COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The No. 2 Ohio State University wrestling team (7-0, 2-0 Big Ten) started 2018 with a bang, blasting the Maryland Terrapins (3-5, 0-5 Big Ten) by a 45-3 margin. The Buckeyes took nine of 10 bouts, including eight accompanied by bonus points.
That's a fun way to start the weekend!
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks)
Ohio State has now outscored its dual competition by a combined score of 261-39 in seven duals, an average tally of 37.3-5.6.
Four Buckeyes extended their flawless season records while Nathan Tomasello joined the unbeaten ranks with a dominating performance in his season debut. Luke Pletcher and Myles Martin pace the squad at 17-0 each, joined by Kollin Moore (13-0) and Joey McKenna (5-0) with zero blemishes.
RELATED: Full rankings
Tomasello returned from a knee injury suffered at the U23 World Championship Team Trials which had held him out all season, blowing past Brandon Clay in the first three minutes via an 18-2 tech fall.
Ohio State has now outscored its dual competition by a combined score of 261-39 in seven duals, an average tally of 37.3-5.6.
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks)
Pletcher kept it coming at 133 pounds after a slow start. He came alive in the final frame, going on a point-scoring flurry to secure an 18-6 major decision.
McKenna and Ke-Shawn Hayes continued the bonus-point train, posting a tech fall and major decision, respectively. For Hayes, it marked a team-high 18th victory overall.
Following a first-period takedown by Micah Jordan, Maryland’s Justin Alexander had to take an injury default. It would be the first of two bouts ended prematurely due to Terrapin injuries. Before Fritz Schierl picked up his first career Big Ten triumph at 174 pounds (injury default with Shierl leading 2-0), Te’Shan Campbell got past Brendan Burnham, 8-2, at 165 pounds.
#PinChain Time came next when Martin stuck Jahi Jones at the 2:24 mark. His possession of the crown jewel didn’t last long, however, as Moore forced the referee to slap the map as well. His pin of Mansur Abdul-Malik passed along the bedazzled “O.”
COMPLETE RESULTS
125 | No. 1 Nathan Tomasello (OSU) tech. fall Brandon Cray (MD), 18-2 (OSU 5, MD 0)
133 | No. 3 Luke Pletcher (OSU) maj. dec. over Jhared Simmons (MD), 18-6 (OSU 9, MD 0)
141 | No. 6 Joey McKenna (OSU) tech. fall over Ryan Diehl (MD), 23-5 (OSU 14, MD 0)
149 | No. 5 Ke-Shawn Hayes (OSU) maj. dec. over Alfred Bannister (MD), 8-0 (OSU 18, MD 0)
157 | No. 6 Micah Jordan (OSU) injury default over Justin Alexander (MD) (OSU 24, MD 0)
165 | No. 11 Te’Shan Campbell (OSU) dec. over Brendan Burnham (MD), 8-2 (OSU 27, MD 0)
174 | Fritz Schierl (OSU) injury default over Josh Ugalde (MD) (OSU 33, MD 0)
184 | No. 2 Myles Martin (OSU) fall over Jahi Jones (MD) (2:24) (OSU 39, MD 0)
197 | No. 1 Kollin Moore (OSU) fall over Mansur Abdul-Malik (MD) (2:00) (OSU 45, MD 0)
285 | No. 10 Youssif Hemida (MD) dec. over Kevin Snyder (OSU), 8-1 (OSU 45, MD 3)