Good morning Friends — it's finally here, the final day of the NCAA Wrestling Championships!
Having survived the Blood Round, three Buckeyes have earned All American honors and will wrestle for placement among the Top 8 in the country at their respective weight classes. Session 6, which will feature the final wrestleback matches, including medal round matches, kicks off now from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Heavyweight Tate Orndorff will face one-time would-be Buckeye turned Penn State defector Greg Kerkvliet, in a 7th Place match that seems destined to give Ohio State backers heartburn. Credit to Orndorff, regardless of his final placement, for wrestling way above seed and earning his spot as an All American.
After a heartbreaking loss to Pitt's Jake Wentzel in the 165-pound semifinals, Ethan Smith faces Oklahoma State's Travis Wittlake in the consolation semis. This is a second-round rematch of a bouth Smith won via a 4-3 decision.
And then tonight under the bright lights, Savage Sammy Sasso wrestles for the NCAA Championship at 149 pounds, facing North Carolina's Austin O'Connor. The straight-chalk final bout will be the third match of the night live on ESPN.
Feel free to cuss and discuss below. The final day of the 2020-2021 Wrestling Season is underway.
