No. 6 Buckeyes Down Indiana, 31-9, in Big Ten Opener

Ohio State improves to 7-0 overall; next match is Jan. 6 at Nebraska

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Behind seven wins and an Indiana forfeit, the No. 6 Ohio State wrestling team defeated the Hoosiers, 31-9, in both teams’ Big Ten Conference opener Sunday afternoon in St. John Arena.  The Buckeyes remain undefeated with a 7-0 record and are now 1-0 in the league, while Indiana falls to 6-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

 

Bonus points scored by redshirt freshman Logan Stieber (133 pounds) and freshman Derek Garcia (165 pounds) helped the Scarlet and Gray end the 2011 portion of their schedule on a high note. Ohio State will not compete again until after the New Year when it travels to Nebraska for an 8 p.m. ET matchup Jan. 6 in Lincoln. The match will air on BTN.com.

 

The afternoon began with the 133-pound bout and for the second consecutive match, L. Stieber pinned his opponent, this time downing Joe Duca in 1:26. Last Sunday at Kent State, L. Stieber pinned Troy Opfer in 2:17. L. Stieber, a native of Monroeville, Ohio, remains undefeated on the season with a 16-0 overall record, including a 7-0 mark in dual competition.

 

With the Buckeyes up 6-0 early, freshman Hunter Stieber (141 pounds) earned his 15th win (15-2 overall; 6-1 dual) of the season when he beat Matt Ortega, 6-1. H. Stieber gave up the lone escape to Ortega in the first period after scoring a takedown in the opening 35 seconds. H. Stieber tacked on another takedown and escape for the win.   

 

Receiving the start at 149 pounds, redshirt freshman Alex Gordon (4-6 overall; 0-1 dual) was pinned by Taylor Walsh and the Hoosier win helped them cut the Buckeye lead to just three. However, the Scarlet and Gray jumped back into the win column after four consecutive victories, including a forfeit at 174 pounds.

 

Redshirt freshman Josh Demas scored a 6-3 win at 157 pounds over Ryan Konz. A Columbus, Ohio, native who attended Westerville North High School, Demas’ escape and takedown in the third period secured his 14th win of the season after the score was knotted up at 3 a piece entering the final period. Demas is now 14-5 overall and 5-2 in dual action.

 

Garcia (9-5 overall; 4-3 dual), who hails from Sedro Woolley, Wash., had the most impressive outing of the afternoon when he shut out Anthony Fretwell, 11-0. A trio of takedowns, 3-point nearfall, escape and riding time of 4:25 helped the Buckeyes jump out to a 16-6 advantage at the halfway point.

 

Because Indiana forfeited the 174-pound match, Ohio State then took a commanding 22-6 lead entering the 184-pound bout between redshirt junior C.J. Magrum (14-3 overall; 7-0 dual) and Lucas Sheridan. An Oak Harbor, Ohio, native, Magrum owned slim 2-1 and 4-3 leads at the end of the first and second periods, respectively. However, Magrum scored an escape in the opening seven seconds of the third period for the 5-3 lead and that was enough for the win.

 

Freshman Andrew Campolattano (10-6 overall; 4-3 dual) faced fifth ranked Matt Powless at 197 pounds and nearly pulled off the upset. With both wrestlers tied, 6-6, with 17 seconds left in the match, Campolattano, a Bound Brook, N.J., native needed a takedown for the win because Powless held the riding time advantage (1:17). Campolattano could not get the takedown and Powless edged the Buckeye, 7-6.

 

Heavyweights Peter Capone (11-5 overall; 5-2 dual) and Jowan Gill faced off with the Buckeye from Johnson City, N.Y., earning the 7-0 victory. After a scoreless first and second period, Capone scored a reversal and a pair of 2-point nearfalls for the win. Capone also accrued 1:46 worth of riding time.

 

Freshman Johnni Dijulius from Aurora, Ohio, concluded the afternoon with a 10-3 win vs. Zach Zimmer. Dijulius held a 5-1 lead at the end of the first period and continued his impressive efforts after scoring an escape and two-point nearfall in the second. One last escape, plus a 1:16 of riding time in the third period gave Dijulius his 12th win of the season (12-7 overall; 4-3 dual).

 

Postmatch Notes

·         In addition to recording his second consecutive pin in the win over Indiana Sunday, redshirt freshman Logan Stieber has scored bonus points in all his matches, except two. For the season, Stieber has nine falls, two technical falls and three major decisions.

·         With the 11-0 major decision over Anthony Fretwell, freshman Derek Garcia scored his first career collegiate shutout.

·         A trio of Buckeyes in Johnni Dijulius, Josh Demas and Derek Garcia scored their first collegiate wins in front of the home crowd at St. John Arena.

·         Redshirt freshman Alex Gordon competed in his first dual competition of the year at 149 pounds.

·         The Buckeyes wore pink singlets to help raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer.

 

Postmatch Quotes

Tom Ryan

On the match today

“Wins always feel good. These guys put so much time into this, winning is important. It was very big to get a team win today.”

 

On who impressed him today

Derek Garcia wrestled great today. He kept scoring points and kept focus in the match.

 

On Andrew Campolattano

“Andrew showed some fight today and he was so close. That was Indiana’s best guy at 197 and Andrew only made one mistake in the match and it cost him. He will continue to improve and you can see his ability. I would not be surprised to see him at 170 pounds at nationals. He has had a lot of close losses but we will get that turned around. He is starting to take his mindset of I’m a talent to I’m a warrior. When he gets that mentality, he has a great chance to win.”

 

Josh Demas – Redshirt freshman; 157 pounds

On the mach today

“I need to work harder on the wrestling mat. I feel like I didn’t wrestle my best today. I think I am going out there and thinking too much. I’m not wrestling to my ability. It wasn’t that I wasn’t scoring enough points. I just didn’t have myself mentally prepared.”

 

Derek Garcia – Freshman; 165 pounds

On the match

“It was a good match to get me back into my form. It has been a while since I was able to wrestle like that. I haven’t wrestled a good match all year and it was good to finally get one, especially here at home.”

 

On focusing after a dominant match

“I can maintain focus because I want to have more matches like that. I want to be like Logan (Stieber) and not have to be gassed out there. It was nice to get this victory and get over that hump.”

 

Logan Stieber – Redshirt freshman; 133 pounds

On the match

“It felt good starting out at 133, which was a little bit different for me, I am usually at 125. I wanted to go out and get things started for the team. I tried to do what I always do and that is get a takedown and get turns. I got a good arm-bar and a solid pin.”

 

On focusing after a dominant match

“Every kid at this level is going to be tough. I have to be ready; every kid is going to fight. The coaches do a great job keeping me focused. I just have to keep doing what I do and usually that works out pretty well.