Scarlet Sunrise: Ohio State wrestling puts four into the quarterfinals at the NCAA Tournament

COLUMBUS – Most of the sporting world is focused on March Madness but don’t forget about March Mat-ness. The 2025 NCAA Wrestling Tournament started on Thursday and Ohio State has four wrestlers in the quarterfinals after day one.

Starting at 133 pounds, Nic Bouzakis was 2-0 on day one. Bouzakis started the day off with a bang by pinning two-time All-American Kai Orine of North Carolina State in the first period. He then beat Sean Spidle of Central Michigan, 9-4, in the second round. Bouzakis will face Drake Ayala of Iowa, the No. 2 seed at 133 pounds, in the quarterfinals.

Jesse Mendez, the defending National Champion at 141 pounds, also went 2-0 on day one at the NCAA Tournament. Mendez topped Briar Priest of Pittsburgh via technical fall in the first round. In the second round, he beat Sergio Lemly of Michigan 11-2 to earn a major decision. Mendez draws Vance Vombaur of Minnesota, the No. 6 seed at 141 pounds, in the quarterfinals. He beat Vombaur earlier this season in tie-breakers, 6-5.

The Buckeyes third quarterfinalist is Dylan D’Emilio at 149 pounds. D’Emilio finished the day 2-0 with a wins over Koy Buesgens of North Carolina State, 5-1, in the first round and Jack Gioffre of Virginia, 8-5, in the second round. He will face Ethan Stiles, the No. 12 seed at 141 pounds, in the quarterfinals. Stiles upset the No. 5 seed Kyle Parco of Iowa in the second round.

197-pounder Seth Shumate is the Buckeyes fourth quarterfinalist. Shumate stunned tenth-seeded Isaiah Salazar of Minnesota in the first round with a second period pin. He then beat Brock Zurawski of Rider, 11-6, in the second round to advance to the quarterfinals. Shumate draws Stephen Buchanan of Iowa, the No. 2 seed at 197 pounds, in the next round. Buchanan has already beat Shumate twice this season.

As for the rest of the Buckeyes lineup, Brendan McCrone (125 pounds), Brandon Cannon (157 pounds) and Nick Feldman (Heavyweight) are still alive in the consolation bracket. McCrone won his first consolation match to stay alive after dropping his opening match. Cannon lost to Caleb Fish of Oklahoma State, 10-7, in the second round to drop to the consolation bracket while Feldman fell to Ben Kueter of Iowa, 8-2.

Paddy Gallagher (165 pounds), Carson Kharchla (174 pounds) and Ryder Rotgotzke (184 pounds) were all eliminated after going 0-2 one day one of the NCAA Tournament.

Ohio State is currently tied Iowa and Minnesota for fourth in the team race with 18 points. Penn State has 39.5 points to lead the way after day one. Nebraska is second with 28. Oklahoma State is third with 24.

Counting down

Ohio State vs. Texas: 162 days away
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 253 days away

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