Dylan D'Emilio

Ohio State’s wrestling team showed grit and determination as they clawed back to secure a narrow 17-15 victory over No. 17 Rutgers at the Covelli Center on Sunday. A crowd of 3,757 witnessed No. 7 Nick Feldman’s clutch performance in the heavyweight division, delivering a decisive third-period takedown to keep the Buckeyes unbeaten at 10-0 (2-0 Big Ten).

Trailing 6-0 early, Ohio State’s comeback was sparked by No. 1 Jesse Mendez, who dominated with a technical fall victory at 141 pounds. Dylan D’Emilio (pictured) followed with a thrilling tiebreaker win at 149 pounds, propelling the Buckeyes into an 8-6 lead. Wins from Sammy Sasso at 157 and Carson Kharchla at 174 helped Ohio State maintain their advantage until Rutgers mounted a late rally to take a 15-14 lead after the 197-pound match.

The stage was then set for the heavyweight showdown between Feldman and Rutgers’ No. 8 Yaraslau Slavikouski. Tied 1-1 late in the third, Feldman secured a takedown in the final moments to clinch the victory for Ohio State.

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Key Performances

  • 125: No. 16 Dean Peterson (RUT) def. No. 10 Brendan McCrone (OSU) | 11-4 decision Peterson’s strong start gave Rutgers an early lead, but McCrone’s efforts limited bonus points.
  • 133: No. 17 Dylan Shawver (RUT) def. No. 9 Nic Bouzakis (OSU) | 4-3 decision Shawver edged Bouzakis in a tactical match to extend Rutgers’ lead.
  • 141: No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. Max Hermes (RUT) | 17-2 technical fall Mendez dominated from start to finish, earning five crucial points to ignite Ohio State’s comeback.
  • 149: No. 12 Dylan D’Emilio (OSU) def. No. 24 Andrew Clark (RUT) | 2-1 tiebreaker In a nail-biting battle, D’Emilio’s endurance and strategy proved decisive in the Buckeyes’ first lead of the day.
  • 157: No. 11 Sammy Sasso (OSU) def. Conner Harer (RUT) | 3-2 decision Sasso fended off a late push from Harer to secure the win.
  • 165: Andrew Barbosa (RUT) def. e’Than Birden (OSU) | 2-1 tiebreaker Barbosa’s escape in overtime proved the difference in a tightly contested bout.
  • 174: No. 9 Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. No. 23 Jackson Turley (RUT) | 3-2 decision Kharchla’s first-period takedown and strong defense held off Turley.
  • 184: Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RUT) def. No. 14 Ryder Rogotzke (OSU) | 6-4 decision Cartagena-Walsh’s late takedown swung momentum back to Rutgers.
  • 197: No. 18 John Poznanski (RUT) def. Seth Shumate (OSU) | 5-4 decision Poznanski’s last-second takedown put Rutgers ahead 15-14 heading into the final match.
  • HWT: No. 7 Nick Feldman (OSU) def. No. 8 Yaraslau Slavikouski (RUT) | 4-1 decision Feldman’s clutch takedown in the closing seconds sealed the win for Ohio State.

Ohio State’s victory over Rutgers came on the heels of another impressive performance Friday, where the Buckeyes toppled No. 10 Illinois 24-9 in Champaign. Freshman e’Than Birden and redshirt sophomore Seth Shumate delivered statement wins over ranked opponents, showcasing the depth of the Buckeyes’ roster.

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Meanwhile, Ohio State also made waves at the 2025 David H. Lehman Franklin & Marshall Open, with standout performances from unattached wrestlers Ben Davino and Rocco Welsh, who each claimed titles in their respective weight classes.

The Buckeyes return to action this Sunday, January 19, when they host Purdue at the Covelli Center. With momentum on their side, Ohio State looks to extend their perfect record and solidify their position as one of the nation’s top programs.