It is Match Day baby!
I'm excited about this one. It should be a really exciting match, and hopefully, we'll get a rowdy crowd for it. Last year, we pulled the shocker, and while it's not likely we'll do it again, they wrestle the matches for a reason.
This is the preview lineup from tOSU's preview
125: Babin vs McCrone/ Marlow vs McCrone
Last year they faced of two times, Babin winning the first by Major then McCrone winning the next one by decision. McCrone looks very good this year, he is 12-2 with both losses coming to top 5 guys. He is a hammer on top, this match will be very interesting tactically as both of these guys can ride anyone out and get turns. Based on last years results I will call this one a TOSS UP
If it is Marlow that goes, he lost 5-1 to McCrone at the beginning of the year and I would say OHIO STATE FAVORED
133: Vinnie vs Bouzakis
Last year these two guys split. Vinnie won at the Clarion Open and Bouzakis won in the dual. This year Bouzakis has looked good. His two losses have been to teammate Davino and Cal Poly's Romney at CKLV who would go on to win the whole tournament. Bouzakis ended up storming back for 3rd place. The best Vince has looked in his career is probably that Clarion Open where he first beat Nic and so far this year he has looked to have the same issues as he did in the past. OHIO STATE FAVORED
141: Mendez vs Ant
Mendez beat Ant by TF last year and is the reigning national champ. If Ant can keep this to a decision I am happy. OHIO STATE FAVORED
149: D'Emilio vs Solomon
These two wrestled twice last season and it was really close the second time but Finn lost both. DDE is a vet with lots of experience, but if Finn can get into the big scramble positions he can definitely put up points in this one. TOSS UP
157: Gallagher vs. Evans
Both of these guys have looked really good so far this season. Evans is wrestling great and Gallagher just looked fantastic at the CKLV. Gallagher won 17-9 when these guys wrestled last season and has had better matches so far this year. For that I have to favor him. OHIO STATE FAVORED
The first half is unfortunately likely going to be very heavy for Ohio State
165: Sasso v Keslar
The Ohio State preview suggests Keslar gets the nod, I have no complaints about that as both Laffey and MacKay have looked lackluster so far. Sasso is not the same wrestler he was before and he is not a full 165. However, he is still very good and crafty. Keslar should look to use his upper body skills and size in this match. Sasso has wins this season over guys better than Keslar and he is still Sammy Frickin Sasso so I am going to say OHIO STATE FAVORED
174: Luca vs Birden
Birden is a freshman in redshirt that is very talented and athletic. His only offical competition has came this year at 165 where he won 3 matches and lost another by TF. He is someone I think can make a lot of noise in the future but Luca should be able to handle him. Shame that Welsh is RS and Kharcala is not healthy yet but it feels good to write PITT FAVORED
184: Heller v. Shumate
Shumate is a very talented wrestler who has split time across 184 and 197 in his three years at tOSU. He has never broken into the postseason lineup but this year appears to be his best chance. He is 6-3 on the year with all his losses coming to All Americans. He has wins over various d1 starters and is definitely a national qualifier worthy wrestler. He is also a pinner and likes to go upper body so expect some potential fireworks if him and Reece get in that position. However, Reece looks the best he ever has and is a seasoned vet so I am going to anticipate he pulls this off. PITT FAVORED
197: Rogotzke/Smith v. Stout
Rogotzke is a very weird wrestler who has yet to compete above 184 in his college career. He has only wrestled in 1 match this year. He went 20-10 as a true freshman last year and went 1-2 at nationals. He won 16 of his 20 wins by fall. He won 1 single match by decision all year. He is very dangerous and his pin of Bernie Truax last year shows this. However, he is very beatable if wrestlers can maange to stay off their back. Mac is a massive 197 and beat Geog pretty bad last year and I would expect him to be able to handle Rogotzke. Smith lost to a wrestelr from UPJ earlier this year, if he gets the nod I would expect Mac to win by a wide margin. PITT FAVORED
285: Feldman/Swenski v. Pitzer
Feldman had a great season last year when he took 5th in the country. He has looked really good this season at times but not unbeatable. He lost by injury default to Hendrickson and MFF out of CKLV. I hope he goes for this one but I would not be sure he does. If we do him I am confident that Dayton can give him some issues with his length and ability on top so I will call it a TOSS UP
If Swenski goes, Pitzer majored him in the dual last year. He is tough but Pitzer is better. So if he goes PITT FAVORED
Overall this is a dual of two halves. Pitt will need to keep it close in the first half and potentially win the tossups or swing an upset. In the second half they need to get after it and score points, but there is a very real possibility Pitt pulls this off.
Based on the assumption that the Ohio State preview is best and the better wrestler goes at every weight:
3 Pitt Favored, 2 Toss Up, 5 Ohio State Favored
