There’s one wrestling element Tom Ryan still wants to see some of his Ohio State Buckeyes implement in the next five weeks.     

“We’re still in the pursuit of wrestling with joy out there,” he said. “Wrestling freely — that’s the main thing we’re after. Win or lose, we just need each guy to put his best product out there. 

“That sounds so simple and sounds easy, but it’s not. People put undue pressure on themselves and it affects their performances. We’re seeing some of that in some of our guys.”

Ryan explained that certain members of the team “allow thoughts into their minds that they should evict immediately. It’s a constant battle for the space in between their ears.” 

Ryan named a couple of his troops that he hopes to see wrestle in the more “free” fashion he referenced.

“Nick (Feldman) isn’t wrestling to his capacity,” he said. “He knows it.”

While Ryan acknowledged that a victory over Minnesota’s Gable Steveson — the two-time Hodge Trophy winner and Olympic gold medalist — was most likely not in the cards for Feldman last Saturday, he explained that respecting an opponent too much brings a restrictive timidness to one’s own natural wrestling style.

“But the last 30 seconds of the match against Gable, that’s indicative of how good Nick is,” Ryan said.

According to his coach, it was the first time Feldman seemingly threw caution to the wind, getting in deep on a double-leg attack and coming closer to a takedown than at any other point in the match.  

“He released his nerves, and all the pressure of being this huge recruit — all the pressure of high expectations he’s been experiencing — he let all that go,” Ryan said. “He may not have beaten Gable, but there are some guys this year he would have beaten if he’d allowed himself to wrestle that way the entire match.”

Ryan also mentioned Nic Bouzakis as another wrestler who needs to acknowledge “how good he is” and also has to maintain focus throughout the entirety of each match. 

“Nic’s been inconsistent,” Ryan said. “I’ve said this before, but he’s beaten All-Americans. He lost to (three-time national finalist) Daton Fix last year at nationals in (a one-point match). Nic’s a very, very good wrestler. But, it’s about discipline with Nic, being more focused, knowing in-match scenarios and having the wrestling IQ to make good decisions while he’s wrestling, and doing that consistently. In critical moments, he’s had lapses this year.” 

Ryan said once Bouzakis masters “nutritional discipline, sleep discipline and match focus discipline,” he’ll be able to present the best version of himself each time he steps on the mat. 

“There’s some things he has to bring together in order to get everything out of himself,” he said. “He’s shown what he can do, we just need consistency from him.”

Mendez Prevails

More than a few college wrestling fans may have needed a double take when they saw returning national champion Jesse Mendez needed extra frames to down Minnesota’s Vance VomBaur last Saturday 6-5. 

But those who follow college wrestling closely know that VomBaur is no slouch.

Minnesota’s All-American 141-pounder entered the match with an 18-2 record. Still, the banner of “returning national champion” attracts expectations. Without providing details, Ryan offered that Mendez wasn’t 100 percent. 

“We knew VomBaur was going to be tough as heck,” Ryan said. “But one thing about being really elite like Jesse is, there’s 50 ways to skin the cat. There’s so many different ways he can beat you. He’s good in so many different positions that even when he’s not feeling his best, the fact that he was still able to be gritty and tough and get the win against a stud like VomBaur is a credit to Jesse. 

“I credit VomBaur. He wrestled tough because he is tough, but I credit Jesse for hanging tough and winning the match.” 

Up Next: Penn State

Top-ranked Penn State rolls into Columbus Friday night for a dual with the Buckeyes. 

“I think (with) every elite performer, every true competitor, the greater the challenge, the greater the capacity to rise to it,” Ryan said. “When you’re going up against a team who is going to bring out the best in you, the question is, will they? Will they bring out the best in you?”

Preparing differently for the Nittany Lions isn’t on the staff’s agenda.

“The message is always to know who you are,” Ryan said. “It’s about self-mastery, and nothing more than that. Do all you can, fight for positions you know you should fight for, and let it fly. We don’t wrestle singlet colors, we don’t wrestle names. 

“It’s like (modern-day philosopher and writer) Jordan Peterson says, ‘I don’t compare myself to anyone else. I compare myself to who I was yesterday.’”