The Ohio State Buckeyes enter 2025 with a clearer picture of their starting lineup. Tom Ryan, however, acknowledges that a few unknowns still exist.

“As far as weights go, we can say we are set at 125,” the Buckeye coach said. “(Brendan) McCrone is doing a fantastic job. We’re set at 133 with Nic (Bouzakis). Obviously, we’re great at 141 (with returning national champion Jesse Mendez) and we’re good at 149 with Dylan (D’Emilio). 

“At 157, well, that’s when things get interesting.” 

With the return of Paddy Gallagher (9-2) from an injury to his ACL, the body of work that Brandon Cannon has displayed (7-1 with a Cleveland State Open title) and a potential drop-down by Sammy Sasso from 165, the 157-pound class for the Buckeyes has a glut of capable options yet to be decided. 

There’s parity, too.

“Paddy has a win over (Iowa State’s) Paniro Johnson but a loss to (Iowa State’s) Cody Chittum,” Ryan said. “Cannon has a win over Chittum but lost to Johnson. And Sasso is getting leaner as the season has progressed and may want to drop a weight to challenge at 157. It’s an issue of depth.”

And 157 isn’t the only weight still up for grabs. 

Ryan said Bryce Hepner — who hasn’t competed since winning the Cleveland State Open — is “coming back to challenge at 165.” 

Ryan said Ryder Rogotzke is headed down to 184 after “weighing in light while wrestling at 197.” Meanwhile, according to Ryan, Seth Shumate is likely headed the other direction and moving up to 197 after wrestling at 184. 

Depth On Display

Ohio State’s lineup has been in flux throughout the season while the Buckeyes responded time and again to repeated bites from the injury bug. 

“It’s a testament to our depth,” Ryan said. “We’re 7-0, we beat (North Carolina), Lock Haven and Iowa State (at the Collegiate Duals in Nashville), and with all different lineups. I mean, we just have a lot of good guys in the room. Now it’s just figuring out who’s the best option at each weight.

“Communication with the team is key. Ultimately, (the coaching staff) doesn’t decide. Wrestle-offs decide — and sometimes the way that you compete. Whether you won the wrestle-off or not, how you’re actually competing comes into play, too. 

“So, we're in the middle of the season, the team’s really good, they’re close, and I think in the next two weeks we’ll have things finalized as far as who will be competing for us at the end of the year.”

Leading The Way

Ryan has seen plenty of impressive performances during the first two months of the college wrestling season. 

“McCrone (15-2) has really been impressive this year,” Ryan said of his 125-pounder who’s scored bonus points in 12 of his 15 victories. “He’s just continued to make progress. Nic Bouzakis is getting more consistent, more disciplined in his wrestling.”

With victories in his career over All-Americans such as Michigan’s Dylan Ragusin and NC State’s Kai Orine — but also some head-scratching losses — Ryan is encouraged with his 133-pounder’s current trajectory.

“I think Nic outwrestled (four-time national finalist, Daton) Fix last year at the national tournament,” he said. “He lost (5-4), but I think he outwrestled him. That shows that his level of wrestling is really high when he’s honed in. That’s happening with him lately. He’s maturing in the way he goes about his job. 

“Obviously, Jesse (Mendez) is always a rock for us. Gallagher’s wrestled well so far since coming off his ACL tear. It was good to get Carson back in the lineup last week, and he won all three of his matches after (being sidelined for nearly a year). 

“That’s hard to do. Most elite high school wrestlers are getting in 30-40 matches over the summer, every summer. It’s why these kids are just so good; they’re competing 30-40 times, they’re at camps and clinics. I mean, if you don't wrestle from January until December and you're still that good when you first come back, that’s impressive, and that’s what Carson’s done.”

Ryan believes Kharchla is simply exhibiting his values.

“It’s a testament to what he treasures,” he said. “The work he put in when he couldn’t wrestle live on the mat all year.

“Almost everything in life, everything material, has a price tag. If you can afford it, you can buy it. But you can't buy what NCAA wrestling is selling. Carson’s work ethic, that stuff can’t be bought. That’s the beauty of it. It's not for sale. There’s a price tag, but there’s no fiscal value. Carson understands this, and he’s shown it so far. 

“I know I’ve said it before, but we have a lot of guys who understand this concept. We’ve had guys wrestle up this year, weighing in light but wrestling up a weight, with not one person complaining about it. And in the NIL world that we’re currently living in, there’s this mindset that when you lose, your ‘value’ goes down. They shouldn’t have to think about that.”

On The Horizon 

Duals with Oregon State, Illinois and Rutgers open the 2025 calendar year for the Buckeyes. Ryan highlighted the challenges offered by each.

“Illinois has a good team,” he said. “They’re really good. (184-pounder Edmond) Ruth is tough. (133-pounder, Lucas) Byrd is tough. The (Braunagel) brothers (174-pounder Danny and 197-pounder Zac) are tough. We’ll have some good matchups in that one. Oregon State's 141-pounder (Nash Singleton) is tough. Their 157-pounder (Ethan Stiles) has shown good signs. Rutgers just won Midlands so they're obviously tough, have a lot of tough kids. 

“Our number one focus is to maintain our standard, our Ohio State standard. We just gotta get our lineup settled, but things keep cropping up that moves timelines (for certain wrestlers). That can weigh on guys’ minds. You can get caught up in that stuff.

“Ultimately — and I’ve always felt this way, even as a competitor — ultimately, if I’m the best guy in the weight, then I belong in the lineup. If I’m not, I don’t. And if guys want to shift in weight and come up and try to beat me or drop down to try to beat me, well, they should have the right to do that. There are teams right now who have their 10 best guys at each weight set. We don’t have that. We aren’t completely set yet. 

“That doesn’t matter. We’ve gotta be ready to wrestle in these upcoming duals, no matter what.”