Ohio State has been an active participant in the transfer portal over the years, attracting successful wrestlers from other schools; two-time Big Ten champ Joey McKenna came from Stanford, and current starting heavyweight Tate Orndorff joined the team this season from Utah Valley.
Another traveler of The Portal announced his intentions to wrestle for the Buckeyes on Wednesday night as 2020 PIAA high school champion Will Betancourt declared his commitment to Ohio State via Twitter.
COMMITTED #GOBUCKS @wrestlingbucks pic.twitter.com/nuuMWegvXs
— Will Betancourt (@WillBetancourt9) April 1, 2021
Betancourt is a freshman at Lock Haven University, having committed to the Bald Eagles during the early signing period back in November 2019. At the time he was ranked 15th in the country at 126 pounds by FloWrestling, who also listed him as one of the top 130 prospects in the country at any weight.
At Manheim Central in Mt. Joy, Pa., Betancourt posted a career record of 115-10 with 60 pins to his credit. He was a four-time state qualifier, a three-time placer and the 2020 PIAA champion in class AAA at 120 pounds.
STATE CHAMP: Manheim Centrals Will Betancourt defeats Seneca Valleys Dylan Chappell 4-2 to win the State 120 pound championship. He becomes the 9th State wrestling champ in Barons program history. pic.twitter.com/tIzfxzDoTN
— Bruce Morgan (@BruceMorgan8) March 8, 2020
Projected to wrestle at 133 pounds in college at the time of his commitment, he gives Ohio State some crucial depth at the lighter weights. He'll have four years of eligibility remaining.
Betancourt announced in early February that he was looking for a new home. He counts Ohio State's most-recent headline commitment, Nick Feldman, as one of his best friends.
One of my best friends. Couldnt be prouder of this kid. https://t.co/uvlVZtuqdi
— Will Betancourt (@WillBetancourt9) January 15, 2021
With Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.) and Ethan Smith (Latrobe, Pa.), anchoring the current roster, the addition of Feldman and Betancourt gives the Buckeyes a number of recent top recruits from arguably the top high school wrestling states in the country.
