BUCKEYE BITS
• Seven Buckeyes advanced to the finals
• Nine tickets were punched to the NCAA Championships for Ohio State
• Ohio State registered an overall record of 23-4 on the day
• Bonus points came in 11 bouts for Ohio State (four pins, three tech falls and three major decisions)
Micah Jordan advanced to the finalsThe seven Buckeye finalists are: Nathan Tomasello (125 lbs), Luke Pletcher (133 lbs), Joey McKenna (141 lbs), Micah Jordan (157 lbs), Myles Martin (184 lbs), Kollin Moore (197 lbs) and Kyle Snyder (HWT).
Micah Jordan delivered the night's biggest highlight, pinning previously-unbeaten and top-seeded Michael Kemerer of Iowa in the semifinals. The Hawkeye had entered the bout at 24-0 and was leading 1-0 when Jordan took him to his back and finished off the fall. It marks Jordan's team-leading ninth pin of the season and the 20th in his career. This came after Jordan topped All-American Tyler Berger (Nebraska) in the quarterfinals.
Nathan Tomasello and Luke Pletcher also had thrilling semifinal triumphs, both getting through via one-point wins. Tomasello's advancement came in a vengeful manner, handing Iowa's Spencer Lee a 2-1 season equalizer after coming up short against Lee back in the January dual. A takedown with 25 seconds remaining in the bout was the difference, causing an `O-H I-O' Chang to breakout inside the MSU arena.
Pletcher flashed some late-match heroics in the semifinals as well, picking up the tying takedown with 20 seconds left in regulation. He completely erased a 3-0 deficit by garnering three consecutive takedowns, the third of which came quickly in sudden victory for the 6-4 win over Minnesota's Mitch McKee. Pletcher walked the tight rope all day long, registering his three wins by a total of just five points.
Joey McKenna pinned 2017 B1G finalist, Javier Gasca III (Michigan State), in the opening round before shutting out the subsequent two opponents by final tallies of 6-0 and 4-0. It took less than five seconds for his first semifinals takedown, riding out Nate Limmex (Purdue) for 2:55 in the first period. He would then grind out the 6-0 decision.
Myles Martin maintained his blistering bonus point pace, notching a pin and tech fall in the first two rounds. He now owns 11 tech falls, six major decisions and five pins in 27 total wins.
Kollin Moore followed up a first-round bye with 10-4 and 5-3 decisions for his slot in the 197-pound finals.
Kyle Snyder banked a boat-load of bonus points much like Martin did. He earned two major decisions and a tech fall during his three-bout run to the heavyweight finals. Most impressive, he served fourth-ranked Nick Neville's of Penn State a 14-5 loss.
Ke-Shawn Hayes and Bo Jordan also chipped in to the team score by advancing to the semifinals. Both were bonus point contributors as well, donating a major decision from Hayes and Jordan's fall.
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