Tag: Sammy Sasso

Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso shot, recovering from non-threatening injuries

Here’s wishing Sasso a speedy recovery from such a senseless act. #GoBucks

Ohio State wrestler, Sammy Sasso, is recovering from being shot on Friday evening according to a statement from the Ohio State Department of Athletics.  A two-time Big Ten wrestling champion and two-time NCAA runner up, Sasso was a fifth-year senior last season.

“Ohio State student-athlete Sammy Sasso was the victim of a senseless shooting incident Friday evening in Columbus,” an OSU statement read. “Sasso was transported to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (WMC), where he is continuing to be cared for and monitored. Our coaching staff, along with members of the wrestling program and Athletics administrators, are grateful for the caregivers at WMC, thankful Sasso’s injuries are not life-threatening, and are supporting Sasso and his family. OSUPD is assisting Columbus Police with the ongoing investigation.”

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Sasso, and his friends and family. Hopefully, he continues to make a speedy recovery and gets back to competing on the mat post college career.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

Sammy Sasso finishes in second place at NCAA Wrestling Championships

Still a great career for Sammy Sasso! #GoBucks

Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso gave all he could but came up just a little short in the national championship match on Saturday at the NCAA Wrestling Championships, losing to No. 1 seed, Yianni Diakomihalis, of Cornell Saturday at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

It was a close one. Neither wrestler was able to score any points in the first period, but Diakomihalis got the first two points with a reversal after starting out the second period down to go up 2-0. Sasso was able to record a point on an escape to close the gap to 2-1, but Diakomihalis was able to score two more points on a takedown to extend the lead to 4-2.

Sasso had a late charge and tried to score late, but his attempts were rebuffed by the three-time defending national champion Diakomiahlis and that’s how things ended.

With the result, Sasso finishes the year with a 29-4 record with a Big Ten Championship, and became an All-American for the fourth-straight year.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

[mm-video type=video id=01gtg0tf439zc9gcdqqn playlist_id=01eqbz0qtnjg5x7tc8 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gtg0tf439zc9gcdqqn/01gtg0tf439zc9gcdqqn-6ff0e1ec37f7bf5cfeccde53bd6a02d2.jpg]

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.

Five Ohio State wrestlers earn All-American status

Not a bad showing at all for the wrestling Buckeyes! #GoBucks

It hasn’t been the year Ohio State wrestling wanted on the mat, but there have been some bright spots. Finishing fourth in the regular season and fourth in the Big Ten championships wasn’t horrible, but wasn’t the level we’ve been accustomed to either.

But now, the Buckeyes are makings some noise in the NCAA Championships. The team currently sits in the No. 4 spot, with five wrestlers earning the title of All-American by way of finishing in the top eight in their weight class.

If the Buckeyes can reamain in fourth place or better, it’ll be a podium finish and a great end to the season. And with a young nucleus back, it could be a spring board to 2023-2024.

Here are the five Ohio State All-Americans for this season.

  1. Jesse Mendez at 133 lbs.
  2. Dylan D’Emilio at 141 lbs.
  3. Sammy Sasso at 149 lbs.
  4. Ethan Smith at 174 lbs.
  5. Kaleb Romero at 184 lbs.

Only Sasso is alive for a naitional title, but it’s still an impressive showing for Ohio State when most of the experts likely counted the team out of a posium finish.

We’ll have the ending of where each of these All-Americans finish when the competitions are complete this weekend.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

[mm-video type=video id=01gtma4fggf6m6t4yyay playlist_id=01eqbz0qtnjg5x7tc8 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gtma4fggf6m6t4yyay/01gtma4fggf6m6t4yyay-e4e6f0c644c530712ee0aa3fcc5862d9.jpg]

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.

Ohio State wrestler, Sammy Sasso, wins second Big Ten title with sudden victory takedown

Another B1G title for Sammy Sasso! #GoBucks

The Ohio State wrestling team had a bit of a disappointing performance as a team at the Big Ten championships this weekend, finishing fourth overall. However, there was an extremely bright spot throughout it all, with No. 1 seed Sammy Sasso winning the Big Ten title at 149 pounds.

But it wasn’t easy.

Sasso had to go into overtime and won 7-5 in sudden victory over Minnesota’s Michael Blockhus when he was able to get around and grab control while the two were interlocked on the ground. It is the second title for Sasso. He won his first in the same weight class in 2021. He came close two other times, making it to the championship match four times total in his career.

The rest of the results for Ohio State was a mixed bag of sorts, though seven wrestlers did qualify for nationals. Kaleb Romero was the only other OSU wrestler to enter the championship match, but he fell to No. 1 seed Aaron Brooks of Penn State at 184-pounds. The Nittany Lions won the team championship followed by Iowa in second place and Nebraska in third.

The 2023 NCAA Championships will take place at Bok Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, March 16-18.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

[mm-video type=video id=01gtma4fggf6m6t4yyay playlist_id=01eqbz0qtnjg5x7tc8 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gtma4fggf6m6t4yyay/01gtma4fggf6m6t4yyay-e4e6f0c644c530712ee0aa3fcc5862d9.jpg]

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.

 

 

 

Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso finishes as runner-up in Big Ten wrestling final

Sammy Sasso came up just a little short.

Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso fell a little short in his quest for a second-straight individual Big Ten championship.

Sasso entered the Big Ten Wrestling Championships as the No. 1 seed in the 149-pound weight class. He wrestled his way through the bracket to the final where everyone thought he would be, but he ran into a Wisconsin wrestler that has been peaking at the right time, No. 2 seed Austin Gomez.

The match started out well for Sasso with an early takedown to grab a 2-0 lead but gave a point back when Gomez escaped later in the first period. Still, Sasso had a 2-1 lead after one period of play. Things were evened up when Gomez escaped from the bottom as the second period started. He then countered with a takedown of his own and allowed Sasso to escape and suddenly it was 4-3 Gomez as the second period ended.

Sasso started on the bottom in the third period and got a quick escape to tie things up at 4-4, but couldn’t make the moves we’ve been accustomed to seeing from him late. Gomez was able to score another takedown moments later, allowed Sasso to escape for a 6-5 score, then was able to get one more takedown to win 8-5 to take the Big Ten title and relegate Sasso to runner-up status.

Despite the disappointing finish, it was a fantastic year for Sasso. He finished the year with a 22-2 record counting the loss today and will now head to nationals to try and win a national championship.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso advances to Big Ten finals

Can Sammy Sasso get it down for the second-straight year?

It may not have been the year the Ohio State wrestlers wanted on the mat, but one of them is going for an individual Big Ten championship tomorrow in the Big Ten wrestling finals.

Sammy Sasso has made his way through the bracket as the No. 1 seed in the 149lb. division to have a chance for all the marbles in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Sunday. From the fine folks at Ohio State, this is how Sasso’s journey has gone:

149| (1) Sammy Sasso (OSU) def. (9) Graham Rooks (IND) | D, 6-3

Sasso got on the board first in the quarterfinal match with a takedown in the first. A Rooks escape make it 2-1 Buckeyes headed into the second. Sasso escaped to start the second to go up 3-1 and added a takedown to lead 5-2 after two. Rooks escaped in the third but Sasso held on for the 5-6 win by decision, advancing to the semifinals.

149| (1) Sammy Sasso (OSU) vs. (4) Max Murin (IOWA)Sasso scored the winning takedown and clinched his spot is Sunday’s 149 lb. championship match with a takedown with just 20 seconds remaining in the third period.

This will be the third-straight trip to the Big Ten finals for Sasso. He lost in 2020 but won his first title last season. He’s favored to do so again in 2022, but to finish the deal, he’ll have to get past a hot wrestler, the No. 2 seeded Austin Gomez of Wisconsin. He’s coming off of a pin during his last match and seems to be wrestling in top form.

 

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Sammy Sasso finishes short of national title at 149 lbs. in controversial fashion

Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso finishes just shy of a national title at 149-pounds amid controversy at the NCAA Championships Saturday.

Ohio State and controversial decisions in national title scenarios seem to go hand-in-hand. Buckeye wrestler and No. 1 NCAA seed Sammy Sasso wrestled for the individual national title Saturday against No. 2 seed Austin O’Connor from North Carolina.

Sasso displayed his skills in close quarters and seemed to have control with one point apiece (both on an escape) and riding time in his favor late in the third period, but O’Connor scored a takedown to take the lead with about one minute left. Sasso then countered with a shot of his own after an escape and appeared to get a takedown just before time expired, but it was not called by either official.

Ohio State head coach Tom Ryan challenged the call, but after review, the call that was made held, and Sasso was relegated to national runner-up as opposed to national champion. Had the call been overturned, Sasso would have been the 4-3 victor.

With the loss, the OSU sophomore finishes the season with a 16-1 record and joins Ethan Smith and Tate Orndorff as All-Americans.

But boy, what could have been. Despite the loss, Sasso has had an unbelievable season and will most likely be the preseason No. 1 for next season when he’ll surely give it another run.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

Sammy Sasso wins Big Ten Championship at 149-pounds

Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso took home the Big Ten Championship at 149-pounds on Sunday, the only Buckeye to get the trophy.

Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso has taken home the Big Ten Championship at 149-pounds, and he had to do it in come from behind fashion against No. 7 seed, Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett.

Lovett got on the board first with a takedown in the first period, but Sasso quickly escaped to make the score 2-1. Sasso went on the offensive just before the first period ended with a takedown of his own to take the lead 3-2.

As he has throughout his brief career, Sasso was a Houdini throughout, scrambling and fighting in close-quarters throughout. He would not relinquish the lead from there, but did score again with a reversal for the final margin of 5-2.

No other Ohio State wrestler was able to win a league individual title, but Ethan Smith did finish as the runner-up at 165-pounds. Sasso will now go into the NCAA’s as the likely No. 1 overall seed. The journey is not yet over.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

Sammy Sasso recognized as InterMat’s Freshman of the Year

Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso has been named InterMat’s Freshman of the Year.

Freshman Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso was named InterMat’s Freshman of the Year Thursday. Sasso came to Columbus with big expectations heaped on his shoulders as one of the most sought after recruits in the country, and he didn’t disappoint.

He finished the year with a 24-3 record, including an exhilarating win over the No. 1 nationally-ranked wrestler in the 149 lb. weight class, Pat Lugo. That result came during a dual-meet against Iowa back on March 8. That win propelled him to the No. 1 ranking in the weight class himself before Lugo got a little revenge during the Big Ten Championships. Sasso finished the Big Ten dual-meet season an undefeated 9-0.

He had qualified for the NCAA Tournament, but that of course was canceled because of the measures to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The voting was pretty close. Sasso received four out of ten first-place votes to edge out Shane Griffith of Stanford who notched three first-place votes.

Sasso, known for his scrambling ability and defense, routinely frustrated opponents this year with his ability to worm and work his way out of trouble. He outlasted his opponents by taking advantage of his scoring opportunities, all while limiting the opposition’s scoring chances.

Congrats to Sasso. Being only a freshman, he should be worth the price of admission the next three years.

 

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

We have a forum and message board now. Get in on the conversation about Ohio State athletics by joining the Buckeyes Wire Forum.

Big Ten Wrestling Tournament: Rocky Jordan at 184 pounds

What does Ohio State’s 184 pound wrestler Rocky Jordan have to do to qualify for the NCAA Championships?

Rocky Jordan did not begin the year as Ohio State’s starter at 184 pounds, but he sure finished there. 184 looked like a potential weak spot for the Buckeyes, but now it’s probably their strongest weight class after the three-headed monster of Luke Pletcher, Sammy Sasso, and Kollin Moore. Gavin Hoffman and Zach Steiner both took some duals at this weight, but Jordan improved throughout the first half of the season and has been the starter since January.

Big Ten Wrestling Championships: 184 pounds

Basic Info:

Buckeye Wrestler: Rocky Jordan
Seed:No. 6
Place needed to qualify: 10th

By NCAA qualification, this is the Big Ten’s strongest weight class. The conference will put ten wrestlers in the NCAA Championships, and it would be shocking if Jordan wasn’t one of them.

Paths to the NCAAs

Jordan will face Purdue’s Max Lyon in the opening round. If Jordan wins, it will be very difficult not to imagine him qualifying for the NCAAs. A win, and he will likely face Abe Assad of Iowa in the second round. (Assad will face No. 14 seed Kyle Jasenski of Maryland in the first round.) A Jordan win over Assad clinches a top four spot. A loss to Assad would put Jordan in the consolation bracket.

If Jordan wins his first match but loses the second, he will get two shots at qualifying. He will face the winner from the losers of the Billy Janzer vs Jack Jessen and Taylor Venz vs Jake Hinz matches. The only possible matchup there Romero should fear is Venz, who Jordan beat in a very close match last month. Even if Jordan loses in that match, he will get to face one of the other second-round losers in the consolation bracket for an NCAA spot.

Looking at the bracket, there’s only one real way that Jordan could be left out of the bracket (barring anything like injury). If he loses in the first round and somehow Assad is also upset by Jasenski, then Jordan could end up with an 0-2 record and miss out on the NCAAs. But that’s not happening. Among the safest of safe Buckeyes, Jordan is right up there with Pletcher, Sasso, and Moore.

Other Buckeyes in this series:

125 pounds: Malik Heinselman
133 pounds: Jordan Decatur
157 pounds: Elijah Cleary
165 pounds: Ethan Smith
174 pounds: Kaleb Romero
Heavyweight: Gary Traub