Tom Ryan’s predictions for his Ohio State wrestling team this year are a mix of optimism, realism and an ever-present philosophical slant to what might await the Buckeyes. 

“Nothing can ever be really known or predicted ahead of time,” he said. “I’ll say this: We have the potential to do big things. There’s extra excitement because (the NCAA Championships) will be in Cleveland, in our home state, but what happens up there in March…”

He paused.

“Let’s just say that right now, all 10 guys have the chance to place, to score points.”

Ryan cited his team’s depth and balance as the Buckeyes’ primary strength.

“Up and down the lineup there’s competition,” he said. “That brings out the best in your wrestlers. With (the proliferation of) NIL, a lot of teams this year are loaded, a lot of teams have made themselves more powerful, but I expect us to be competing for a team trophy.”

Ryan didn’t say which trophy — the NCAA awards one to each of the top four team finishers — his team could take back to Columbus, a nod to his aforementioned belief of nothing being lock-predictable. 

“We’ll see,” he said. “But we expect to be in the hunt for a team trophy.”

In addition to top-ranked Penn State, would he venture to predict who the primary frontrunners will be this year?

“I don’t assess everyone else,” Ryan said. “My main job is developing our own team. If we do our job, we’ll be competing for a team trophy.”

Zero predictions?

“It’s not hard to see that Nebraska should be tough,” he said. “Oklahoma State, Iowa, Iowa State, Cornell, That Team Up North (Michigan) — I think each of those teams will score some points. 

“There are a few teams this year that can fight for a trophy.” 

Who’s Where?

Asked about his team’s starting lineup outlook, Ryan spoke of classes still up in the air and those that, for now, appear etched in granite.

“We’re unsettled at 125, 165 and 197,” he said. “(Nic) Bouzakis, (Brendan) McCrone and Vinny Kilkeary will be challenging at 125, obviously, a real competitive mix of guys. At 165, we’ll have (Paddy) Gallagher and (e’Than) Birden, and at 197, it’ll be Luke Geog, Seth Shumate or Ryder Rogotzke, but there’s a chance we may redshirt Ryder.”

The seven other weights, for now, seem solidified. Ben Davino (133), Jesse Mendez (141), Ethan Stiles (149), Brandon Cannon (157), Carson Kharchla (174), Dylan Fishback (184) and Nick Feldman (285) have each stamped their claims on their respective weight classes, though Ryan indicated Cayaen Smith will challenge Fishback.

“We’ve got a tough room,” Ryan said. “Again, our depth will be one of our strengths. That depth produces an effect, where some might have to defend their spot a few times throughout the season.”

Clarion Open Wrap-Up

With six Buckeyes earning title crowns in their respective weight classes at the Clarion Open (McCrone, Davino, Gallagher, Fishback, Geog and Feldman) — including all-Buckeye finasl at 125 (McCrone vs. Bouzakis) and 197 (Geog vs. Rogotzke) — Ryan was pleased with his team’s efforts, while offering perspective.

“It’s November,” he said. “It was our first competition of the year, our first weigh-in. There were plenty of good tests and learning for our staff regarding where certain guys are in terms of effort, skill, grit, tactics, and body language.”

Asked about McCrone, who beat Bouzakis, 5-4, in the finals after Bouzakis had downed U20 Freestyle Nationals champion and Cornell greyshirt Anthony Knox in the quarterfinals, Ryan wasn’t reserved in his praise.

“Credit should go to McCrone,” he said. “We all know how good Bouzakis is — one of the biggest recruits in the nation when he came out of high school. McCrone is a walk-on, took a chance and came to us. He’s worked himself into the wrestler he’s become.

“He’s long, hard to wrestle. He’s dangerous. He pinned the #1 kid in the nation last year (Jakob Camacho) against N.C. State. He pinned (Penn State All-American Luke) Lilledahl last year in the dual.”

With McCrone, Bouzakis and Kilkeary, some of the most tightly contested matches at 125 this year could be taking place during Buckeye wrestleoffs.

Mendez At NWCA All-Star Classic

Ryan wasn’t surprised after two-time national champion Jesse Mendez defeated Iowa State’s returning All-American, Anthony Echemendia, 7-3, at the NWCA All-Star Classic on Saturday.

“He’s just so good in every position,” he said. “He was pretty dominant. Jesse was in control the entire match.”

Mendez, ranked atop the 141-pound national rankings and #2 in the national pound-for-pound rankings, earned an escape to start the second period and took down the former Buckeye Echemendia twice in the final two periods to rack up the convincing win.

Mendez is seeking to become only the third Buckeye to win three national titles (Logan Stieber won four and Kyle Snyder won three).

On The Horizon

Nov. 9: at Tennessee-Chattanooga

Nov. 15: at National Duals Invitational 

Nov. 20: vs. Kent State