The Buckeyes, coming off their first NCAA title in the 94-year history of the program, begins its championship defense by competing in the Eastern Michigan Open on Nov. 7. Prior to that, the team will tune up for the season with its annual Wrestle-Offs, slated for Thursday, Oct. 29. As usual, it will be in conjunction with the team's annual coaches clinic. Additionally, the NWCA All-Star Classic is set for Sunday, Nov. 1. The Buckeyes have been represented in the event 19 times.
Ohio State's home opener will occur on Friday, Nov. 13 against Virginia. The Cavaliers were ranked as high as No. 9 last year and finished 10-7 in the regular season and 19th at the NCAA Championships. Last year in Charlottesville, four bonus-point victories propelled the Buckeyes to a convincing 30-7 victory.
Following the Michigan State Open on Sunday, Nov. 15, Ohio State returns home for a date with Arizona State (Friday, Nov. 20). The two teams met last year at the Journeymen Tussle in Clifton Park, N.Y. (Ohio State won, 30-10). The month of November concludes with a match at Cleveland State on Tuesday, Nov. 24.
The always-competitive Cliff Kean Invitational takes place Dec. 4-5, as the Buckeyes will be looking to improve upon their second-place showing in 2014. On Saturday, Dec. 12, Ohio State travels to Columbia, Mo. to face Missouri, which finished fourth at the NCAA Championships and was No. 1 in the final regular season NWCA Coaches Poll. Big Ten competition opens with a match at Northwestern on Friday, Dec. 18. The Wildcats were 15th at the NCAA Championships and feature defending Big Ten champion Jason Tsirtsis (149 lbs.).
The 2016 calendar year begins with a match at Illinois on Jan. 3. The Illini (No. 12) were one of eight teams ranked in the Top 15 of the final regular season NWCA Coaches Poll and features the NCAA champion at 157 pounds, Isaiah Martinez. A week later, Ohio State returns to St. John Arena for a date with Michigan. The exact day and time of the match is TBA. Nebraska, which finished ninth at the NCAA Championships and sixth at the Big Ten Championships, travels to Columbus for a match on Sunday, Jan. 17. The Buckeyes' three-match homestand concludes on Sunday, Jan. 24 when Ohio State hosts Michigan State at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Walsh Jesuit is the alma mater of rising senior Johnni DiJulius.
February opens with a contest against Penn State in State College, Pa (day and time still tentative). The Nittany Lions were sixth at last year's NCAA Championships after winning four straight titles from 2011 through 2014. Ohio State's final home dual match of the year will be against Wisconsin on Friday, Feb. 12.
The Buckeyes will once again participate in the NWCA National Duals, with more information coming this fall. As postseason competition begins, Ohio State will travel to Iowa City for the Big Ten Championships (March 5-6) and New York's Madison Square Garden for the NCAA Championships (March 17-19).
In addition to winning the Big Ten and NCAA championships last year, Ohio State also finished fourth nationally in attendance, averaging over 4,000 fans per match.
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for new accounts are on sale now and can be secured with a deposit for as little as $15 for general admission seats and $25 for reserved seats. Fans interested in becoming a season ticket holder can contact the Ohio State Athletic Ticket Sales Department at 1-800-GOBUCKS (select option 2) or AthleticSales@osu.edu for pricing, details and information. Information on season ticket renewals and single-match tickets will be available later in the year on OhioStateBuckeyes.com.
2015-16 OPPONENTS
Nov. 13: VIRGINIA
Series History: Ohio State leads, 5-0
Last meeting: Ohio State 30, Virginia 7 (Nov. 24, 2014)
Nov. 20: ARIZONA STATE
Series history: Tied, 2-2
Last meeting: Ohio State 30, Arizona State 10 (Nov. 15, 2014)
Nov. 24: at Cleveland State
Series history: Ohio State leads, 22-13-2
Last meeting: Ohio State 51, Cleveland State 3 (Nov. 23, 2009)
Dec. 12: at Missouri
Series history: Missouri leads, 9-5
Last meeting: Missouri 20, Ohio State 19* (Dec. 13, 2014)
Dec. 18: at Northwestern
Series history: Ohio State leads, 41-29-1
Last meeting: Ohio State 21, Northwestern 12 (Jan. 17, 2014)
Jan. 3: at Illinois
Series history: Illinois leads, 33-32
Last meeting: Ohio State 18, Illinois 16 (Jan. 12, 2014)
Jan. 10 (tentative): MICHIGAN
Series history: Michigan leads, 63-19-3
Last meeting: Ohio State 25, Michigan 15 (Jan. 18, 2015)
Jan. 17: NEBRASKA
Series history: Nebraska leads, 8-2
Last meeting: Nebraska 28, Ohio State 12 (Jan. 24, 2014)
Jan. 24: MICHIGAN STATE
Series history: Michigan State leads, 40-27-1
Last meeting: Ohio State 25, Michigan State 13
Feb. 7 (tentative): at Penn State
Series history: Penn State leads, 17-12
Last meeting: Ohio State 22, Penn State 15 (Jan. 11, 2015)
Feb. 12: WISCONSIN
Series history: Wisconsin leads, 29-19-1
Last meeting: Wisconsin 22, Ohio State 15 (Jan. 10, 2014)
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