Sammy Sasso went to Sin City and hit the jackpot all weekend long.
The redshirt senior was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week after going 5-0 at the 40th annual Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas, winning the 149-pound bracket.
B1G award for @sammysasso after an impressive weekend in Vegas #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/crwWrcQinH
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) December 6, 2022
Sasso was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament after winning three of his five bouts with bonus points on the board, including a technical fall and two pins.
His biggest wins of the weekend, though, were a pair of decisions over Top 10 opponents: No. 7-ranked Yahya Thomas of Northwestern in the semifinals and No. 5 Kyle Parco of Arizona State in the championship bout.
Sasso entered the event ranked No. 3 nationally and burnished his credentials with his performance in the early-season invitational.
Sammy Sasso at the 2022 CKLV Invitational
- Sammy Sasso (OSU) def. Kaemen Smith (NAVY) | TF, 23-7 (5:57)
- Sammy Sasso (OSU) def. Noah Tolentino (ORST) | Fall, 5:58
- Sammy Sasso (OSU) def. Alec Hagan (Ohio) | Fall, 2:51
- Sammy Sasso (OSU) def. No. 7 Yahya Thomas (NW) | D, 8-2
- Sammy Sasso (OSU) def. No. 5 Kyle Parco (ASU) | D, 6-2
Ohio State returns to Covelli Center for its fourth dual meet of the season on Sunday, facing in-state opponent Kent State at 1 p.m.
