For our second installment of trophy hunters, we'll be discussing the opening weekend for Ohio State, a program that has won a team trophy each of the past five seasons.

The Buckeyes competed at the Michigan State Open yesterday, winning five out of 10 weights. Those five titles were as follows:

• #3 Luke Pletcher at 141 pounds
• #5 Sammy Sasso at 149 pounds
• Carson Kharchla at 165 pounds
• #20 Kaleb Romero at 174 pounds
• #1 Kollin Moore at 197 pounds

The biggest story out of those champs is Pletcher, who upended top-ranked Dom Demas in the finals and will in all likelihood take over the #1 spot on Tuesday. For a guy who had just 22 bonus-point wins in over 100 career matches, he also had two majors and two pins on the day.

Sasso pinned two-time NCAA qualifier Nate Limmex in the quarters and then teched Kanen Storr in the finals, very much backing up his #5 ranking to start the year. Moore did as expected and won, though he had to gut out an overtime win over Jake Woodley in the finals.

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Romero and Kharchla are both interesting in terms of roster battles. Romero lost the wrestle-off to Rocky Jordan, but Jordan wound up sixth with losses to unraked Anthony Mantanona and Jacob Covaciu, the latter of whom Romero beat in the semis. He didn't get a chance to face #18 Joey Gunther, and only scored 11 points in his final three matches, but winning the tournament might have him earned the start this week for tOSU's first dual.

As for Kharchla, he competed unattached, leaving open the possibility he could still redshirt. But he had two techs and a pin to start the tournament, then beat fellow youngsters Cam Amine and Emil Soehnlen to close it out. Ethan Smith wrestled back for third after losing first round to Reece Hughes, so the jury is still out on if Kharchla will go this year for the Bucks.

So a lot to feel good about in Columbus. Here's how the rest of the team did:

• Malik Heinselman, 6th at 125
• Quinn Kinner, 4th at 133
• Ke-Shawn Hayes, 6th at 149
• Jaden Mattox, 3-2 at 157
• Elijah Cleary, 1-2 at 157
• Gavin Hoffman, 1-2 at 184
• Gary Traub, 4th at 285

OK, quite a bit to unpack here. Heinselman competed unattached, leaving open the possibility he redshirts. Decatur wasn't there, so he may be on his way down to 125 while Kinner slides in at 133.

Hayes lost to Storr in overtime in the semis, then injury defaulted 37 seconds in to his consi semis match. That further complicates what happens at 157, as neither Mattox nor Cleary placed, and the one that lost the wrestle-off did better.

Hoffman struggled at 184, losing to a pair of Buffalo wrestlers. Traub performed well but is likely the backup at this point. Chase Singletary will be back from U23s and take over, though Traub may get the start against Stanford if the coaches want to give Singletary time to acclimate back to folkstyle.

With the news this week that Greg Kerkvliet has entered the transfer portal, it pretty much guarantees either Traub or Singletary as the starter at heavyweight.