Three redshirt freshmen - Micah Jordan, Cody Burcher and Jake Ryan - won consecutive matches to open a 20-0 lead after five bouts and Ohio State (1-0) never looked back. Jordan and Burcher won in dominant fashion, while Ryan came from behind with a last-second takedown to upset 19th-ranked Andrew Atkinson at 157 lbs.
Prior to the match, the program officially unveiled new banners commemorating individual national championships from Nathan Tomasello and Logan Stieber along the team Big Ten and NCAA titles. Tomasello then got the match started with a 14-6 major decision over Nick Hermann in which he had three first period takedowns to jump out to a 7-3 lead. In the second period, he racked up four more points with two takedowns and led 11-5 entering the third period.
Johnni DiJulius, ranked fifth nationally, followed that up with a dramatic 8-7 win over 10th-ranked George DiCamillo. Trailing 5-2 late in the third period, DiJulius fought back to cut the deficit to 5-4 on a takedown and then scored four near-fall points with just over 1:00 remaining. A staling point for UVA and riding time made the final 8-7, but for DiJulius it was his fifth win of the season and 102nd in his career.
Micah Jordan scored early and often in his St. John Arena debut, getting four takedowns and an escape in the first period to jump out to a 9-4 lead over UVA's Zach Watson. An escape, takedown and two-point near fall in the second made the score 14-5 and Jordan cruised to the major decision from there.
Burcher got the crowd on its feet with his fall over TJ Miller at the 4:06 mark of the match. A native of Gnadenhutten, Ohio, Burcher improves to 7-0 on the year. He led the match 4-2 at the time of his pin.
With the Buckeyes ahead 17-0, Ryan scored one of the most exciting wins of the night when he overcame a late 1-0 deficit but getting an escape and then finishing a takedown with just four seconds remaining in the third period. Ryan's win, his first this year over a ranked opponent, improves his record to year to 7-0.
Garrett Peppelman of Virginia got the Cavaliers on the scoreboard with a 5-3 decision over Justin Kresevic at 165 pounds, but reigning All-American Bo Jordan looked to be in midseason form in the next match at 174, earning a 17-2 tech fall over highly-touted freshman Fox Baldwin. Jordan, ranked No. 1 nationally, scored two four-point near falls in the first period in addition to two takedowns. He ended the match in the second with two takedowns and an escape.
Another reigning All-American, Kenny Courts, outlasted Tyler Askey at 184 pounds, earning an 11-5 decision. Courts scored two takedowns in each of the first two periods and is now 5-1 on the year.
No. 10 Zach Nye defeated Matthew O'Hara by decision at 197, but Nick Tavanello put an exclamation point on the night when he pinned Patrick Gillen in 5:45. It was Tavanello's third fall of the season, tying him with Micah Jordan for the team lead.
The Buckeyes return to action on Sunday, Nov. 15 when they take part in the Michigan State Open.
Results:
125: No. 1 Nathan Tomasello (OSU) major decision over Nick Herrmann (UVA) 14-6 | OSU 4, UVA 0
133: No. 5 Johnni DiJulius (OSU) decision over No. 10 George DiCamillo (UVA) 8-7 | OSU 7, UVA 0
141: No. 19 Micah Jordan major decision over Zach Watson (UVA) 19-8 | OSU 11, UVA 0
149: Cody Burcher (OSU) won by fall over Thomas Miller (UVA) 4:06 | OSU 17, UVA 0
157: Jake Ryan (OSU) won by decision over No. 19 Andrew Atkinson (UVA) 3-2 | OSU 20, UVA 0
165: Garrett Peppelman (UVA) won by decision over Justin Kresevic (OSU) 5-3 | OSU 20, UVA 3
174: No. 1 Bo Jordan (OSU) won by tech fall over Fox Baldwin (UVA) 17-2 | OSU 25, UVA 3
184: No. 5 Kenny Courts (OSU) won by decision over Tyler Askey (UVA) 11-5 | OSU 28, UVA 3
197: No. 10 Zach Nye (UVA) won by decision over Matthew O'Hara (OSU) 10-6 | OSU 28, UVA 6
285: No. 18 Nick Tavanello won by fall over Patrick Gillen (UVA) 5:45 | OSU 34, UVA 6
Post Match Quotes
Head coach Tom Ryan
On Starting of the season
"It was just great to get back on the mat. The preseason was long and grueling. It's just nice to get back into the competition and learn about our guys and how they compete."
On the crowd
"We like it raucous. People need to know that this is a very challenging, physical sport and it helps when you scream and yell. There's no question it has an impact on the athlete."
Redshirt freshman Jake Ryan
On coming back in his match
"In the third period I went down and he maybe had 50 seconds of riding time. I heard the crowd growing nuts. So I hit a switch and finally got out and it turned out well."
On confidence going forward
"We have a lot of tough guys in the room, the best guys. Training with them every day gives you a gauge on how well you are doing and coming in here and getting a close win always helps."
Redshirt freshman Cody Burcher
On his pin
"I was super nervous walking out on the mat the first time. I was just trying to get my cradle the whole time but he was getting out, but whenever I got that cross face I felt his back bend and felt it was over."
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