No. 6 Ohio State Steamrolls No. 22 Indiana 32-6 on Senior Day

By Andy Anders on February 11, 2024 at 2:17 pm
Nick Feldman vs. Indiana
Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
13 Comments

Indiana was made into a Senior Day doormat for Ohio State on Sunday.

The No. 22 Hoosiers (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) offered little resistance to No. 6 Ohio State (14-2, 6-1) in the Covelli Center. The Buckeyes won eight of 10 matchups in the dual and cruised to a 32-6 victory.

Dylan D'Emilio picked up a top-15 win for the Buckeyes, while five of his teammates picked up bonus points with major decisions or, in the case of Nic Bouzakis, pins.

Ohio State and Indiana opened things at the 197-pound weight class, where Ohio State's 22nd-ranked Luke Geog proved the aggressor early and took a 7-6 lead into the third period.

Geog started on bottom, breathing heavily, and began to have trouble trying to escape. Indiana's Gabe Sollars had gassed him out, and closing in on a minute of riding time, it appeared like he may take the match to sudden victory. But Sollars clasped both hands behind Geog's head while on top, granting Geog a point from a technical violation. He held on to win 9-6 from there.

Nick Feldman, No. 7 at heavyweight, followed that with a victory over Nick Wilham, securing a takedown in the final 20 seconds to make it a major decision at 12-3.

No. 23 Brendan McCrone got to work much quicker at 125 pounds, getting a takedown in the first period and riding Blaine Frazier for more than two minutes and 20 seconds that frame. He secured four back points to go up 7-0 and used that to springboard him to a 14-4 major decision, putting the Buckeyes ahead 11-0 through three matches.

Then, No. 11 Nic Bouzakis put an early dagger in things at 133 pounds.

Facing his opponent from top position and already up big in the second period, Bouzakis dug a hook under Isaac Thornton's shoulder and rolled him onto his back for a pin.

Suddenly, No. 3 Jesse Mendez was walking out to the Black Eyed Peas' "Imma Be" and securing another major decision over No. 23 Dan Fongaro to make it 21-0 Ohio State at intermission.

Dylan D'Emilio, No. 11 at 149 pounds, picked up a tight 4-2 win over No. 14 Graham Rooks before Indiana finally scored its first win of the dual seven matches in at 157 pounds. Still, ahead 24-3 with three bouts remaining, Ohio State had already locked up victory for the meet.

No. 19 Bryce Hepner ensured it was right back to dominance for the Buckeyes at 165 pounds, however, collecting a 14-6 major decision over Robert Major. No. 11 Rocco Welsh did a point better than Hepner, winning 14-5 against Nick South.

Roman Rogotzke got some grudge points for Indiana with an 18-11 win in sudden victory over Gavin Bell.

Among the Buckeyes' Senior Day honorees were Sammy Sasso, Gavin Hoffman and Nick Boykin. None wrestled on Sunday, with Hoffman out due to injury and Sasso out for the season after being shot in August. He still has hopes to return next season.

Wt No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 22 Indiana OSU IND
197 No. 22 Luke Geog (OSU) def. Gabe Sollars (IND) | D, 9-6 3 0
HWT No. 7 Nick Feldman (OSU) def. Nick Willham (IND) | MD, 12-3 7 0
125 No. 23 Brendan McCrone (OSU) def. Blaine Frazier (IND) | MD, 14-4 11 0
133 No. 11 Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. Isaac Thornton (IND) | Fall, 4:03 17 0
141 No. 3 Jesse Mendez (OSU) def.No. 23 Dan Fongaro (IND) | MD, 19-6 21 0
149 No. 11 Dylan D'Emilio (OSU) def.No. 14 Graham Rooks (IND) | D, 4-2 24 0
157 No. 19 Brayton Lee (IND) def. Isaac Wilcox (OSU) | D, 4-2 24 3
165 No. 19 Bryce Hepner (OSU) def. Robert Major (IND) | D, 14-6 28 3
174 No. 11 Rocco Welsh (OSU) def. Nick South (IND) | MD, 14-5 32 3
184 Roman Rogotzke (IND) def. Gavin Bell (OSU) | D, 18-11 32 6
  Attendance: 4,439    

Ohio State closes its dual meet schedule for the season at Michigan State on Friday. The first match is scheduled for 7 p.m. with Big Ten Network set to broadcast the matchup.

13 Comments
View 13 Comments