Greco-Roman wrestling doesn't get nearly the love among college wrestling enthusiasts as does freestyle, but don't tell that to the staff and management of Ohio State's wrestling program. Already the home to U23 World Team member Brady Koontz, the Buckeye wrestling team added the commitment of Junior World Team member Nick Boykin.
The Tennessee native and long-time resident of the Olympic Training Center in Colorado announced his decision Tuesday via Twitter:
Because I have wanted to go to college and wrestle at the collegiate level, I am excited to say that I have committed to The Ohio State University!! Not only will I be able to wrestle in college, but I will be able to continue my Greco training and chasing my Olympic Dreams. pic.twitter.com/nFUkIjFasI
— Nicholas Boykin. (@NicholasBoykin) October 9, 2019
Boykin is a different commitment for the Buckeyes in a few ways. One being his focus on the Greco-Roman discipline; Ohio State has a slew of world-level talent in men like Kyle Snyder and Logan Stieber, as well as age-level world teamers such as Myles Martin and Kollin Moore.
Secondly, Boykin has been out of the traditional high-school recruiting pool for nearly three years. In 2016 the then-junior announced he would, as did Snyder, forgo his senior season in Tennessee and move to Colorado Springs to train at the international level.
Man that was nice. @NicholasBoykin pic.twitter.com/faEJ7GJCny
— SEWrestle (@SeWrestle) May 17, 2019
Boykin was a heavyweight until his most recent season, when he cut down to 97 kg. He talked about that decision last Spring after earning a spot on the 2019 Junior World Team:
"I was 260, 270 not even a year ago," he said. "I decided 97 would be a better fit for me, wrestling senior international. Cut last year, got lean this year, it feels good."
Boykin has a great deal of international experience, so he will fit in well at the Ohio Regional Training Center, which continues to burnish its credentials as a destination for world-class talent. Already this year Boykin has a win over one of the top incoming recruits in the Big Ten, Wisconsin commit Braxton Amos:
Amos was expected to contend for a spot on the Junior World Team at this year's trials, but couldn't get past the more seasoned competitor. Boykin would go on to defeat Oklahoma State's Austin Harris in the best-of-three finals to cement his place on the team.
Boykin comes from an athletic family; his father Scott played football at Middle Tennessee State, and older brother Scottie was a two-time Southern Conference Champion at 197 pounds and three-time NCAA qualifier for the Chattanooga Mocs.
2019 Junior world team pic.twitter.com/yTyc5s3SCX
— Nicholas Boykin. (@NicholasBoykin) April 26, 2019
Ohio State opens its 2019-2020 season Nov. 10 hosting Stanford in Covelli Arena, the team's first dual in its new competition venue.
