Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso injured in Columbus shooting

Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso was reportedly wounded in a shooting during a robbery attempt south of the Buckeyes’ campus Friday evening, according to WSYX in Columbus. The Wrestling Room’s Pat Mineo also reported Sasso was injured in the incident.

“Columbus police said the shooting happened near the 1300 block of North High Street at around 8:23 p.m,” the report read. “Medics took the person to Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in serious condition. No suspects were immediately taken into custody. An officer at the scene said it started as a robbery.”

According to WSYX, an 11-year-old boy who witnessed the shooting said the victim identified himself as a wrestler at Ohio State, according to Isabelle Hanson. The university did comment at the time of this report.

UPDATE: Head coach Tom Ryan confirmed Saturday Sasso was shot Friday evening and the wrestler’s injuries were non-life threatening. Sasso is currently at OSU Wexner Medical Center.

Ohio State athletics released a statement on the incident.

“Ohio State student-athlete Sammy Sasso was the victim of a senseless shooting incident Friday evening in Columbus,” the 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.”

Sasso was reportedly shot in the stomach and had surgery following the incident. He was set to undergo another surgery Saturday morning and was considered in serious condition.

According to sources close to Brad Wilson of Lehigh Valley Live, Sasso should be able to make a full recovery and wrestle this season.

Sasso is set to enter the final year of his collegiate career at Ohio State. He is 95-11 in four varsity seasons and is a four-time All-American.

Sasso finished as an NCAA runner up at 149 pounds twice (2021 and ‘23). He’s expected to move up to 157 pounds this coming season, per WrestleStat.

Former Cornell wrestler and four-time national champion Yianni Diakomihalis sent his prayers Sasso’s way. The Big Red legend defeated Sasso in the 2023 national finals.

“Please send prayers and support out to Sam Sasso and his family, hopefully he comes out alright on the other side of this (praying emoji),” he wrote on Twitter.

Sasso will be on the shortlist to win a national title this coming season as he attempts to be a five-time All-American with the Buckeyes.

He’s one of the key veterans to winning a team national title and passing Penn State this season, according to head coach Tom Ryan.

“I mean, obviously we’re one of the schools,” Ryan told On3. “I don’t believe anybody can do it. I think if you look at the College Football Playoff, I don’t have the data but I remember seeing the data when I was watching the championship game in football. It’s only been seven or eight teams since (it began) right? So I mean, seven teams that have made it, I think seven have made it into the final four.

“It’s very small in football, typically it’s very small in basketball, and it’s extremely small in wrestling. So over the last 125 years, only 12 teams have won the national (title) That’s it. It’s a mind boggling stat. I mean, it really is. And Penn State recently has been very, very hard to beat.”