Last Sunday against Minnesota, Ohio State let a 16-6 lead after the first six matches slip away by dropping the final four bouts to lose, 18-16. After the match, coach Tom Ryan challenged some of his weight classes to practice to the point where you "get yourself to a completely uncomfortable state and be able to manage that."
Not sure if that's the way the team practiced this week or not, but the results suggest that something certainly did click this week in practice.
Ohio State fought to two victories to lead off the match. No. 17 Jason Johnstone decisioned Tim Darling, 9-4, in the opening match of the evening at 157 pounds and then in a battle of two ranked wrestlers, No. 2 Colt Sponseller decisioned No. 20 Dan Vallimont, 8-3, at 165 pounds for an early 6-0 Ohio State lead.
Penn State's nationally ranked Quentin Wright (No. 16 at 174 pounds), had to battle right to the very end against Dave Rella before escaping and riding to a 3-2 victory to close the gap to 6-3.
In a matter of moments, though, the Buckeyes took control of the match. First, No. 2 Mike Pucillo needed just 1:35 to pin Matt Dodds at 184 pounds and, perhaps stoked by Pucillo's dominance, Buckeye Cody Gardner secured a 6-3 decision over Jack Decker at 197 to give the team four wins before the break.
Then coming out of the break, Corey Morrison won another close decision, 6-4 over Stefan Tighe, in the heavyweight match to give the Buckeyes considerable confidence heading into the last four matches.
Although Nikko Triggos lost in a major decision to No. 13 Brad Patsky at 125 pounds, the Buckeyes were still in good shape with three stalwarts – Reese Humphrey, J Jaggers and Lance Palmer at 133, 141 and 149 pounds, respectively – in line to wrestle.
That trio dominated to close out the match. Humphrey, ranked No. 2, decisioned No. 9 Jake Strayer, 8-3. No. 14 Jaggers pinned Frank Molinaro at 3:38 of the second period. And Palmer, ranked No. 4, pinned Colby Pisani, wrestling in place of the injured and unbeaten No. 2 wrestler Bubba Jenkins, at 2:56 of the first period.
The Buckeyes have now won three consecutive matches over Penn State to close a Penn State series lead to 13-10 all-time.
The Buckeyes return from State College to host the Purdue Boilermakers at 5 p.m. Sunday at St. John Arena.
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