Jessen (NU) | MD, 18-5
A quick takedown in the first put Romero in the lead 2-1. Two more takedowns made it 6-2 Buckeyes after the second. Romero escaped to start the third and added several more takedowns to win by major decision, 18-5.
184 | (3) Kaleb Romero (OSU) def. (11) Christopher Weiler (WIS) | MD, 10-1
Romero led 2-0 after the first period on a takedown midway through the period. He added another takedown to start the second and after a Weiler escape, took him down again for a 6-1 lead. Romero escaped, added a takedown and a point for riding time for a 10-1 win by major decision to secure a trip to the semifinals.
184 | (3) Kaleb Romero (OSU) vs. (2) Myles Amine (MICH)
Amine scored the match’s only takedown in the second period and then tacked on a riding time bonus point for the 4-2 decision. Romero will look to rebound in tomorrow’s wrestling backs.
197 | (9) Gavin Hoffman (OSU) def. (8) Braxton Amos (WIS) | SV-1, 7-5
There was no points scored in the first before Amos escaped to start the second and added a point for stalling and then a takedown to lead 4-0 heading into the third. Hoffman escaped and tied the match with a pair of takedowns to send the match into sudden victory tied at 5-all. In overtime, Hoffman scored the takedown to win by decision, 7-5.
197 | (1) Eric Schultz (NEB) def. (9) Gavin Hoffman (OSU) | D, 3-1
There was no score in the first period. Schultz escaped and added a takedown in the second to take a 3-0 lead. Hoffman escaped to start the third but fell by decision, 3-1.
197 | (9) Gavin Hoffman (OSU) def. (10) Andrew Davison (NU) | D, 5-2
Hoffman scored the first takedown of the match, but the score was deadlocked at 2-all headed into the third period. He scored an escape and takedown to move onto the next round of the consolation bracket on Sunday morning.
285 | (8) Tate Orndorff (OSU) def. (9) Luke Luffman (ILL) | D, 3-2
Orndorff fell behind 1-0 on an Illinois escape to start the second period. The Buckeyes went up briefly on a takedown before a Luffman escape made it 2-all with two minutes remaining in the match. Ordorff escaped to take the lead and held on to win by decision, 3-2.
285 | (1) Gable Steveson (MINN) def. (8) Tate Orndorff (OSU) | TF, 20-5 (3:49)
Steveson scored an early takedown and then a pair of two-point near falls along with another takedown for a quick 8-1 lead. The reigning Olympic champion entered the second period with a 14-3 advantage. He then closed out the match to win by technical fall, 20-5.
285 | (8) Tate Orndorff (OSU) def. (10) Jacob Bullock (IND) | D, 7-4
Orndorff scored the clinching points with a takedown in the final 30 seconds of regulation that won by decision, 7-4. He will also wrestle in tomorrow morning’s consolation third round.
2022 Big Ten Wrestling Championships
March 5-6, 2022; Pinnacle Bank Arena; Lincoln, Neb.
Ohio State – Full Results
125 lbs. / No. 4 seed Malik Heinselman
Round 1: Heinselman major decision over No. 13 Jerimiah Reno (Nebraska) 10-1
Quarterfinals: No. 5 Devin Schroder (Purdue) decision over Heinselman 3-1
Consolation Rd. 2: Heinselman major decision over No. 11 Tristain Lujan (Michigan State) 14-4
Consolation Rd. 3: Heinselman decision over No. 9 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) 8-3
133 lbs. / No. 14 seed Dylan Koontz
Round 1: No. 3 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) decision over Koontz 6-2
Cons. Round 1: No. 11 Kyle Burwick (Wisconsin) technical fall over Koontz 19-0 (4:46)
141 lbs. / No. 7 seed Dylan D`Emilio
Round 1: D’Emilio decision over No. 10 Frankie Tal Shahar (Northwestern) 7-1
Quarterfinals: No. 2 Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) decision over D’Emilio 10-3
Consolation Rd. 2: D’Emilio decision over No. 9 Dylan Duncan (Illinois) 5-1
Consolation Rd. 3: D’Emilio fall over Parker Filius (Purdue) (3:51)
149 lbs. / No. 1 seed Sammy Sasso
Quarterfinals: Sasso decision over No. 9 Graham Rooks (Indiana) 6-2
Semifinals: Sasso decision over No. 4 Max Murin (Iowa) 3-1
157 lbs. / No. 9 seed Bryce Hepner
Round 1: Hepner decision over No. 8 Robert Kanniard (Rutgers) 10-6
Quarterfinals: No. 1 Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) fall over Hepner (4:14)
Consolation Rd. 2: Garrett Model (Wisconsin) fall over Hepner (3:16)
165 lbs. / No. 1 seed Carson Kharchla
Quarterfinals: Kharchla decision over No. 8 Clayton Wilson (Nebraska) 7-2
Semifinals: No. 4 Cameron Amine (Michigan) decision over Kharcha 3-1 (SV-1)
174 lbs. / No. 5 seed Ethan Smith
Round 1: Smith decision over No. 12 Nick South (Indiana) 6-4
Quarterfinals: No. 4 Michael Kemerer (Iowa) decision over Smith 5-4
Consolation Rd. 2: Smith major decision over Andrew McNally (Wisconsin) 14-3
Consolation Rd. 3: Smith decision over No. 9 Dominic Solis (Maryland) 8-5
184 lbs. / No. 3 seed Kaleb Romero
Round 1: Romero major decision over No. 14 Jack Jessen (Northwestern) 18-5
Quarterfinals: Romero major decision over No. 11 Christopher Weiler (Wisconsin) 10-1
Semifinals: No. 2 Myles Amine (Michigan) decision over Romero 4-2
197 lbs. / No. 9 seed Gavin Hoffman
Round 1: Hoffman decision over No. 8 Braxton Amos (Wisconsin) 7-5 (SV-1)
Quarterfinals: No. 1 Eric Schultz (Nebraska) decision over Hoffman 3-1
Consolation Rd. 2: Hoffman decision over No. 10 Andrew Davison (Northwestern) 5-2
Consolation Rd. 3: No. 4 Jacob Warner (Iowa) decision over Hoffman 4-2
285 lbs. / No. 8 Tate Orndorff
Round 1: Orndorff decision over No. 9 Luke Luffman (Illinois) 3-2
Quarterfinals: No. 1 Gabe Steveson (Minnesota) technical fall over Orndorff 20-5
Consolation Rd. 2: Orndorff decision over Jacob Bullock (Indiana) 7-4
Team Standings
1. Michigan – 116 points
2. Penn State – 111.5 points
3. Iowa – 109.0 points
4. Ohio State – 72.0 points
5. Northwestern – 70.5 points
6. Nebraska – 65.0 points
7. Wisconsin – 58.5 points
8. Minnesota – 47.5 points
9. Rutgers – 37.0 points
10. Purdue – 34.5 points
11. Michigan State – 33.0 points
12. Illinois – 26.5 points
13. Maryland – 14.5 points
14. Indiana – 4.0 points
