Ohio State Wrestling Dominates Bellarmine, Secures 41-3 Victory
Ohio state’s wrestling team continued its impressive start to the season, overpowering Bellarmine 41-3 Wednesday evening at the Covelli Center. The Buckeyes, ranked No. 2 nationally, showcased their strength with a dominant performance, highlighted by seven technical falls and a decisive start to the dual meet.
Why did Ohio State win so decisively? The Buckeyes’ victory stemmed from a relentless offensive attack, particularly their ability to secure technical falls – ending matches early due to a meaningful point advantage. They won the first four matches by technical fall, setting a tone Bellarmine couldn’t overcome.
Who were the key performers for Ohio State? Nic Bouzakis (125 lbs), Ben Davino (133 lbs), Jesse Mendez (141 lbs), Brandon cannon (157 lbs), Paddy Gallagher (165 lbs), Carson Kharchla (174 lbs), and Nick Feldman (heavyweight) all secured technical fall victories. Ethan Stiles (149 lbs) and Luke Geog (197 lbs) also contributed wins.
Early Technical Falls Set the Tone
The Buckeyes wasted no time establishing control, winning the first four matches via technical fall. No. 3 ranked Nic Bouzakis opened the night with a commanding 19-4 victory over Damion Ryan at 125 pounds. Bouzakis quickly took the lead, scoring a takedown within the first 30 seconds and building a significant advantage throughout the match.
Following Bouzakis’s lead, No. 2 ranked Ben Davino secured a 19-4 technical fall of his own against shay Korhorn at 133 pounds in under two minutes. The momentum continued at 141 pounds,where No. 1 ranked and two-time NCAA Champion Jesse Mendez defeated AJ Rallo by technical fall with a score of 24-7. Mendez demonstrated his championship caliber, overcoming an early deficit to dominate the match with a series of takedowns and a four-point near fall. No. 8 ranked Ethan Stiles added another win for the Buckeyes,defeating Zac Cowan 12-8 at 149 pounds.
mid-Match Technical fall Barrage
The Buckeyes continued their onslaught in the middle weights. No. 5 ranked Brandon Cannon earned a 20-2 technical fall over Jeb Prechtel at 157 pounds,followed by a 19-4 technical fall victory for No. 10 ranked Paddy Gallagher against Noah Hall at 165 pounds.No. 5 ranked Carson Kharchla then secured his own technical fall, defeating Cael Miller 19-4 at 174 pounds, extending Ohio state’s lead.
What was Bellarmine’s only win? Gavin Ricketts of Bellarmine upset Cayaen Smith at 184 pounds, winning 3-2 in the second tiebreaker. It was a defensive match decided by a stalling penalty against Smith.
A Single Bellarmine Victory
Bellarmine found success at 184 pounds, where Gavin Ricketts upset Cayaen Smith in a tightly contested match, winning 3-2 in the second tiebreaker. The match was a defensive battle, with neither wrestler scoring in the opening period. Ricketts secured a penalty point for stalling against Smith, and ultimately prevailed after a hard-fought contest.