Tom Ryan Answers Buckeye Lineup Questions
Tom Ryan Answers Buckeye Lineup Questions
Ohio State wrestling head coach Tom Ryan called into the 499th episode of the "On The Mat" to settle some lingering questions about the Buckeye lineup.
Ohio State wrestling head coach Tom Ryan called into the 499th episode of "On The Mat" earlier this week to settle some lingering questions about the Buckeyes lineup.
Ryan spoke to host Kyle Klingman about the injury OSU redshirt senior Nathan Tomasello suffered at the U23 World Team Trials when he wrestled Daton Fix in the best-of-three finals. Fix won both matches to make the team, while Tomasello suffered a knee injury, though not when he went crashing into the scorers' table at the end of the second match as many fans suspected.
Despite the misfortune at the trials, Ryan relayed the good news that Tomasello's injury was not as severe as the Buckeyes staff originally thought. Tomasello could be back as early as December rather than January or later as the previous diagnosis suggested.
Ryan also laid down the plan for the 141- and 149-pound spots in OSU's lineup. Sophomore Ke-Shawn Hayes and Joey McKenna, a transfer from Stanford entering his junior year of eligibility, were both competing for the starting job at 141.
The two Buckeyes had a best-of-three wrestle-off on Oct. 19. McKenna won the first match 3-2 in overtime, but the second match had to be cut short after he suffered an injury. Ryan informed the "On The Mat" listeners that McKenna suffered a minor ankle sprain and is now back wrestling as if he was never injured, much to the relief of the Ohio State community. Ryan added that a full-strength McKenna will be wrestling at the UWW U23 World Championships in Poland in late November.
With McKenna's injury out of the way, Ryan spoke about who will get the starting nod at 141. Ryan said it was one of the toughest decisions he's had to make as a coach, but OSU's coaching staff and wrestlers all "bought in" to the conclusion that it would be best for the team if McKenna went 141 and Hayes moved up to 149, which is the plan for the Buckeyes going forward.
Ryan spoke to host Kyle Klingman about the injury OSU redshirt senior Nathan Tomasello suffered at the U23 World Team Trials when he wrestled Daton Fix in the best-of-three finals. Fix won both matches to make the team, while Tomasello suffered a knee injury, though not when he went crashing into the scorers' table at the end of the second match as many fans suspected.
Despite the misfortune at the trials, Ryan relayed the good news that Tomasello's injury was not as severe as the Buckeyes staff originally thought. Tomasello could be back as early as December rather than January or later as the previous diagnosis suggested.
Ryan also laid down the plan for the 141- and 149-pound spots in OSU's lineup. Sophomore Ke-Shawn Hayes and Joey McKenna, a transfer from Stanford entering his junior year of eligibility, were both competing for the starting job at 141.
The two Buckeyes had a best-of-three wrestle-off on Oct. 19. McKenna won the first match 3-2 in overtime, but the second match had to be cut short after he suffered an injury. Ryan informed the "On The Mat" listeners that McKenna suffered a minor ankle sprain and is now back wrestling as if he was never injured, much to the relief of the Ohio State community. Ryan added that a full-strength McKenna will be wrestling at the UWW U23 World Championships in Poland in late November.
With McKenna's injury out of the way, Ryan spoke about who will get the starting nod at 141. Ryan said it was one of the toughest decisions he's had to make as a coach, but OSU's coaching staff and wrestlers all "bought in" to the conclusion that it would be best for the team if McKenna went 141 and Hayes moved up to 149, which is the plan for the Buckeyes going forward.