Ohio State's marquee recruit in the Class of 2021 just picked up another honor: St. Edward's junior Padraic (Paddy) Gallagher was honored with the 2020 Mark Zimmer Most Outstanding Wrestler award by the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association.
Gallagher went 33-1 at 160 pounds, and was pegged as the favorite to win a second state title prior to the cancellation of this year's state tournament. Through three seasons he's compiled a record of 85-10, qualified for the state tournament three years running, and won the 160-pound championship a year ago.
The 2019 Junior National Champion is one of the top-ranked wrestlers of any weight in the country. FloWrestling currently has him pegged as the No. 7 prospect in the class, and InterMat has him tabbed as the top-ranked junior at 160 pounds.
Gallagher committed to Ohio State back in December, after a breakout summer that featured his big win at the Junior Nationals. He ran the table in Fargo with a combined 78-15 margin of victory, winning six of his seven matches by tech fall.
"I've always wanted to be a Big Ten wrestler," Gallagher told FloWrestling last September when he announced his Top 5 schools. "I'd like a really hard, intense room, with guys that have my same mindset."
