Jan. 9, 2014

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ohio State Wrestling Contact:

Danielle Warner (warner.238@osu.edu)

 

RELATED INFO

·         Online Release/PDF with Probable Starters: http://go.osu.edu/wr_wisconsin_illinois_preview

·         VIDEO: Head Coach Tom Ryan Previews Wisconsin, Illinois Matches

·         Wisconsin Live Streaming ($) & Illinois Live Streaming ($)

·         Match Day

·         2013-14 Buckeye Schedule

·         Tickets to Ohio State home matches

·         2013-14 Statistics

·         Follow the Buckeyes on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

 

No. 9 Buckeyes Travel to No. 23 Wisconsin, No. 11 Illinois in Big Ten Action

Buckeyes, Badgers meet at 8 p.m. ET Friday, wrestle Fighting Illini at 2 p.m. Sunday

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio – After nearly a month off from competition, the No. 9 Ohio State (5-1; 0-1 Big Ten) wrestling team returns to Big Ten action this weekend when it faces No. 23 Wisconsin (8-3; 2-0 Big Ten) at 8 p.m. ET Friday in Madison and No. 11 Illinois (6-2; 0-1 Big Ten) at 2 p.m. Sunday in Champaign.  Both matches will be streamed live on badgersports.com and fightingillini.com. Please note, there is a subscription fee to view both matches online.

 

Statistically Speaking

Nick Roberts paces the Buckeyes with 19 wins. Kenny Courts is second on the team in victories with 18, while Mark Martin and Ian Paddock have 17 wins each. Roberts leads the Buckeyes with seven major decisions and Courts leads the Scarlet and Gray in technical falls with four. Logan Stieber and Nick Tavanello’s six falls are a Buckeye best.

 

Buckeyes Dominating Opponents

Through six dual matches, Ohio State is outscoring its opponents, 156-70. The Buckeyes have given up more than 10 points just twice this season – to Notre Dame College and Penn State. In their season and home opener, the Scarlet and Gray defeated the Falcons, 29-11, and in their Big Ten opener, dropped a 31-6 decision at No. 1 Penn State.  

 

Bonus

Fifty percent or better of three Buckeyes’ wins are bonus point victories this season. All 10 of redshirt junior Logan Stieber’s victories are by either major decision (2), technical fall (2) or fall (6). Redshirt freshman Nick Tavanello has recorded two major decisions, one technical fall and six falls out of 16 wins. Kenny Courts, a redshirt-sophomore, is 18-3 overall and has three major decisions, four technical falls and two falls to his credit.   

 

In the Rankings

Ohio State remains ninth (312 points) in the USA Today/NWCA/AWN Division I Coaches Poll released Tuesday. In the InterMat NCAA Division I Tournament Index ratings, the Buckeyes are seventh with 42. 5 points. Seven Buckeyes are ranked in the Amateur Wrestling News polls, including three in the Top 4. At 125 pounds, Johnni DiJulius is No. 2, followed by No. 3 Logan Stieber (141 pounds) and No. 4 Nick Heflin (197 pounds). 184-pounder Kenny Courts is No. 7, while Nick Roberts holds down the No. 10 spot at 125 pounds. No. 16 Ian Paddock (149 pounds) and No. 17 Mark Martin (174 pounds) round ranked Buckeye wrestlers.      

 

Buckeyes vs. Badgers

Ohio State trails the all-time series with Wisconsin, 28-19-1. The Buckeyes and Badgers have been evenly matched during the past six meetings, splitting the matches, 3-3. Last season, the sixth-ranked Buckeyes earned its third Big Ten win of the season Jan. 20 when it beat No. 19 Wisconsin, 29-10, in St. John Arena. The Buckeyes improved to 9-2 overall, while the Badgers dropped to 6-4 overall and 3-2 in the conference. Backed by a pair of pins from Hunter Stieber and Nikko Triggas at 141 and 125 pounds, respectively, and a technical fall by Kenny Courts in the 184-pound bout, the Scarlet and Gray defeated their fifth ranked opponent of the season.

 

Date                      Result

Feb. 4, 2005        Wisconsin 20, Ohio State 18

Feb. 5, 2006        Wisconsin 38, Ohio State 12

Dec. 10, 2007      Ohio State 23, Wisconsin 13

Feb. 22, 2009      Ohio State 24, Wisconsin 18

Feb. 13, 2011      Wisconsin 23, Ohio State 18

Jan. 20, 2013       Ohio State 29, Wisconsin 10

 

Buckeyes vs. Fighting Illini

Ohio State trails Illinois, 33-31, in the all-time series. Like their record vs. the Badgers during the last six meetings, the Buckeyes have split its outings with Wisconsin, 3-3. In front of a sold out crowd at Oak Harbor High School, the fifth-ranked Buckeyes beat No. 6 Illinois, 25-9, Feb. 1 in Oak Harbor, Ohio. The Buckeyes won seven matches, including a pin by 133-pounder Logan Stieber in his return to action since December.

 

Date                      Result

Jan. 29, 2006       Illinois 27, Ohio State 12

Feb. 28, 2007      Illinois 19, Ohio State 18

Feb. 15, 2009      Ohio State 26, Illinois 13

Feb. 12, 2010      Ohio State 38, Illinois 3

Feb. 4, 2011        Illinois 21, Ohio State 12

Feb. 1, 2013        Ohio State 25, Illinois 9

 

Last Time Out

After taking a 15-3 lead at the halfway mark, the No. 9 Ohio State wrestling team maintained its impressive performance and defeated Kent State, 27-6, Dec. 19 at the M.A.C. Center. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 5-1 overall.

               

The Buckeyes won eight of 10 matches, including bonus point wins by Nick Roberts at 125 pounds and Logan Stieber at 141 pounds. Roberts shut out Del Vinas 16-0 in 4:34 and Stieber was a 10-0 victor over No. 18 Tyler Small.  

 

Up Next

Ohio State will host Northwestern in Cincinnati, Ohio, at 7 p.m. Jan. 17.

 

#GoBucks