Wilcox Earns his Black Shirt
2/8/2023 9:22:42 AM | General, Wrestling
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Junior Isaac Wilcox is the 14th Buckeye all-time and the 10th on the 2022-23 roster to earn Black Shirt status, Tom Ryan, head coach of the Ohio State wrestling Buckeyes, announced Tuesday.
Wilcox, who has wrestled at three weight classes this season with wins in each, is 5-3 this season and 4-0 in Big Ten duals. He owns wins at 157, 165 and 174 in 2022-23.
His four wins vs. Big Ten foes have come against Indiana and Rutgers at 165 and Maryland and Michigan State at 174.
After stepping in and winning at three different weight classes when we needed him, Isaac Wilcox trades in his grey gear for black and becomes the second new Black Shirt of the 22-23 season.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/zYkyZHN09H
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) February 7, 2023
The Ohio State Black Shirts
All Ohio State 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
37 OSU Letterwinners
26 NCAA Qualifiers
17 All-Americans
15 NWCA Scholar All-Americans
5 Big Ten Championships
5 All Big Ten Selections
4 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars
1 Big Ten Medal of Honor
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)
• Two Year letterwinner (2020-21)
• Two Time All-American (2020-21)
• NCAA Qualifier (2020 canceled,
2021/2nd, 2022)
• Big Ten Champion (2021)
• Big Ten Runner Up (2020, 2022)
• All-Big Ten (2021)
• Freshman of the Year (2020, InterMat)
• NWCA Scholar All-American (2020)
Ethan Smith (174)
• Three Year letterwinner (2019-21)
• Two Time All-American (2020-21)
• NCAA Qualifier (2020 canceled,
2021/5th, 2022)
• NWCA Scholar All-American (2021)
Kaleb Romero (184)
• Three Year letterwinner (2019-21)
• All-American (2020)
• NCAA Qualifier (2020 Canceled,
2021, 2022)
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021)
• NWCA Scholar All-American
(2019-20-21)
Malik Heinselman (125)
• Three Year letterwinner (2019-21)
• NCAA Qualifier (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
• NWCA Scholar All-American
(2019-20-21)
Dylan D’Emilio (141)
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021)
• NWCA Scholar All-American (2021)
• NCAA Qualifier (2021, 2022)
Carson Kharchla (165)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2021)
• OSU Scholar Athlete (2021)
• NCAA Qualifier (2022)
Tate Orndorff (Hwt)
• Letterwinner (2021)
• All-American (2021)
• NCAA Qualifier (2019, 2020, 2021/8th,
2022)
• NWCA Scholar All-American (2021)
Fritz Schierl (174)
• Four Year letterwinner (2018-21)
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2018-21)
• OSU Scholar Athlete (2017-21)
Gavin Hoffman (197)
• Two-year letterwinner (2020, 2021)
• NCAA Qualifier (2022)
• Big Ten Championships (2021, 2022-8th, 3-5 record)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2020, 2021)
• OSU Scholar-Athlete (2019, 2020, 2021)
Jesse Mendez (133)
• Started OSU Career 11-2
• Defeated No. 5 Lucas Byrd (ILL) to win
1st college event (MSU Open)
• Posted 157-1 HS record at Crown Point
• Entered Intermat Top 10 Jan. 6, 2023
#GoBucks
