Wrestling: No. 6 Nebraska knocks off No. 3 Ohio State 19-14

Jake Rice
Sun, 02 Feb 2020 21:42:34 +0000
News, Sports, Wrestling, All-American, Big Ten, Buckeyes, buckeyes wrestling, Chase Singletary, Elijah Cleary, Ethan Smith, heavyweights, Hunter Lucas, joey mckenna, Ke-shawn Hayes, Keshawn Hayes, Kollin Moore, Luke Pletcher, Malik Heinselman, ohio state, Ohio State wrestling, Ohio State wrestling roster, Ohio State wrestling schedule, Ohio State wrestling tickets, osu, OSU wrestling, Tom Ryan, wrestlers, wrestling

Ohio State redshirt freshman Sammy Sasso, the No. 2 wrestler at 149 pounds, grapples for position in a meet against Maryland Jan. 31. Ohio State won 43-3. Credit: Griffin Strom | Sports Editor

In a meet that came down to the wire, Nebraska became just the second Big Ten team to defeat Ohio State wrestling Sunday.

The No. 3 Buckeyes (9-3, 5-2 Big Ten), fresh off a dominant 43-3 win against Maryland Friday, were upset 29-14 on the road by No. 6 Nebraska (7-3, 2-3 Big Ten) — a team that hadn’t beaten a ranked conference opponent prior.

With the meet tied 14-14 heading into the final match, Ohio State redshirt sophomore Ethan Smith, the No. 13 165-pounder in the country, squared off against Nebraska No. 4 senior Isaiah White for the deciding points. In the waning moments though, White cradled Smith for a pin at the 6:58 marker to tip the scale in the Cornhuskers’ favor.

In a top 10 matchup at 174 pounds, Ohio State No. 7 redshirt sophomore Kaleb Romero went head-to-head with Nebraska No. 6 redshirt sophomore Mikey Labriola. It was a close finish, as Labriola bested Romero with a takedown in the final seconds to take the 3-1 decision lead.?

Labriola’s takedown celebration cost Nebraska a team point, making it a two-point decision.

One of two Buckeyes to get a pin Friday night, senior Luke Pletcher continued to show why he is the No. 1 wrestler at 141 pounds with a win against Cornhusker No. 6 redshirt junior Chad Red. Red gave up two stall points to Pletcher, allowing him to capture the 10-1 major decision win. Pletcher established a riding time bonus along with multiple takedowns to give him eight points.

Ohio State redshirt freshman Sammy Sasso — No. 2 in the 149-pound weight class — was back at it in another ranked matchup, wrestling against Nebraska No. 15 redshirt senior Collin Purinton. It was tight early, but Sasso earned a takedown and near fall points in the third period to make it a 13-4 major decision for the Buckeyes.

Riding high from a tech fall against Maryland in the 184-pound weight class, Ohio State No. 24 redshirt freshman Rocky Jordan faced Nebraska No. 9 redshirt junior Taylor Venz. Jordan scored his first top 10 win with a 3-2 decision victory. After a reversal by Venz, Jordan scored a takedown and secured a riding time bonus to earn the win.

The Buckeyes will return home to face No. 21 Northwestern at 2 p.m. Sunday for Ohio State’s final home dual of the season.