Ohio State settled one question about its wrestling lineup at Thursday night's wrestle-offs, but a late-match injury left another question unanswered. Brakan Mead earned the starting position at 125-pounds, topping Brady Koontz, while Joey McKenna appeared to be winning the spot at 141-pounds prior to a second-match injury versus Ke-Shawn Hayes.
McKenna, an offseason transfer from Stanford, challenged Hayes for the starting position at 141. The winner of the wrestle-off would start at 141, the other at 149. Hayes went 5-1 overall and 3-0 in duals before an injury cut his season short last November.
The newest member of the team and recent World-Team qualifier appeared to have the edge on the mats last night, winning the first match over a game challenger in Hayes. But things took an unexpected turn in the second match when McKenna appeared to tweak his knee and the coaches ended the match.
"The staff felt it made little sense to continue and we stopped the match," head coach Tom Ryan told Eleven Warriors. "They are both very good. We will meet as a staff and with the athletes to determine what's next."
Training staff didn't think the injury was significant, but it did leave some uncertainty in the final result.
Hayes got the only takedown of the first match, with McKenna earning three points off escapes, with the deciding point coming in overtime. McKenna scored a takedown in the second match prior to its stoppage.
While the two spots aren't settled, by any means, it won't be a surprise to see Ryan give McKenna the nod at 141, and ask Hayes to compete at 149, where he is ranked in FloWrestling's preseason Top 10.
At 125 pounds, Mead and Koontz were set to redshirt this season, as three-time All-American Nathan Tomasello was expected to contend for his second NCAA title. Tomasello's injury at the U23 World Team Trials, Oct. 8, opened the starting spot for the bulk of the dual-meet season.
While Tomasello is expected to return sometime in January, Ohio State will wrestle in several tournaments and a number of dual meets in November and December. Mead, a true freshman, was a Div. I Ohio high school state champion at Olentangy Liberty last season. He finished his senior campaign at 113 with a record of 45-4 on the year.
Mead won both matches over fellow freshman Koontz, a Div. I Wisconsin state champion at 106 lbs. in 2016, and runner up in 2017 at 113 lbs.
Brakan Mead won Round Two of our 125-lbs wrestle-off as well to win the series.
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) October 20, 2017
With Tomasello in the lineup, Ohio State is considered one of two "super teams" in the country this season. His heir apparent will gain some valuable experience on the mats in his absence in the coming weeks.
