Ohio State Remains Perfect at Inaugural Grapple at the Garden

NEW YORK – The fourth-ranked Ohio State wrestling team (6-0 overall) opened the inaugural Grapple at the Garden in New York City’s Madison Square Garden with a 34-3 victory over No. 18 Maryland Sunday afternoon. The Buckeyes followed their opening win with a 38-3 victory vs. Hofstra.

 

Against Maryland, senior Nikko Triggas used a pair of takedowns and a two-point nearfall to jump out to a 6-0 lead over No. 13 Shane Gentry in the 125-pound bout. Awarded an additional point because of a stalling call on Gentry, Triggas also accrued 1:56 of riding time for the 8-1 final.

 

Up next at 133 pounds, redshirt sophomore Logan Stieber held an early advantage before pinning the Terrapins Paul O’Neill 1:25 into the match. Wrestling at 141 pounds vs. Danny O’Malley, Hunter Stieber took an early 6-1 lead in the first period before a 14-3 final that lifted the Buckeyes to a 13-0 lead over Maryland three matches into the dual.

 

Earning the start at 149 pounds, redshirt junior Ian Paddock blanked Lou Mascola, 7-0, in the first period. Two more takedowns and an escape in the second period increased Paddock’s lead to 12-1 in the second period. With one final takedown and riding time of 4:17, Paddock recorded a 13-2 major decision victory.   

 

Redshirt sophomore Josh Demas took a 2-0 lead on a takedown vs. TJ Guidice in the first period and after a scoreless second period, Demas scored a reversal midway through the third period and finished the match with a final takedown with eight seconds remaining. Along with a riding time of 2:13, Demas scored a 7-1 decision.

 

Freshman Mark Martin took a quick 2-0 lead in the first period in the 165-pound match vs. Josh Snook before another pair of takedowns gave the Buckeye a 6-2 lead at the end of the first period. Two more takedowns and an escape helped Martin extend his lead to 11-3 with 30 seconds left in the final period. After compiling 2:54 of riding time, Martin won, 12-4.     

 

Opening the first period with a pair of takedowns, sophomore Craig Thomas ended the first period with a three-point nearfall to take a 7-1 lead at 174 pounds vs. Aaron Norris. Following a scoreless second period, Thomas recorded an escape and takedown in the third period and with 2:43 in riding time, earned an 11-2 major decision.

 

With a 28-0 lead entering the 184-pound match, Ohio State’s Kenny Courts dropped a 9-3 decision to No. 10 Jimmy Sheptock. However,

 

A takedown with nine seconds left in the first period gave No. 10 Andrew Campolattano a 2-0 lead early in the match vs. No. 16 Christian Boley. With Campolattano up, 3-1, Boley tied the score with a takedown late in the third period. However, Campolattano answered with an escape and takedown in the final seconds for the 6-3 result. 

 

In the final bout of the match at heavyweight, Peter Capone downed Carl Buchholz, 3-0. Capone took a 2-0 lead early in the match on a takedown before scoring an escape for the final.  

 

About an hour later, the Buckeyes took to the mat once again, this time vs. Hofstra. Triggas opened action once again at 125 pounds, wrestling No. 19 Steve Bonanno. Both wrestlers were scoreless through the first two periods. An escape by Triggas with 1:20 left in the final period gave the Buckeye a slim 1-0 lead and the eventual win.

 

L. Stieber took a quick 2-0 lead on a two-point nearfall seconds into his match against the Pride’s Jamie Franco. The Buckeye from Monroeville, Ohio, added to his lead with a pair of three-point nearfalls and a two-point nearfall for a 10-0 advantage – all in the first period. With 46 seconds left in the second period, Stieber recorded a technical fall, 16-0.

 

At the conclusion of the first period, H. Stieber led No. 13 Luke Vaith, 8-3. Two takedowns, four escapes and 1:20 of riding time later, H. Stieber walked away with a 17-7 victory.

 

Up next at 149 pounds, Paddock had a 1-0 lead in the second period before pinning Matt Spataro with 14 seconds left in the period. Demas added to Ohio State’s team lead (22-0) following his 8-0 victory vs. Cody Ruggirello. Up 2-0 following the first period, Demas extended his lead to 3-0 on an escape and in the third period a pair of takedowns put Demas up 7-0. Adding in his riding time of 1:53, Demas won 8-0.

 

Scoreless in the first period vs. Nick Terdick, Martin won a 6-2 decision courtesy of an escape, two takedowns and riding time of 1:14. In the 174-pound match, Thomas dropped a hard-fought 10-8 decision in overtime to Jermaine John.

 

Courts immediately took control of his match vs. Victor Pozsonyi, owning an 8-0 lead and compiling three-plus minutes of riding time in the middle of the second period. Up 10-1 at the end of the second period, a pair of escapes and 5:44 of riding time propelled the Buckeye to a 13-1 lead.

 

At 197 pounds, Campolattano posted a 47-second pin over Tim Murphy, while Capone’s 7-3 decision vs. Paul Snyder wrapped up Ohio State’s action in the Grapple at the Garden.   

 

The Buckeyes will not wrestle again until Jan. 4, 2013 when they face Iowa in Iowa City in their Big Ten Conference season opener. The match will air live on BTN at 8 p.m. ET. Last season, Ohio State downed the Hawkeyes, 21-9, in Columbus. 

 

Grapple at the Garden

Dec. 16, 2012

Madison Square Garden

New York, N.Y.

 

No. 4 Ohio State 34 vs. No. 18 Maryland 3

125 – No. 14 Nikko Triggas dec. No. 13 Shane Gentry, 8-1

133 – No. 1 Logan Stieber pins Paul O’Neill, 1:25

141 – No. 2 Hunter Stieber major decision Danny O’Malley, 14-3

149 – Ian Paddock major decision Lou Mascola, 13-2

157 – Josh Demas dec. TJ Guidice, 7-1

165 – Mark Martin major decision Josh Snook, 12-4  

174 – Craig Thomas major decision Aaron Norris, 11-2

184 – No. 10 Jimmy Sheptock dec. Kenny Courts, 9-3

197 – No. 10 Andrew Campolattano dec. No. 16 Christian Boley, 6-3

HWT – No. 13 Peter Capone dec. Carl Buchholz, 3-0

 

No. 4 Ohio State 38 vs. Hofstra 3

125 – No. 14 Nikko Triggas dec. No. 19 Steve Bonanno, 1-0

133 – No. 1 Logan Stieber tech fall Jamie Franco, 16-0 (4:14)

141 – No. 2 Hunter Stieber major decision No. 13 Luke Vaith, 17-7

149 – Ian Paddock pins Matt Spataro, 4:47

157 – Josh Demas major decision Cody Ruggirello, 8-0

165 – Mark Martin dec. Nick Terdick, 6-2

174 – Jermaine John dec. Craig Thomas, 10-8ot

184 –Kenny Courts major decision Victor Pozsonyi, 13-1

197 – No. 10 Andrew Campolattano pins Tim Murphy, :47

HWT – No. 13 Peter Capone dec. Paul Snyder, 7-3