Northwestern
Ohio State
Buckeyes Sneak Past Wildcats, 18-16
2/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 4, 2007
LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Northwestern led 16-12 heading into the final two matches, but the Ohio State Buckeyes won the last two bouts to top the 10th-ranked Wildcats Sunday at St. Edward High School, 18-16. Top-ranked Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) won the showcase match of the afternoon, topping Ohio State's third-ranked Mike Pucillo at 184 lbs., 11-5. The Wildcats return to action next Sunday at Indiana.
The loss drops Northwestern to 11-7, 1-4 in the Big Ten. Ohio State improves to 8-4 overall, 4-1 in conference.
The Buckeyes took an early 9-0 lead with wins at 149 and 157 to start the dual. At 149, 16th-ranked Lance Palmer scored a 8-1 decision over Marty Gould (Lincolnwood, Ill./Niles West). Jason Johnstone pinned Dominic Marella (Roselle, Ill./Conant) at 157 for six more points.
Junior 165-pounder Greg Hagel put the 'Cats on the scoreboard with an upset win over 16th-ranked Chris Vondruska. No. 15 Nick Hayes (Council Bluffs, Iowa/Lewis Central) moved the 'Cats to within two points at 9-7 when he scored an 8-0 major decision over Wes Bergman at 174.
Herbert showed why he is the top-ranked 184-pounder in the nation, dominating the third-ranked Pucillo, 11-5. Herbert improved to 21-0 on the year and gave the Wildcats a 10-9 lead.
The Buckeyes recaptured the lead when seventh-ranked J.D. Bergman handed second-ranked Mike Tamillow (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) his second loss of the weekend and third of the season with a 4-2 upset decision.
Fourth-ranked Dustin Fox (Galion, Ohio/Galion) put the 'Cats back on top when he won a 6-1 decision over Corey Morrison at heavyweight.
Freshman Brandon Precin (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) won his second match of the weekend, topping Will Livingston, 5-0, at 125 lbs. The freshman gave the Wildcats a four-point advantage at 16-12 heading into the final two matches.
T.J. Enright won a 7-2 decision over Eric Metzler (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) at 133 and J Jaggers downed James Kohlberg (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows), wrestling in the place of injured Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward), 7-5, at 141 to give the Buckeyes the win.
The Wildcats continue their Big Ten slate when they travel to Bloomington to take on the Indiana Hoosiers. The match is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m.
Ohio State 18, Northwestern 16
149: Palmer (OSU) dec. Gould (NU), 8-1 (0-3)
157: Johnstone (OSU) pinned Marella (NU) 2:58 (0-9)
165: Hagel (NU) dec. Vondruska (OSU), 4-2 (3-9)
174: Hayes (NU) maj dec. Bergman (OSU), 8-0 (7-9)
184: Herbert (NU) dec. Pucillo (OSU), 11-5 (10-9)
197: Bergman (OSU) dec. Tamillow (NU), 4-2 (10-12)
285: Fox (NU) dec. Morrison (OSU), 6-1 (13-12)
125: Precin (NU) dec. Livingston (OSU), 5-0 (16-12)
133: Enright (OSU) dec. Metzler (NU), 7-2 (16-15)
141: Jaggers (OSU) dec. Kohlberg (NU), 7-5 (16-18)
Players Mentioned
