Sammy Sasso sizes up his opponent during his return to competition in front of a boisterous Buckeye home crowd. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Brian Bayless)
Dominant throughout its lineup, sixth-ranked Ohio State opened its season with wins in nine of 10 weight classes, including the one that mattered most to those who came to watch.
Columbus, OH – Though his life has changed, Sammy Sasso’s goal has not, which is clear from the exacting standard he applied to himself Thursday night.
Victorious in his return from a 20-month absence after being shot in a car-jacking, Sasso didn’t hesitate when asked what’s next now that he’s shed the wheelchair, cane and other impediments that kept him out of competition.
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“Be ready to win a national title in March,” he said.
The 12-6 victory he recorded at 165 pounds – two classes above where he finished second in the nation as a senior in March of 2023 – left little doubt Sasso expects more of himself than the Covelli Center crowd anticipated in the sixth-ranked Buckeyes’ season debut.
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Though OSU had won the night’s first five matches to all but secure the eventual 36-6 victory over Tennessee-Chattanooga, an anxious hesitance hovered until Sasso showed enough of his old self to alleviate any concern.
Ever inventive when in peril, Sasso quickly turned two opponent attacks into takedowns for a 9-4 lead after one period of the first match after intermission.
“I wrestled OK today,” he said. “I was definitely squeezing too much, trying to keep things in my control. I’m best when I’m just floating from one position to the next. I didn’t think I did a good job of that today, but it’s the first match back. I’ll get it under control.”
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OSU coach Tom Ryan took a longer view, marveling at the arc of Sasso’s return from lying in an ally, nearly bleeding to death, to the uncertainty over whether he’d walk again, let alone wrestle at the level that’s made Sasso a four-time All-American and two-time Big Ten champion.
Ryder Rogotzke upends Kamden Munro in one of the most competitive matches of the night.
“I’ve been at this sport a long time,” Ryan said. “….As a coach and as a team and as an individual. you’re focused on winning. In the midst of that, there’s always amazing stories that occur. There are amazing life moments that occur along their journey.
“Tonight was amazing. It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever witnessed, and that was Sammy Sasso’s return to the mat. His will, his determination, just seeing him out there…embracing what he loves so much was fantastic.”
Less dramatic, but no less important to OSU’s hopes for a high NCAA finish, 157-pounder Paddy Gallagher pulled out a 4-1 win in sudden victory in his first match back since tearing an ACL early last season.
“The way Paddy fought tonight was incredible,” Ryan said. “It wasn’t a beautiful match, but he never put his head down. He came out of some pickles. It’s a really good win for him. It’s the kind of win that can transform your season.”
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Ohio State will need Gallagher, Sasso and others in the next two weight classes to produce points in the middle of its lineup, now that NCAA runner-up Rocco Welsh will be redshirting at 174 this season.
Tied 1-1 after 3 periods, Paddy Gallagher gets the best of Noah Castillo and claims a 4-1 win by sudden victory.
Reigning NCAA champion Jesse Mendez at 141, Luke Geog at 197 and heavyweight Nick Feldman each registered technical falls for the Buckeyes, as did 125-pounder Brendan McCrone.
Both Feldman and Mendez figure to have much stiffer matches Saturday at Penn State, where both will compete in the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic.
That event aims to match the two top-ranked wrestlers in each weight class as a pre-season preview of the NCAA Championships to come in March.
Injuries and opt-outs make it a rarity for an actual No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup to come off, but Mendez – ranked second at 141, despite being the reigning NCAA champion – will face No. 3 Beau Bartlett of Penn State, who is ranked third.
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Feldman, No. 3 in the nation at heavyweight, will see No. 7 Taye Ghadiali of Campbell.
Feldman lost a 17-4 major decision in their first meeting early last season, but came back to defeat Ghadiali in the NCAA’s, 10-4.
Nick Feldman and his opponent, Ethan Vergara briefly glance up at the scoreboard clock during the heavyweight match against Chattanooga.
“I’m excited,” said Feldman, who won three matches to take the heavyweight division at the Clarion Open last weekend. “I’m excited to see where I am. I can’t wait. It’s a chance to compete against a high-level guy and that’s what I live for.”
Wrestling doesn’t get to a higher level than the three matches Mendez and Bartlett staged last year.
Unbeaten and ranked No. 1 at the time, Bartlett defeated Mendez in sudden victory, 4-3, in the teams’ regular-season dual at Penn State.
Then in both the Big Ten and NCAAs, Mendez won 4-1 with late takedowns.
This will likely be the first of four matches between the two this season, with the others coming Feb. 14 when the Nittany Lions come to OSU and then in both the Big Ten finals and NCAA Championships.
Luke Geog attempts to lock in David Harper during the home opener at the Covelli Center.
“A lot of guys opt out of these high-level matches this early in the season, but that’s not Jesse’s style,” Ryan said. “Besides, what’s the point? It’s almost like college football now. Ohio State could play Oregon three times. Why try to avoid it?
“Our dual with them is late in the season and the Big Ten’s and NCAA are five months away, so let’s go wrestle and see what happens. They’ll have this bout and then they won’t see each other for awhile.”
Seeing Sasso back and in promising form was what the Covelli crowd came to see on Thursday.
“It’s been a long run, but I just always kept the faith,” Sasso said. “Some days were tougher than others. I always believed I was going to get to this position.
“…I just feel thankful. I’m really lucky that I was able to keep pushing past and be able to go and do what I love again, representing the Block O.”
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