Tom Brands looks on as the dual gets completely of reach at the 197lb bout. 



This is undoubtably a memorable moment for Tom Ryan in his career heading the Buckeyes. 




Dirty Demas gets a takedown, to the elation of the Ohio State fans in his upset Derek St. John. 



#7 Ohio State just doesnt win, they Dismantle #2 Iowa 21-9

covered by Jason Roush and photos by Mike Felts
------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan. 20, 2012

Ohio State/Wrestling, by Danielle Warner 
No. 7 Ohio State Downs No. 2 Iowa, 21-9

Buckeyes win five consecutive matches en route to first win over Iowa since 1966

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Behind seven wins, the No. 7 Ohio State wrestling team downed No. 2 Iowa, 21-9, Friday night in front of 5,684 fans in St. John Arena. The Buckeyes (9-2; 3-2 Big Ten) handed the Hawkeyes their first conference loss of the season.  

“It’s great,” Tom Ryan, head coach, said. “These guys put so much time into what they do. They have six o’clock mornings, they have eight hours of sleep and studying. They have so many things going on in their lives, this was great. It was about time we beat them.”

The last Buckeye victory against the Hawkeyes came Feb. 12, 1966, 46 seasons ago.

“When I left my previous position, we came here for this,” Ryan said. “This one is called the sleeping giant. I know the guys on the other side of the mat. Those men were teammates. I know how they react when they get punched in the nose, they do not fall down, they punch back. The nice thing is the battle is on. Ohio State is officially in a fist fight. I am very proud of this group of guys.” 

Down 3-0 early following the opening match at 125 pounds, the Buckeyes won five consecutive matches to take a 15-3 lead entering the 174-pound bout. Included in the string of wins was a 7-0 shutout by Buckeye redshirt freshman Logan Stieber over No. 2 Tony Ramos at 133 pounds. Stieber, ranked fourth in the nation, scored a 3-point nearfall, takedown and escape, in addition to compiling 1:57 of riding time, in his 19th victory of the season.

Freshman 141-pounder Hunter Stieber posted an impressive 4-2 decision over No. 3 Montell Marion to follow up his older brother’s performance. Up 4-1 after two periods, H. Stieber, No. 7 in the country, allowed Marion, a two-time senior All-American, only two escapes for the match.    

At 149 pounds, freshman and No. 16 Cam Tessari continued the winning trend when he decisioned Mike Kelly, 9-4. The score was tied, 4-4, after the second period, but after Tessari scored an escape to open the third, he went on to record a takedown and a 2-point nearfall.

A trio of takedowns and an escape helped redshirt freshman Josh Demas beat Derek St. John at 157 pounds. Demas, a Columbus, Ohio, native surrendered a takedown and escape to St. John in his 7-3 victory.

The Buckeyes entered the 15-minute intermission with the momentum and freshman Derek Garcia maintained Ohio State’s edge with his dramatic 6-5 win over No. 6 Mike Evans at 165 pounds. Garcia entered the final period with a 6-4 lead and despite Evans’ escape just one second into the third period, Garcia was able to hold on for the win. 

With redshirt junior C.J. Magrum unable to wrestle at 184 pounds, sophomore Joe Grandominico received the start at 174 pounds, while redshirt sophomore Nick Heflin started at 184 pounds. In his first dual match of the season, Grandominico suffered a 7-1 setback, but fought hard in not giving up the major decision to No. 9 Ethen Lofthouse. After a scoreless first period, Heflin, No. 8 in the nation, and Vinnie Wagner traded scoring in the second and third periods, but the Buckeye from Massillon, Ohio, scored his final takedown with 30 seconds remaining to seal the victory.    

Freshman Andrew Campolattano’s 8-6 win over Grant Gambrall at 197 pounds officially locked up the win for the Buckeyes. The score was tied, 5-5, in the third period, but Campolattano scored a takedown with 45 seconds remaining for a 7-5 lead. Although Gambrall scored an escape with 15 seconds left, a technical violation on the Hawkeye gave Campolattano the 8-6 final.

In the final match of the evening, redshirt sophomore and heavyweight Peter Capone lost, 6-2, to Blake Rasing, while 125-pounder Johnni Dijulius was edged by NCAA Champion and two-time All-American Matt McDonough, 5-2.

The Buckeyes are back in action Jan. 29 when they wrestle No. 3 Penn State in State College, Pa., at 2 p.m. The match will air live on BTN.com.