Bellarmine University’s wrestling team faced a tough challenge on Wednesday night, falling 41-3 to No. 2 Ohio State at the Covelli Center in Columbus. The Knights managed to avoid a shutout thanks to redshirt sophomore Gavin Ricketts, who secured the team’s only win of the night.
Competing at 184 pounds, Ricketts took a 2-0 lead over Ohio State’s Cayaen Smith after earning a penalty and an escape late in the second period. Smith tied the match with riding time in the third period, sending it into sudden victory overtime. After a scoreless first overtime, Ricketts rode Smith through the first tiebreaker and then held off an attack to finish with a 3-2 decision.
Earlier in the dual, AJ Rallo (141) started strong against top-ranked Jesse Mendez by scoring an early takedown and holding Mendez to a tie at the end of the first period. Mendez ultimately won by technical fall.
Redshirt senior Zac Cowan nearly added points for Bellarmine in his match against No. 8 Ethan Stiles at 149 pounds. Despite trailing early, Cowan rallied late but lost by decision, 12-8.
In another close bout, Andrew Liber faced No. 11 Luke Geog at 197 pounds. Liber kept pressure on Geog but was unable to secure a turn for a fall and dropped a close decision, 5-3.
The complete results saw Ohio State taking eight matches by either technical fall or decision:
125: #2 Nick Bouzakis (OSU) defeated Damion Ryan (BU) by technical fall
133: #2 Ben Davino (OSU) defeated Shay Korhorn (BU) by technical fall
141: #1 Jesse Mendez (OSU) defeated #32 AJ Rallo (BU) by technical fall
149: #8 Ethan Stiles (OSU) defeated Zac Cowan (BU) by decision
157: #4 Brandon Cannon (OSU) defeated Jeb Prechtel by technical fall
165: #7 Paddy Gallagher (OSU) defeated Noah Hall by technical fall
174: #5 Carson Kharchla (OSU) defeated Cael Miller by technical fall
184: Gavin Ricketts (BU) defeated Cayaen Smith (OSU) by decision
197: #11 Luke Geog (OSU) defeated Andrew Liber (BU) by decision
285: #1 Nick Feldman (OSU) defeated #27 Daulton Mayer by technical fall
Bellarmine will return home for its next matchup as they host Central Michigan on Sunday, December 7 at Knights Hall.
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