COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State came into Sunday's Buckeye Duals ranked no. 2 in the latest NCAA Coaches' Poll. The Buckeyes lived up to the billing in beating the Falcons, 30-6. However, NDC bounced back to win the second half of the dual meet, besting the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), 29-9. The Patriots came into the match, ranked no. 19 in the latest NAIA rankings.
In the opener, Notre Dame fought hard, but was outmatched by the Buckeyes, who sent seven ranked wrestlers onto the mat for the ten matches between the teams.
Several Falcons were able to put up great efforts against Ohio State. Senior Chris Tripp (Cleveland, Ohio) came up on the short end of a 14-7 decision in the 197-pound match. His brother, sophomore Justin Tripp (Cleveland, Ohio) also gave it his all, but fell, 9-3, in his heavyweight match.
Junior Adam Koballa (Twinsburg, Ohio) picked up some valuable experience in going head-to-head with the NCAA's top-ranked wrestler in the 141-pound weight class, senior J Jaggers (Northfield, Ohio). Koballa grappled magnificently, but ended up on the short end of a 6-0 decision. Koballa is also ranked no. 1, in the NAIA.
Sophomore Kurt Wolff (Genoa, Ohio) gave the Falcons a needed boost in his first match, by hanging tough with junior Dave Rella (Akron, Ohio), who came into the match ranked no. 18 in the 174-pound weight class. Wolff managed to hang tough throughout the match, only falling by a slim margin, 8-6. The Falcons used this result as momentum going into the dual with UOC.
The Falcons recorded their six points against Ohio State on a forfeit in the 149 pound match.
The Falcons were able to defeat the Patriots on the results of three major decisions and one tech fall.
Senior Victer Crenshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio) bounced back from a defeat to the Buckeyes, to score a major decision victory against the Patriots. Crenshaw's 14-7 win gave NDC a 4-0 lead, and they didn't look back from there.
Sophomore Thomas Straughn (Massillon, Ohio) and Justin Tripp both recorded major decisions as well in the 157-pound and 285-pound weight classes, respectively. Freshman Paul Rose (Cambridge, Ohio) picked up a win in the 133-pound weight class by tech fall that gave the Falcons a commanding 19-9 advantage.
The only two defeats to the Patriots came to two wrestlers ranked in the top-ten nationally. Chris Tripp came up on the short end of an 8-4 decision to senior Robert Nusekabel (Cincinnati, Ohio), who is currently ranked no. 5. Freshman Alex Denman (Painesville, Ohio) was pinned by junior Damian Stephens (Miami, Fla.). Stephens is ranked no. 7.
“Today was a great experience for all of our wrestlers, and our program as a whole,” said head coach Frank Romano. “Although we didn't get the best results, to wrestle against a top-five program is invaluable. I am proud of the way we bounced back to defeat a very good team in the University of the Cumberlands.”
The Falcons will be back in action quickly as they travel to New Concord, Ohio, to take on Muskingum on Tuesday. Match time is set for 7:00 p.m.
No. 3 Ohio State 34 vs. No. 7 Notre Dame College 6
Nov. 16, 2008
St. John Arena
Columbus, Ohio
Final Results
165: No. 16 Colt Sponseller (OSU) tech. fall No. 3 Victer Crenshaw (NDC) 22-7 (5-0 Ohio State)
174: No. 18 Dave Rella (OSU) dec. Kurt Wolff (NDC) 8-6 (8-0 Ohio State)
184: Wes Bergman (OSU) mdec. Alex Denman (NDC) 8-0 (12-0 Ohio State)
197: No. 20 Cody Gardner (OSU) dec. Chris Tripp (NDC) 14-7 (15-0 Ohio State)
285: Jason Cook (OSU) dec. Justin Tripp (NDC) 9-3 (18-0 Ohio State)
125: No. 14 Nikko Triggas (OSU) dec. No. 6 Tyler Savage (NDC) 6-0 (21-0 Ohio State)
133: No. 8 Reece Humphrey (OSU) pinned Paul Rose (NDC) 3:27 (27-0 Ohio State)
141: No. 1 J Jaggers (OSU) dec. No. 1 Adam Koballa (NDC) 6-0 (30-0 Ohio State)
149: Ohio State forfeit (30-6 Ohio State)
157: No. 13 Jason Johnstone (OSU) mdec. Tom Straughn (NDC) (34-6 Ohio State)
No. 19 University of the Cumberlands 9 vs. No. 7 Notre Dame College 29
Final Results
165: No. 3 Victer Crenshaw (NDC) mdec. Garrett Harrison (UC) 14-1 (4-0 Notre Dame College)
174: Kurt Wolff (NDC) dec. Kyle Stygler (UC) 3-2 (7-0 Notre Dame College)
184: No. 7 Damion Stephenson (UC) pinned Alex Denman (NDC) :56 (7-6 Notre Dame College)
197: No. 5 Robert Nusekabel (UC) dec. Chris Tripp (NDC) 8-4 (9-7 U. of Cumberlands)
285: Justin Tripp (NDC) mdec. Jacob Brady (UC) 16-4 (11-9 Notre Dame College)
125: No. 6 Tyler Savage (NDC) dec. PJ Martinez (UC) 8-4 (14-9 Notre Dame College)
133: Paul Rose (NDC) tech. fall Travis Sullivan (UC) 20-4 (19-9 Notre Dame College)
141: No. 1 Adam Koballa (NDC) dec. Tim Mitchum (UC) 6-4 (22-9 Notre Dame College)
149: Jeff Pelton (NDC) dec. Jeff Steele (UC) 9-4 (25-9 Notre Dame College)
157: Tom Straughn (NDC) mdec. Justin Swilling (UC) (29-9 Notre Dame College)
NEWS FROM THE NEST…
PULLING RANK: Just like last year's meeting, the majority of Ohio State's match points were scored by ranked wrestlers. This year, 27 of their 34 points were recorded by seven ranked wrestlers. No. 8 Reece Humphrey (133), No. 13 Jason Johnstone (157), and No. 16 Colt Sponseller (165) all posted convincing wins. … Sunday's Duals were wrestled at famed St. John Arena. There were just under one thousand fans in attendance (998).
FRANK-LY SCARLET: NDC head coach Frank Romano wrestled for OSU from 1966-70. Romano was a three-time National Qualifier at OSU and was the Buckeyes' team captain in 69-70. The future bench boss for Notre Dame became the first Buckeye chosen to the US East All-Star team, when he was selected in 1970.
