Nobody can stop Penn State wrestling at the moment, but Ohio State has a better shot than most.
There’s a strong argument that these are the top two teams in the Big Ten.
Penn State hosted the Big Ten Championships this past season. Ohio State will be hosting next year from Columbus’ Nationwide Arena, the Big Ten announced late Wednesday morning.
The championships will begin Saturday, March 6, and run through Sunday, March 7. Penn State will be looking to win its fifth straight conference tournament title, a feat that no PSU team has accomplished. Iowa won 25 straight from 1974-1998.
Could Ohio State disrupt Cael Sanderson’s wrestling empire?
WHAT OHIO STATE RETURNS
Ohio State has a lot of talent coming back from a squad that was No. 2 in the country for most of the year, but finished tied for fourth at the NCAA Championships.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.At 125, OSU returns Nic Bouzakis, who is arguably the second-best in the country at that class behind Penn State’s Luke Lilledahl.
At 133 will be Ben Davino, who was the national runner-up in that Class last season. At 141, there’s a chance OSU returns Jesse Mendez, who is a two-time national champion, but this will depend on whatever happens with the eligibility saga that is a big storyline in college sports this summer.
Maddox Shaw is projected to start at 149, and the WPIAL product could be in for a breakout. At 157, OSU has Brandon Cannon, who is one of the best in the business when healthy. Like Shaw, e’Than Birden could be poised for a breakout at 165. At 174, the Buckeyes have All-American Jaxon Smith transferring in from Maryland. OSU returns Dylan Fishback at 184 and Seth Shumate at 197. At heavyweight, the Buckeyes have Nick Feldman back, who is one of the top heavyweights in the Big Ten.
IS OHIO STATE A THREAT?
So is Ohio State a threat to Penn State wrestling?
Well, until OSU or anybody else comes close to knocking PSU off its perch, it would be silly to think so.
