WR: No. 13 Ohio State Hosts Michigan State at Massillon Perry Friday

WR: No. 13 Ohio State Hosts Michigan State at Massillon Perry Friday

Feb 5, 2014 by FloWrestling Staff
WR: No. 13 Ohio State Hosts Michigan State at Massillon Perry Friday

Feb. 5, 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_2014msupreview

·         Match Day

·         2013-14 Statistics

·         Follow the Buckeyes on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

 

No. 13 Ohio State Hosts Michigan State at Massillon Perry

Buckeyes, Spartans will wrestle at 7 p.m. Friday

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio – For the second time this season, the No. 13 Ohio State wrestling team will compete in a home match off-site, this time at Massillon Perry High School. The Buckeyes will host Michigan State at 7 p.m. Friday. Ohio State enters the match vs. the Spartans with an overall record of 8-4 and a 3-4 Big Ten Conference mark. Michigan State is 5-9 overall and 0-6 in the league.

 

The match Friday will serve as the final Big Ten regular-season match of the season for the Buckeyes. Ohio State will serve as hosts of the 2014 EAS Sports Nutrition/NWCA National Duals at St. John Arena Feb. 16-17 before hosting Virginia Tech at 2 p.m. Feb. 23 to conclude the 2014 regular season.

 

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

Ohio State split its matches during the weekend of Jan. 31-Feb. 3, losing to No. 11 Michigan, 21-12, Jan. 31, but rebounding with a 16-15 decision at No. 24 Purdue Monday. Senior Nick Heflin (197 pounds), sophomore Mark Martin (174 pounds) and redshirt-junior Logan Stieber (141 pounds) were perfect on the weekend. After winning only three matches vs. the Wolverines, the Buckeyes rallied from a 15-4 deficit behind four consecutive wins by Martin, redshirt-sophomore Kenny Courts (184 pounds), Heflin and redshirt-freshman Nick Tavanello (HWT). Stieber’s major decision victory at 141 pounds proved to be the difference maker as he was the lone wrestler to score a bonus-point victory as both teams won five matches each.

 

Ohio State vs. Michigan State

Ohio State trails Michigan State, 40-25-1, in the all-time series, but has won nine of the last 10 matches dating back to 2002. The lone setback in the span was a 27-16 loss in 2005. Two seasons ago, the Buckeyes handed the Spartans a 24-13 loss in East Lansing.  

 

Last Five Meetings

Feb. 5, 2012 – Ohio State 24, Michigan State 13

Jan. 16, 2011 – Ohio State 19, Michigan State 16

Feb. 14, 2010 – Ohio State 30, Michigan State 7

Feb. 8, 2008 – Ohio State 23, Michigan State, 15

Feb. 2, 2007 – Ohio state 19, Michigan State 14

 

Buckeyes vs. Spartans

Senior Ian Paddock has the most experience vs. Michigan State and has a 1-1 record. Including Paddock, seven current Buckeyes have wrestled against the Spartans – Josh Demas (0-1), Johnni DiJulius (1-0), Joe Grandominico (0-1), Nick Heflin (1-0), Randy Languis (1-0) and Logan Stieber (1-0).

 

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 also leads the program in technical falls with five. Redshirt-sophomore Kenny Courts has four technical falls to his credit. Redshirt-freshman Nick Roberts paces the Buckeyes in major decisions with seven, while sophomore Mark Martin is second with six and Courts has five. 

 

Milestones

With his 16-3 victory over Michigan’s Chris Heald, senior Nick Heflin recorded his 85th career victory. Heflin’s current career mark is 86-27. Redshirt-junior Logan Stieber notched his 80th career win Jan. 31 against Michigan’s Steve Dutton, a 16-1 technical fall. Stieber’s career ledger is 81-6.

 

Buckeyes Dominating Opponents

Through 12 dual matches, Ohio State is outscoring its opponents, 250-184. 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, 21 points in a 21-12 win vs. Northwestern. Jan. 17 and 16 points in a 16-15 win at Purdue Feb. 3.  

 

Bonus

Ohio State has recorded a bonus point victory in each of its eight 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. At Purdue Feb. 3, Logan Stieber notched a 13-3 major decision vs. Danny Sabatello.

 

Bonus Part II

Each of redshirt-junior Logan Stieber’s victories have come either via a major decision, technical fall or fall. With his 16-1 technical fall vs. Michigan’s and No. 13 Steve Dutton and 13-3 major decision vs. Purdue’s Danny Sabatello, Stieber now has collected three major decisions, five technical falls and eight falls.

 

In the Rankings

Ohio State dropped to 13th (131 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 three spots to 15th with 25 points.

 

Seven Buckeyes are ranked in the Amateur Wrestling News polls. Logan Stieber is No. 3 at 141 pounds, followed by 133-pounder Johnni DiJulius at No. 9. Nick Heflin (197 pounds) dropped one spot to No. 10. 184-pounder Kenny Courts is No. 11, while Mark Martin (174 pounds) holds down the No. 12 spot. Nick Roberts (125 pounds) is No. 17. No. 20 Ian Paddock (149 pounds) rounds out the ranked Buckeye wrestlers.

 

Up Next

Ohio State will host the 2014 EAS Sports Nutrition/NWCA National Duals at St. John Arena Feb. 16-17.

 

#GoBucks