Ohio State redshirt sophomore heavyweight Nick Feldman secures a single leg takedown against Hofstra Sunday. The Buckeyes defeated the Pride 38-6. Credit: Alayna Lopez | Lantern Photographer
No. 6 Ohio State (3-0) defeated the Hofstra Pride (2-2) 38-6 Sunday thanks to eight of 10 Buckeye wrestlers winning their bout at the Covelli Center.
“The team was aggressive,” head coach Tom Ryan said. “Overall it was a good performance.”
Buckeyes’ No. 10 ranked and 125-pounder Brendan McCrone opened the match for Ohio State, making quick work of Dylan Acevedo-Switzer with a first period pinfall.
McCrone has been impressive early in the season, which he attributes to his growing confidence.
“Last year I kind of wrestled a little more tense off the whistle,” McCrone said. “This year in my eight matches I’ve wrestled, there has not been one match where I felt like I could not get to my stuff, whether it was offensive, defensive, or in the hand fight.”
The following match in the 133-pound division featured No. 17 Nic Bouzakis of Ohio State and Hofstra’s Chase Liardi.
Bouzakis coasted to a 12-2 major decision victory and showed why he is a top-ranked wrestler nationally.
At 141 pounds, No. 2 Jesse Mendez ran through his opposition, this time defeating Justin Hoyle of the Pride with a second period pinfall.
The trend of Buckeye domination continued with three straight major decision wins.
Ranked at No. 11 in the 149-pound division, Dylan D’Emilio secured a 16-4 victory against Noah Tapia. At 157 pounds, No. 9 Paddy Gallagher defeated Jurius Clark 13-5 and then No. 11 165-pound Sammy Sasso beat Kyle Mosher 14-4.
Sasso’s victory marked his 50th win in dual competition.
Fortunately for Hofstra, it was able to pick up two victories. At 174 pounds, The Pride’s Greyson Harris defeated T.J. Schierl by decision, 11-7, and Hofstra’s Ross McFarland grinded out a 7-3 decision win against Gavin Bell at 184 pounds.
But Luke Geog got the Buckeyes back on track by defeating Nik Miller. Geog – the No. 11 ranked and 197-pounder – was relentless on his way to a 15-0 technical fall in the first period.
To close the contest, Ohio State’s No. 8 heavyweight Nick Feldman used three takedowns in the first minute to coast to a 21-6 technical fall victory over Danny Church.
Ohio State will return to action in Las Vegas to compete in the Cliff Keen Invitational on Dec. 6 and 7.
