WR: No. 12 Ohio State Hosts No. 11 Michigan, Travels to No. 24 Purdue

Jan 30, 2014 by FloWrestling Staff

Jan. 30, 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_2014mich_purpreviews

· VIDEO: Head Coach Tom Ryan Previews Michigan, Purdue Matches

· Match Day

· 2013-14 Statistics

· Follow the Buckeyes on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

No. 12 Ohio State Hosts No. 11 Michigan, Travels to No. 24 Purdue

Buckeyes, Wolverines will wrestle at 7 p.m. Friday; Ohio State, Purdue will meet at 7 p.m. Monday

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 11 Ohio State wrestling team will host No. 11 Michigan at 7 p.m. Friday in St. John Arena. The match vs. the Wolverines is the first of two in four days for the Buckeyes as they travel to West Lafayette, Ind., to wrestle Purdue at 7 p.m. Monday Feb. 3.

The Buckeyes currently are in seventh place in the Big Ten with a 2-3 league record. Overall, Ohio State is 7-3. Including the matches vs. Michigan and at Purdue, Ohio State has three Big Ten matches remaining in the regular season. Ohio State will host Michigan State at 7 p.m. Feb. 7 at Massillon Perry High School.

2014 National Duals

Ohio State will serve as hosts of the 2014 EAS Sports Nutrition/NWCA National Duals at St. John Arena in Columbus Feb. 16-17. Log on to https://go.osu.edu/wr_2014NationalDuals for more information, including how to purchase tickets.

In addition to Ohio State, teams scheduled to participate include: Cornell, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Kent State, Central Michigan, Virginia Tech, Bloomsburg, North Dakota State, Oregon State, Iowa State, Hofstra and Illinois.

Last Time Out

Eleventh-ranked Ohio State lost, 28-12, to No. 10 Nebraska Jan. 24 at St. John Arena. Buckeyes Johnni DiJulius, Logan Stieber and Nick Heflin earned wins at 133, 141 and 197 pounds respectively.

DiJulius secured points for the Buckeyes first with his 2-1 decision vs. Shawn Nagel. Up next, Stieber earned his 14th bonus point victory of the season after pinning Colton McCrystal in 2:19. Heflin was the last Buckeye to score with his dramatic 3-1 sudden victory over Caleb Colb.

Seven Buckeyes Predicted to Qualify For NCAA Championships

In the first of three NCAA Wrestling Division I Coaches’ Panel Rankings released Jan. 23, seven Buckeyes made the list of 330 wrestlers who are predicted to qualify for the 2014 NCAA Championships in March. The 2014 championships is March 20-22 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. Wrestlers are judged in each weight class by winning percentage, RPI and coaches rankings. So far, Nick Roberts (125 pounds), Johnni DiJulius (133 pounds), Logan Stieber (141 pounds), Ian Paddock (149 pounds), Mark Martin (174 pounds), Kenny Courts (184 pounds) and Nick Heflin (197 pounds) are on the list.

Statistically Speaking

Redshirt-junior and 141-pounder Logan Stieber leads the team in falls with eight and redshirt-freshman and heavyweight Nick Tavanello is second with six. Stieber is tied with redshirt-sophomore Kenny Courts in technical falls with four a piece. Redshirt-freshman Nick Roberts paces the Buckeyes in major decisions with seven, while sophomore Mark Martin is second with six and Courts has five.

Buckeye Watch

Redshirt-sophomore Johnni DiJulius is the lone Buckeye with a perfect record in dual competition (8-0) and in the Big Ten (3-0). Overall, DiJulius is 18-1 on the season. Redshirt-junior Logan Stieber is 9-1 in dual matches and 4-1 in the conference. Senior Nick Heflin also is 4-1 in league matches (5-1 in dual matches).

Milestones

With his next victory, senior Nick Heflin will have recorded his 85th career victory. Heflin’s current career mark is 84-27. Redshirt-junior Logan Stieber is one win away from reaching his career 80th victory. Stieber’s career ledger is 79-6.

Buckeyes Dominating Opponents

Through 10 dual matches, Ohio State is outscoring its opponents, 222-148. The Buckeyes have scored more than 25 points in five matches this season – all wins. Ohio State recorded 18 team points in its 18-16 victory at Illinois Jan. 12 and 21 points in a 21-12 win vs. Northwestern. Jan. 17.

Bonus

Ohio State has recorded a bonus point victory in each of its seven wins this season. The season high for the Buckeyes came against Davidson Nov. 24 when they won each of their nine matches via a major decision or fall en route to a 40-6 victory in Davidson, N.C.

Against Northwestern Jan. 17, redshirt-junior Logan Stieber recorded a 15-0 technical fall vs. Pasquale Greco and redshirt-sophomore Kenny Courts posted an 18-4 major decision against Jacob Berkowitz.

Bonus Part II

Each of redshirt-junior Logan Stieber’s victories have come either via a major decision, technical fall or fall. With his 2:19 pin of Nebraska’s Colton McCrystal Jan. 24, Stieber now has collected two major decisions, four technical falls and eight falls.

Ohio State vs. Michigan

Ohio State trails the all-time series with Michigan, 62-18-3. However, the Buckeyes have won five of the last six matches, including a 24-12 victory last season in Ann Arbor. Behind six wins, fifth-ranked Ohio State beat No. 19 Michigan, 24-12, Feb. 8 in Cliff Keen Arena. With the win last season, the Buckeyes improved to 11-2 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten.

Last 5 Meetings

Feb. 8, 2013 – Ohio State 24, Michigan 12

Feb. 3, 2012 – Ohio State 24, Michigan 13

Jan. 28, 2011 – Michigan 27, Ohio State 9

Feb. 5, 2010 – Ohio State 29, Michigan 9

Feb. 13, 2009 – Ohio State 26, Michigan 17

Buckeyes vs. Wolverines

As seniors Nick Heflin and Ian Paddock have the most experience against Michigan. Both Heflin and Paddock have wrestled a Wolverine three times in their Buckeye careers. Heflin is 3-0 for his career vs. Michigan, while Paddock is 0-3. Redshirt-junior Logan Stieber has wrestled against Michigan twice and has a 2-0 record.

Ohio State vs. Purdue

Ohio State leads Purdue in the all-time series, 48-23-7. The Buckeyes have won five consecutive matches dating back to the 2006-07 season. The match Monday will be the two teams’ first meeting since the 2011-12 season, a 27-10 Buckeye victory. In the bout two seasons ago, Ohio State was fueled by victories from current Buckeyes Hunter and Logan Stieber and Nick Heflin.

Last 5 Meetings

Jan. 12, 2012 – Ohio State 27, Purdue 10

Jan. 29, 2010 – Ohio State 35, Purdue 6

Feb. 8, 2009 – Ohio State 28, Purdue 10

Feb. 3, 2008 – Ohio State 35, Purdue 6

Jan. 14, 2007 – Ohio State 28, Purdue 6

Buckeyes vs. Boilermakers

Among current starters, seniors Nick Heflin and Ian Paddock have wrestled Purdue just once in their respective careers. Paddock scored a victory during the 2009-10 season and Heflin was a winner two seasons ago. Redshirt-junior Logan Stieber also has one win vs. the Boilermakers to his credit.

In the Rankings

Ohio State dropped to 12th (292 points) in the USA Today/NWCA/AWN Division I Coaches Poll released Tuesday. In the InterMat NCAA Division I Tournament Index ratings, the Buckeyes dropped two spots to 12th with 34.5 points.

Seven Buckeyes are ranked in the Amateur Wrestling News polls, including a pair of wrestlers in the Top 3. At 125 pounds, Johnni DiJulius is No. 3, followed by No. 3 Logan Stieber (141 pounds). Nick Heflin (197 pounds) moved up one spot to No. 9. 184-pounder Kenny Courts is No. 11, while Nick Roberts (125 pounds) holds down the No. 12 spot. No. 12 Mark Martin (174 pounds) and No. 13 Ian Paddock (149 pounds) round out ranked Buckeye wrestlers.