Around the Oval is back.
In this week's edition of ATO, Eleven Warriors' one-stop shop for coverage of Ohio State's Olympic programs, we look at how the Buckeyes' fall sports completed their seasons and break down recent victories for Ohio State wrestling and men's volleyball.
Let's take a stroll around The Oval, Ohio State's 11-acre lawn at the heart of campus.
Fall Sports
All who read Eleven Warriors know Ohio State football completed its 2023 season with a 14-3 loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. But do all who read Eleven Warriors know the results for men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, women's volleyball and field hockey during the fall sports season?
Those who do – great. Those who don't – no worries. That's what we're here for.
- Men's Soccer: The Buckeyes went 6-6-6 overall in 2023 with a 3-4-1 mark in Big Ten competition. Ohio State's season ended when it fell to Penn State, 1-1 (4-3), in penalty kicks in the Big Ten Tournament. On Dec. 19, Chicago Fire FC drafted Ohio State first-team All-Big selection Laurence Wooton with the No. 64 overall pick of the MLS SuperDraft.
- Women's Soccer: The Buckeyes went 9-8-2 overall in 2023 with a 5-4-1 mark in Big Ten competition. Ohio State lost to Nebraska, 3-2, in the Big Ten Tournament but qualified for the NCAA Tournament. There, the Buckeyes traveled to Pennsylvania to face No. 11-ranked Pitt and fell 6-0. On Oct. 27, Emma Sears, Kailyn Dudukovich, Sydney Jones, Peyton McNamara and freshmen Amanda Schlueter and Ava Bramblett received All-Big Ten honors from the conference.
- Men's and Women's Cross Country: The Buckeyes' men's team finished 15th at the NCAA Championships, while the women's team finished fifth. Addie Engel led both squads all year as the senior from Springfield, Ohio, captured her second consecutive Big Ten in the 6000m. She also came close to a second straight All-American honor in her run at the NCAA Championships but ended the race just outside the top 10.
- Women's Volleyball: After Sweet 16 runs in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Buckeyes took a step backward in 2023 following the departure of former starters Mac Podraza and Kylie Murr, among others. Ohio State ended the season with an 11-18 record and an 8-12 mark in Big Ten competition. On Nov. 30, Emily Londot, Rylee Rader and Sarah Sue Morbitzer received All-Big Ten honors. Londot was also named to the AVCA All-Region team.
- Field Hockey: Thanks to All-American performances from Leanne Bough and Makenna Webster, who plays both field hockey and ice hockey at Ohio State, the Buckeyes had one of their best seasons ever in 2023, collecting a 14-6 overall record and 4-4 mark in Big Ten competition. Even with their stellar record, the Buckeyes did not compete in the NCAA Tournament, and their year ended with a 3-1 loss to No. 1-ranked Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
NOTE: In addition to the Ohio State programs mentioned above, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis and men's and women's swim and dive also competed in the fall. However, their seasons will continue in the spring and conclude with championship tournaments in May and June.
Wrestling
With Ohio State down 20-18 before the dual's final bout, the No. 6-ranked Buckeyes placed their hopes of defeating No. 8-ranked Cornell on Nick Feldman, a redshirt freshman from Quarryville, Pennsylvania.
Feldman delivered.
In a battle with Lewis Fernandes, the 19th-ranked wrestler in the heavyweight division, Feldman scored the first takedown and jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Fernandes tied the bout at 3-all with a takedown in the second period and took a 4-3 lead when Feldman allowed him to escape at the start of the third.
From there, it was do-or-die time for Feldman. With 30 seconds left on the clock, Feldman leaped at Fernandes' ankles and secured a three-point takedown. A sold-out Covelli Center erupted as the takedown won Feldman the bout, 6-4, and Ohio State the dual, 21-20.
NICK FELDMAN FOR PRESIDENT pic.twitter.com/N4nbx0s5l3
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) January 6, 2024
Feldman is now 14-4 in 2023-24 with three decisions, two major decisions and nine tech falls. Ohio State's record improved to 8-1 overall and 3-1 vs. top-25 opponents, including wins over then-No. 3 Virginia Tech (24-12), then-No. 2 NC State (21-20) and then-No. 8 Cornell (21-20) and a loss to then-No. 18 Pitt (21-13).
Ohio State's results vs. Cornell
- 125: No. 14 Brett Ungar (COR) def. No. 22 Brendan McCrone (OSU) | D, 7-1
- 133: No. 13 Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. Ethan Qureshi (COR) | F, 1:48
- 141: No. 3 Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. No. 17 Vince Cornella (COR) | MD, 14-4
- 149: No. 5 Dylan D'Emilio (OSU) def. No. 24 Ethan Fernandez (COR) | D, 8-1
- 157: No. 15 Meyer Shapiro (COR) def. No. 12 Paddy Gallagher (OSU) | TF, 15-0
- 165: No. 3 Julian Ramirez (COR) def. Bryce Hepner (OSU) | D, 6-4
- 174: Rocco Welsh (OSU) def. Benny Baker (COR) | TF, 20-4
- 184: No. 8 Chris Foca (COR) def. No. 14 Gavin Hoffman (OSU) | F, 1:48
- 197: No. 7 Jacob Cardenas (COR) def. No. 23 Luke Geog (OSU) | D, 8-2
- HWT: No. 18 Nick Feldman (OSU) def. No. 19 Lewis Fernandes (COR) | D, 6-4
The Buckeyes open Big Ten competition with a home dual vs. Illinois at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Covelli Center. The dual will be streamed on BTN+. Ohio State's next televised dual will be with Wisconsin at 3 p.m. on Jan. 21.
Men's Volleyball
The unanimous No. 1 overall team in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association preseason poll, Ohio State dominated North Greenville University and Daemen University to open 2024.
Preseason All-Americans Tommy Poole, Shane Wetzel, Michael Wright and Jacob Pasteur, the preseason MIVA Player of the Year, led the Buckeyes in both victories.
Ohio State is unanimous No. 1 in preseason 2024 MIVA Coaches poll. Senior Jacob Pasteur selected as preseason Player of the Year. For more, including the four Buckeyes on the All-MIVA preseason squad, go to: https://t.co/odElt0ICyO#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/9pQkE1F8VE
— OSU Men's Volleyball (@OhioStateMVB) December 12, 2023
On Wednesday, Ohio State defeated North Greenville, 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-18) in their season opener behind 12 kills and four aces from Pasteur. Cole Young added 10 kills and Poole collected eight digs. Wright and Noah Platfoot combined for 36 assists.
On Sunday, Ohio State beat Daemen, 3-1 (14-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-18), rallying back from a first-set loss to win three straight sets. Pasteur once again led Ohio State in box score contributions, collecting 18 kills and three aces. Wetzel and Justin Howard each added 10 kills, as Wright shined with 44 assists and Ben Putnam recorded 10 digs.
Ohio State will return to action at 7 p.m. Monday against St. Francis at the Covelli Center.
Coming This Week
- Monday: MVB vs. St. Francis (7 p.m.)
- Tuesday: None
- Wednesday: MBB vs. Wisconsin (8:30 p.m.)
- Thursday: WBB vs. Rutgers (6 p.m.)
- Friday: PISTOL at Texas A&M, TRACK at Kentucky's McCravy Invite, WTEN at Michigan's Invite, MHKY vs. Notre Dame (7 p.m.), WHKY at Minnesota (7 p.m.) and WREST vs. Illinois (7 p.m.)
- Saturday: PISTOL at Texas A&M, TRACK at Kentucky's McCravy Invite, SYNC at Zero Waste Invitational, MGYM vs. Greenville (Noon), WHKY at Minnesota (3 p.m.), MHKY vs. Notre Dame (7 p.m.), MVB vs. UC San Diego (7 p.m.)
- Sunday: WTEN at Michigan's Invite, RIFLE at TCU, WGYM vs. Towson and Ball State (2 p.m.) and WBB vs. Michigan State (4 p.m.)
