With a slim 9-8 lead after five bouts, the Scarlet and Gray recorded three consecutive wins, including a major decision, at 184, 197 and 285 pounds to take a 19-8 advantage. Third-ranked Mike Pucillo (Fr., Cuyahoga, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) began the string of victories at 184 pounds when he defeated 12th-ranked Marc Bennett, 18-6. Never trailing throughout the match, Pucillo took an early 7-3 advantage following the first period after scoring three takedowns and an escape compared to Bennett's reversal and escape. In the second session Pucillo increased his lead to 11-5, scoring a pair of takedowns and limiting Bennett to two escapes. In the final period, Pucillo was rewarded a point on a second IU warning and added to his two takedowns, escape and the riding time advantage, remained undefeated at 15-0.
No. 7 J.D. Bergman (Jr., Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor) garnered win No. 16 when he beat Nate Everhart, 4-2. Up 2-0 going into the third period after scoring a takedown in the first session, Bergman, notched an escape at the 1:30 mark to take a 3-0 lead. Everhart then scored a takedown in the final nine seconds of the match to cut the deficit to, 3-2, but Bergman hung on, earning the riding time point for the final tally.
With the Buckeyes up 16-8, Corey Morrison (So., Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights) helped Ohio State to a 19-8 margin after his last second takedown gave him a 9-7 victory over Josh Buuck. Down 5-2 heading into the third period, Morrison quickly tied the score on an escape four seconds into the session and followed with a takedown at 1:41. Buuck answered with an escape for the one-point lead (6-5) with 55 seconds remaining, but a takedown by Morrison at the 40 second mark signaled another lead change (7-6). It was with four seconds left in the match Buuck recorded an escape to tie the score at 7-all. It appeared the bout was going to overtime, but the last second effort by Morrison gave him the win.
Ohio State jumped out to an early 6-0 lead courtesy of two decisions by J Jaggers (So., Northfield, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel) at 141 pounds and No. 16 Lance Palmer (Fr., Lakewood, Ohio/St. Edward) at 149 pounds. Jaggers too never trailed during his match, scoring a pair of takedowns in the first period, while Indiana's Scott Kelly recorded an escape. After a scoreless second period, Jaggers tallied an escape and earned the riding time point for the 6-1 win.
Palmer overcame No. 12 Matt Coughlin, 5-3, after trailing, 3-1, going into the third session. An escape by Palmer with 1:49 remaining cut Coughlin's lead to 3-2 and following an injury timeout by IU, Palmer took a 4-3 lead on a takedown with 20 seconds left in the bout. Palmer then was awarded a point after Coughlin was called for his second warning of the match.
No. 16 Chris Vondruska (Sr., Lakewood, Ohio/Hofstra) gave the Buckeyes their ninth point on the day when he defeated No. 14 Max Dean, 2-1, in overtime for his eighth-consecutive win. The first period was scoreless and only an escape by IU was recorded in the second period. Vondruska tied the bout at 1-1 in the third to force the match into overtime. After both wrestlers were held scoreless in both the one minute overtime session and the first 30 second overtime period, Vondruska notched an escape with 10 seconds left for the win.
Buckeyes T.J. Enright (Jr., Galloway, Ohio/Westland) and Jason Johnstone (So., Massillon, Ohio/Perry) lost close decisions, with Enright losing in overtime to Andrae Hernandez and Johnstone dropping a 4-2 decision to seventh-ranked Brandon Becker. Hernandez scored a last second reversal in the second overtime period after he and Enright were tied up at 1-all. Becker was able to hold on for the win after Johnstone cut Becker's lead to 3-2 on a takedown at 1:08 in the third period. Eight seconds later Becker recorded an escape for the final 4-2 score.
Ohio State returns to action at 7 p.m. Feb. 2 when it hosts No. 23 Michigan State in St. John Arena. Live web streaming of the match-up will be available on ohiostatebuckeyes.com. The meet also is OSU wrestling alumni night. Buckeye head coach Tom Ryan and a wrestling student-athlete will be available prior to the match for a chalk-talk session with alumni in the recruiting room of St. John Arena. Alumni then will be recognized at halftime. There also will be a post-match social for alumni at Wendell's restaurant on Lane Avenue (across from St. John Arena) at the conclusion of the event.
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