Ohio State fans will get their first look at what the 2021-2022 roster might look like this week as the team contests its annual wrestle-off finals Thursday night at 8 p.m. in the Covelli Center.
Either Anthony Echemendia or Jordan Decatur will challenge Dylan D'Emilio for the starting spot at 141 pounds, while veterans Ethan Smith and Kaleb Romero both look to move up a weight for their senior season.
The team will contest eight preliminary matches Tuesday in what looks like a mini-challenge tournament at 133 pounds to set Thursday night's final, while two bouts at 157 will decide who faces highly-touted newcomer Paddy Gallagher for the 157-pound spot.
PRELIMINARY BOUT SCHEDULE – Tuesday, Oct. 26
- 133 lbs. | Phillip Kue vs. Chase Liardi
- 133 lbs. | Kue/Liardi vs. Dylan Koontz
- 133 lbs. | Alex Flerlage vs. Andre Gonzales
- 141 lbs. | Anthony Echemendia vs. Jordan Decatur
- 157 lbs. | Kevon Freeman vs. Jashon Hubbard
- 157 lbs. | Freeman/Hubbard vs. Isaac Wilcox
- 174 lbs. | Fritz Schierl vs. Bryer Hall
- 285 lbs. | Mike Misita vs. Hogan Swenski
Echemendia, the Cuban superstar who won both the freestyle and Greco-Roman championships at the prestigious Fargo tournament prior to his arrival in Columbus, will again try his hand at earning the 141-pound spot. Some have speculated that he might move down to 133, with at least one media outlet tabbing him at that weight in their preseason rankings.
That bout is also notable because as expected given his stout physical stature, two-year 133-pound starter Jordan Decatur will attempt to move up to 141 as well. One of the knocks on Decatur in his two years in the program is that he seemed to struggle with his energy level due to the weight cut down to 133.
Whichever man wins the match will face Dylan D'Emilio in Thursday's final, and both matches should showcase a lot of strength and very different stylistic approaches.
FINALS – Thursday, Oct. 28, 8 p.m. – Covelli Center
- 125 lbs. | Malik Heinselman vs. AJ Crews
- 133 lbs. | TBD
- 141 lbs. | Echemendia/Decatur vs. Dylan D'Emilio
- 149 lbs. | Sammy Sasso vs. Klay Reeves
- 157 lbs. | TBD vs. Paddy Gallagher
- 165 lbs. | Carson Kharchla vs. Cade Hepner
- 174 lbs. | Schierl/Hall vs. Ethan Smith
- 184 lbs. | Kaleb Romero vs. Rocky Jordan
- 197 lbs. | Gavin Hoffman vs. Tyler Stein
- 285 lbs. | Misita/Swenski vs. Tate Orndorff
There are some really intriguing matches slated for Thursday night. Established starters Heinselman, D'Emilio, Sasso, Jordan, Hoffman and Orndorff will defend their spots, with the most notable potential shakeups being Smith and Romero each aiming to shift up a weight; with Carson Kharchla's eagerly-anticipated debut at 165, there are four prospective All-Americans for three weights between Smith, Romero, Jordan and Hoffman.
The Buckeyes have a lot of talent in the room, as always, and wrestle-offs are not the only criteria the coaching staff will use to set their starting lineup. But it's an important rite of passage and annual ritual that provides the outside world with that first look at what might lie ahead for a program eager to get back into NCAA trophy contention.
Thursday night's finals are open to the public and admission to Covelli Center is free.
