Surprising Turn of Events Leads No. 4 Buckeyes to Victory Over No. 10 Illinois, 24-9!

COLUMBUS, Ohio — No. 4 Ohio State (9-0, 1-0) triumphed over No. 10 Illinois (6-1, 1-1) at Huff Hall in Champaign, Illinois on Friday, propelled by a couple of surprises from unranked Buckeyes. Ohio State seized victory in seven out of the 10 matches, concluding with a score of 24-9. 

Freshman e’Than Birden (165) and redshirt sophomore Seth Shumate (197) both achieved victories against ranked Illini wrestlers.   

How the Match Unfolded

125-No. 10 Brendan McCrone (R-So.) defeated Caelan Riley (Jr.) | D, 5-0

McCrone began the Big Ten season with a takedown right at the start of the first period. He led 3-0 into the second frame, then added an escape for a 4-0 advantage. With a riding time point, McCrone secured the win by decision, 5-0.

133-No. 2 Lucas Byrd (R-Sr.) defeated No. 9 Nic Bouzakis (R-So.) | D, 8-5 SV-1

Bouzakis scored first with a takedown to go ahead 3-1 following a Byrd escape. Bouzakis extended his lead to 4-1 early in the second with an escape. Byrd leveled the score at 4-all with a takedown at the edge of the mat, which Ohio State challenged but was unsuccessful. Bouzakis regained the lead with an escape to go into the third period up 5-4. Byrd managed to tie it up to force sudden victory, where he finally clinched the match with a takedown for an 8-5 victory. 

141-No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Jr.) defeated No. 13 Danny Pucino (R-Jr.) | F, 1:47

Mendez initiated the scoring with a takedown and then executed a pin at 1:47.

149-No. 12 Dylan D’Emilio (Gr.) defeated No. 11 Kannon Webster (R-Fr.) | D, 2-0

The opening period concluded without any points on the board. D’Emilio took the lead 1-0 with an escape, entering the third with an advantage. In the final period, he successfully defended against a Webster escape and clinched the win by decision, 2-0, with a riding time point.

157-Jason Kraisser (Gr.) defeated No. 9 Paddy Gallagher (R-Jr.) | D, 15-9

Gallagher was the first to score with a takedown, quickly followed by a Kraisser escape. The Illini surged ahead 4-3 with a takedown going into the second period. Kraisser managed to add an escape point before Gallagher made another takedown to lead 6-5. Kraisser evened it up with an escape, then took the lead with a takedown and four-point near fall, ending the first five minutes at 13-6. Gallagher got another takedown but after a Kraisser reversal and riding time point, Kraisser won by decision, 15-9.

165-e’Than Birden (Fr.) defeated No. 10 Braeden Scoles (R-Fr.) | D, 9-4

Birden achieved the initial takedown, promptly followed by a Scoles escape to make it 3-1. He secured another takedown, extending the lead to 6-2 after three minutes. No points were scored in the second period. Scoles managed to escape early, closing it to 6-3. Birden followed up with another takedown to lead 9-3. A Scoles escape made it 9-4, but Birden maintained his advantage to win by decision.

174-No. 9 Carson Kharchla (Gr.) defeated No. 21 Danny Braunagel (R-Sr.) | D, 11-5

Braunagel opened the scoring after a scramble with a takedown for a 3-0 lead. Kharchla responded with an escape and a late takedown to go up 4-3 after the first period. Braunagel tied the match early in the second with an escape. Kharchla then followed with a takedown and increased his lead to 7-5 following a Braunagel escape. Kharchla notched an additional escape point and a takedown, finishing with an 11-5 decision win.

184-No. 10 Edmond Ruth (R-Sr.) defeated No. 14 Ryder Rogotzke (So.) | D, 7-3

Ruth scored first with a takedown two minutes into the match. Rogotzke escaped to make it 3-1 going into the second period. Rogotzke added an escape early in the second, reducing his deficit to one point. Ruth extended the lead to 4-2 with an escape in the third period. Rogotzke received a point due to Illinois stalling, but Ruth secured a final takedown for a 7-3 decision victory.

197-Seth Shumate (R-So.) defeated No. 11 Zac Braunagel (R-Sr.) | D, 11-9

Shumate recorded an early takedown for a 3-1 advantage. He followed up with another takedown and a two-point near fall to lead 8-2 after a Braunagel escape. Braunagel managed another escape early in the second, which marked the only scoring of that period. Shumate furthered his lead to 8-3 with an escape in the third. Braunagel added a takedown, but Shumate escaped again. Despite Braunagel’s next takedown, Shumate held firm to win by decision, 11-9.

HWT-No. 7 Nick Feldman (R-So.) defeated No. 11 Luke Luffman (R-Sr.) | D, 7-3

The first period concluded without any scoring between the competitors. Feldman broke the stalemate by escaping to lead 1-0 in the second session. That score remained steady into the third. Luffman equalized with an escape, but Feldman scored the first takedown of the match to go ahead 4-1 after one minute had passed in the final period. Luffman escape but Feldman responded with another takedown, finishing with a decision win of 7-3.

Lineup Against the Illini

Wt.	No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Illinois	OSU	ILL
125	No. 10 Brendan McCrone (OSU) defeated Caelan Riley (ILL) | D, 5-0	3	0
133	No. 2 Lucas Byrd (ILL) defeated No. 9 Nic Bouzakis (OSU) | D, 8-5 SV-1	3	3
141	No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OSU) defeated No. 13 Danny Pucino (ILL) | F, 1:47	9	3
149	No. 12 Dylan D’Emilio (OSU) defeated No. 11 Kannon Webster (ILL) | D, 2-0	12	3
157	Jason Kraisser (ILL) defeated No. 9 Paddy Gallagher (OSU) | D, 15-9	12	6
165	e’Than Birden (OSU) defeated No. 10 Braeden Scoles (ILL) | D, 9-4	15	6
174	No. 9 Carson Kharchla (OSU) defeated No. 21 Danny Braunagel (ILL) | D, 11-5	18	6
184	No. 10 Edmond Ruth (ILL) overcame No. 14 Ryder Rogotzke (OSU) | D, 7-3	18	9
197	Seth Shumate (OSU) triumphed over No. 11 Zac Braunagel (ILL) | D, 11-9	21	9
HWT	No. 7 Nick Feldman (OSU) surpassed No. 11 Luke Luffman (ILL) | D, 7-3	24	9

Earlier that day, numerous Buckeyes participated in the 2025 David H Lehman Franklin and Marshall Open held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 

Two Buckeyes secured championships, both wrestling independently at the event. 

True freshman Ben Davino clinched the title at 133 with an unblemished 5-0 record. Redshirt freshman Rocco Welsh also achieved a 5-0 record to capture the 184-pound division.

Graduate Sammy Sasso competed for a title at 157 but lost in the championship bout, finishing in second place. 

At 141, Andre Gonzales secured sixth place with a record of 4-2.

Ohio State at the 2025 David H Lehman Franklin and Marshall Open. 

141-Andre Gonzales (Ohio State) MD Brandt Fajerman (F&M), 19-5

141-Andre Gonzales (Ohio State) MD Clayton Gabrielson (Maryland), 12-3

141-Ryan Jack (NC State – UnAttached) MD Andre Gonzales (Ohio State), 14-4

141-Andre Gonzales (Ohio State) TF Jordan Decatur (Kent State), 20-3 5:55

141-Andre Gonzales (Ohio State) NC Carter Nogle (Air Force Academy)

141-Bryce Kresho (F&M) DEC Andre Gonzales (Ohio State), 12-7

157-Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) TF Billy Templeton (F&M), 17-2 3:34

157-Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) F Owen Hicks (Army Prep), 2:08

157-Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) TF Micah Hanau (Army-West Point), 17-2 3:59

157-Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) DEC Doug Terry (Cleveland State), 12-7

157-Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) DEC Trae Mcdaniel (Army-West Point), 10-8

157-Jackson Arrington (NC State – UnAttached) F Sammy Sasso (Ohio State), 4:41

157-Brock Herman (Ohio State) TF Kellen Smith (Army Prep), 21-5 5:49

157-Brock Herman (Ohio State) MD Dagen Condomitti (Rutgers), 12-3

157-Brock Herman (Ohio State) MD Josh Palacio (Air Force Academy), 14-3

157-Nick Stampoulos (Lock Haven-Unattached) M FOR Brock Herman (Ohio State)

157-Latrell Schafer (NC State – UnAttached) FOR Brock Herman (Ohio State)

197-Cael Black (Lock Haven-Unattached) DEC Cole Robertson (Ohio State), 4-1

197-Justin Griffith (Drexel – UnAttached) DEC Cole Robertson (Ohio State), 9-8

 

133-Ben Davino (Ohio State – UnAttached) MD Dan Jones (Princeton), 16-4

133-Ben Davino (Ohio State – UnAttached) TF Hunter Heflin (Naval Academy), 20-4 2:22

133-Ben Davino (Ohio State – UnAttached) MD Raymond Lopez (American University), 17-5

133-Ben Davino (Ohio State – UnAttached) TF Jacob Joyce (Brown), 18-3 6:05

133-Ben Davino (Ohio State – UnAttached) MD Ethan Berginc (Army-West Point), 11-3

184-Rocco Welsh (Ohio State – UnAttached) F Tyler Hurst (Millersville), 2:22

184-Rocco Welsh (Ohio State – UnAttached) TF Cole Karpinski (Army-West Point), 21-6 2:20

184-Rocco Welsh (Ohio State – UnAttached) TF Marcus Petite (Buffalo), 23-6 6:08

184-Rocco Welsh (Ohio State – UnAttached) MD Jakob Gilfoil (Army-West Point), 15-2

184-Rocco Welsh (Ohio State – UnAttached) DEC James Conway (Unattached-Unrostered), 4-2

Next Match:

The Buckeyes are set to return to Columbus to compete against No. 17 Rutgers at 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Covelli Center in their Big Ten home opener. 

 

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