Metzler Completes 2-0 Weekend; NU Falls at No. 4 OSU, 37-6
Feb. 7, 2010
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Wildcat senior Eric Metzler (133) and junior Aaron Jones (184) each posted decision victories but fourth-ranked Ohio State was too much for Northwestern, winning 37-6 Sunday in Columbus. Metzler's 3-1 win over Ian Paddock lifted him to 3-2 in Big Ten dual matches this season. Northwestern moves to 5-10-1 on the year and 0-5 in the Big Ten with the loss, while the Buckeyes improved to 16-1 overall, 5-0 in conference. OSU's Paddock came into Sunday's match with a stellar 19-6 record, but the veteran Metzler wrestled a smart match in keeping things scoreless through five minutes of action. Starting at a neutral position in the third, Metzler got in for a takedown and used over two minutes of riding time he accumulated in the second period to notch the 3-1 win. Jones won his first Big Ten dual match of the year with an 8-2 decision against TC Pendleton at 184 pounds. Pendleton got on the board first with a takedown, but Jones turned things around with an escape and takedown in the second period to go ahead 4-2. With Pendleton beginning the third in bottom position, Jones collected a three near-fall points to take command of the match en route to the victory. Earlier in the day, Ohio State got off to a quick start with a pin by Nikko Triggas at 125 pounds with nine seconds remaining in the first period against NU's Levi Mele.
Following Metzler's win and an NU forfeit at 141, the 149-pound match pitted NU's 13th-ranked Andrew Nadhir against OSU's fourth-ranked Lance Palmer. Nadhir was looking for a repeat of his upset of Palmer at last year's Big Ten Championships, but Palmer caught Nadhir off guard on Sunday and notched a fall late in the first period to win another six points for the Buckeyes.
Kevin Bialka battled valiantly against OSU's Tony Jameson but ultimately lost a 10-2 major decision. It proved to be the first of three consecutive Ohio State major decisions as Robert Kellogg and Brian Roddy, Jr.--coming off a big win Friday at Penn State--each lost to top-15-ranked competitors. At 197, John Schoen lost a heartbreaking 3-1 decision in sudden victory against OSU freshman CJ Magrum. In a tight defensive match, the only scoring through regulation was an escape for each wrestler, but Magrum got in on Schoen for a takedown in the overtime period to secure the win. Northwestern's difficult stretch of matches does not get any easier when the Wildcats travel to Iowa City to meet the top-ranked and undefeated Hawkeyes at 7 p.m. Friday.
No. 4 Ohio State 37, Northwestern 6 |
|