Big Ten Spotlight Dual: #3 Michigan at #7 Ohio State

Myles Amine (left) and Kaleb Romero(photos courtesy of Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com)

One of the best things about collegiate athletics is the rivalries. Now there's a difference between a school in your conference, that you compete against regularly, or one in your neighboring state, and an actual rivalry. Ohio State and Michigan. It's one of the best rivalries in intercollegiate athletics. There's such dislike between the two Big Ten powers that they refuse to acknowledge each other by name.

Rivalries are great in and of themselves, but what's even more fun for the general public is when both teams are good. Not only is there natural disdain between the two institutions, but there are also great athletes on the field/court/mat and actual stakes involved.

Tonight, live on the Big Ten Network, Ohio State will host their hated rivals to the north, Michigan. Both teams come in unbeaten and ranked in the top ten. Michigan is loading up for a potential national championship and comes in at #3, while Ohio State has a team that could be looking at an NCAA trophy, too. They are currently ranked #7. This dual is jam-packed full of ranked wrestlers and enticing matchups, with national implications.

Below is the probable lineup for both teams, along with some notes about the teams and competitors.

125: #1 Nick Suriano (Michigan) vs. #18 Malik Heinselman (Ohio State)

133: #8 Dylan Ragusin (Michigan) vs. Will Betancourt (Ohio State)

141: #4 Stevan Micic (Michigan) vs. #21 Dylan D'Emilio (Ohio State)

149: Cole Mattin (Michigan) vs. #2 Sammy Sasso (Ohio State)

157: #15 Will Lewan (Michigan) vs. Jashon Hubbard (Ohio State)

165: #10 Cameron Amine (Michigan) vs. #7 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State)

174: #6 Logan Massa (Michigan) vs. #7 Ethan Smith (Ohio State)

184: #2 Myles Amine (Michigan) vs. #7 Kaleb Romero (Ohio State)

197: #8 Patrick Brucki (Michigan) vs. #20 Gavin Hoffman (Ohio State)

285: #2 Mason Parris (Michigan) vs. #12 Tate Orndorff (Ohio State)

This dual pits the #3 and #7 dual teams against each other. The two have combined to go 9-0 so far in 2021-22.

17 ranked wrestlers are slated to be in action.

Every match has at least one wrestler ranked in the top-15 nationally.

There is one past NCAA champion expected to compete (Nick Suriano: 2019)

Four wrestlers in the dual have appeared in the NCAA finals (Suriano, Stevan Micic, Sammy Sasso, Mason Parris).

Ten past All-Americans should suit up, combined for both squads. (Suriano, Micic, Sasso, Cameron Amine, Taylor Massa, Ethan Smith, Myles Amine, Patrick Brucki, Parris, Tate Orndorff).

Two matches are expected to feature All-Americans clashing (174 and 285).

Michigan's squad has loads of international experience on their side. Dylan Ragusin (2 Cadet Greco world teams), Steven Micic (2020 Olympian), Will Lewan (Cadet World Champion), Myles Amine (Olympic bronze medalist), Mason Parris (Junior World Champion).

Ohio State has Gavin Hoffman, who was a Cadet World bronze medalist and Malik Heinselman, who made two Cadet teams and one Junior squad.

Five wrestlers come into this matchup with perfect records. Suriano, Massa, Myles Amine, and Parris for Michigan. Romero is the lone unbeaten for Ohio State.

While Ohio State has taken seven of the last 12 meetings between these two schools, Michigan has won the last two (both by two points).

Both teams have been able to recruit at elite levels. Suriano #2, Parris #3, Kharchla #4, Massa #4, Sasso #4, Hoffman #10 were all ranked in the top ten of their respective high school graduating classes.

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Big Ten Spotlight Dual: #3 Michigan at #7 Ohio State

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