Wrestling
Ohio State Wrestling: 125 Pound Preview
By Kevin Schlosser

Ohio State has not had a lot of luck in recent years in finding wrestlers who can compete and stay eligible for four years at Ohio State. Tom Ryan made this concern a priority bringing in Will Livingston last year and the contingent of Patrick Harrington, Bo Touris, Nikko Triggas, and Pat Zamaria this season. Last year Livingston started all season and brought stability to a historically unstable weight class. As a true freshman he placed eighth at the Big Ten Tournament but did not advance to the NCAA Tournament.

Livingston cut down to 125 to fill an immediate need for Ohio State after winning a New Jersey state title at 130 pounds as a high school senior. This season he is likely to move up a weight class and is a possible candidate for a redshirt year. If Livingston is not here, there will be an opportunity for one of the four freshmen to move into the lineup. The preseason favorite to start is true freshman is Nikko Triggas.

The 2007 Front Runner: 125 pounds

Nikko Triggas (freshman; Campolindo, CA)

Nikko Triggas has been ranked as one of the top wrestlers nationally in his weight class since enrolling at Campolindo High School. The Moraga, California native was a four time California state placer, a two time state champ, a four time US national champ in Greco Roman, a four time US National All American in freestyle, and the runner up at 2007 Senior Nationals. Triggas wrestled in two Ironman Tournaments, winning his first with a 13-2 victory over Collin Palmer and took second place last year. In July, Triggas represented the US at the Junior Pan Am Games and won the gold medal in Greco Roman and a silver medal in freestyle.

With a resume that boasts strong and consistent performances on a state, national, and international level, Triggas has to be considered the favorite to start at 125 pounds for Ohio State. Long term, Triggas looks to wrestle 125 pounds for his first few years before possibly moving up as an upper classman.

“Nikko is a great student and a relentless go getter on the wrestling mat. He has won on every level, everywhere he has gone and we expect him to continue that at Ohio State.” Lou Rosselli continued, “With his attitude and talent, he has the ability to be our next freshman All American.”

The 2007 Contenders: 125 pounds

Bo Touris (freshman; West Chester, OH)

Bo Touris comes to Ohio State from Lakota West High School. The 2007 OHSAA state champ at 112 pounds was a three time state qualifier, took fourth place at the 2007 Senior Nationals, and is a former Cadet Greco Roman national champion. If not starting, Touris is expected to provide depth and competition at 125 and 133 pound weight classes throughout his Ohio State career.

“We have very high expectations for Nikko Triggas, but Bo was a wrestler we very much wanted to have at Ohio State. He was an early commit, and stuck with us knowing we weren’t finished recruiting,” said Tom Ryan. “With the additional weight he has put on, he has the experience to compete from the start and we look forward to getting them all in the room.”

Pat Harrington (freshman; Sandusky, OH)

Pat Harrington was a late addition to this class from Sandusky St. Mary’s Central Catholic. Following in the footsteps of a three time state placing father, Harrington was a two time division three OHSAA state champ at 103 and 119 pounds. At Senior Nationals, Harrington went 4-2 losing the match that would have elevated him All American status. In college, Harrington is projected as a 125 and 133 pound wrestler for the Buckeyes.

Patrick Zamaria (freshman; Brecksville, OH)

Patrick Zamaria also was a late signer with Ohio State from Brecksville, Ohio. Zamaria is a two time division one OHSAA state placer and a former freestyle All American. Nikko Triggas won a decision over Zamaria in the second round of the 2006 Ironman Zamaria. Zamaria rebounded to take eighth place to become Ohio’s only placer in a competitive weight class. Zamaria went 5-2 at the 2007 Junior Freestyle National, losing his last two matches by fall to the second and fourth place finishers. After a probable, redshirt season, Zamaria will compete at 125 and 133 pounds at Ohio State.

Ohio State in 2006-2007: 125 pounds

Will Livingston wrestled every varsity match for Ohio State in 2006-2007 at 125 pounds. As a true freshman, he posted a 17-20 overall record; placing fourth at the EMU Open, seventh at the MSU Open and eighth at the Big Ten Tournament. In dual meet action, he went 5-10 overall and 2-6 against the Big Ten. Livingston wrestled fourteen matches against NCAA qualifiers last season and finished 4-10 in quality matches. The highlight of the season for the freshman was his 10-0 upset of nationally ranked Frank Gomez at the Big Ten Tournament.

2007-2008 Big Ten Outlook: 125 pounds

With eleven starters and three All Americans returning, there will be a lot of familiar faces wrestling 125 at the Big Ten Tournament. Title contenders start at the top with the three All Americans; Jayson Ness, Charlie Falk, and Angel Escobedo. Any of the returning placers; Flores, Cudd, McKnight, or Precin, have the potential to finish higher and they are joined by Michael Watts, a two year starter for Michigan and Frank Gomez, the returning starter for Michigan State

With only three seniors potentially starting, this weight class is young, deep and talented. The 2008 Big Ten Tournament will be a challenge for everyone and it will be a dog fight for the last qualifying spot for the NCAA Tournament.

In addition to Ohio State freshman Nikko Touris, the Big Ten welcomes 2007 Senior national champs Eric Olanowski (Michigan State; 112) and Matt Ortega (Indiana; 125) and Iowa will add high school Junior national champion Nate Moore next season. Any of the freshman recruits could crack the lineup at their respective schools if Gomez, Escobedo, or Falck move up to 133 pounds. Purdue is expected to start freshman Akif Eren.

2007 Big Ten Tournament Place Winners (2008 Class Rank)

First: Jayson Ness (Minnesota; sophomore) NCAA:2007 fifth

Second: Charlie Falck (Iowa; junior) NCAA:2007 eighth

Third: Angel Escobedo (Indiana; sophomore) NCAA:2007 fourth

Fourth: Gabe Flores (Illinois; junior)

Fifth: Collin Cudd (Wisconsin; senior)

Sixth: Mark McKnight (Penn State; senior)

Seventh: Brandon Precin (Northwestern; sophomore)

Eighth: Will Livingston (Ohio State; sophomore)

DNP: Frank Gomez (Michigan State; sophomore); Michael Watts (Michigan, junior); and Brandon Tucker (Purdue; senior).

2007-2008 NCAA Outlook: 125 pounds

Nebraska junior Paul Donahoe is the defending national champion at 125 pounds. He leads a field of seven returning All Americans that includes Cornell junior Troy Nickerson, Indiana; sophomore Angel Escobedo, Minnesota; sophomore Jayson Ness, Lock Haven; senior Obe Blanc, Stanford; senior Tanner Gardner, and Iowa; sophomore Charlie Falck. Blanc may take an Olympic redshirt this season or move to 133 pounds.

The pressure will be on Nickerson, Ness, Falck, and Escobedo as each is on pace to become a four time All American. Nickerson is halfway there as a junior while the others were All Americans as redshirt freshman. Ness was the Big Ten freshman of the year and both Falck and Escobedo can beat anyone in the field. With successful senior seasons; Hofstra senior David Tomasette, Wisconsin senior Collin Cudd, Penn State senior Mark McKnight, Bloomsburg senior Mike Sees, and Central Michigan senior Luke Smith will look to become first time All Americans in their fourth and final trips to the tournament. Together they have combined for fifteen NCAA Tournaments appearances.

In total, twenty-seven of the thirty-two wrestlers who competed at the 2007 NCAA Tournament will return at 125 or above. Other wrestlers expected to contend this year include Oklahoma State sophomore Tyler Shinn, Michigan State sophomore Frank Gomez, Illinois junior Gabe Flores, Iowa State sophomore Nick Fanthorpe, UTC senior Javier Maldonado, and Lehigh junior Matt Fisk. Gomez, Fanthorpe, and Blanc are the most likely candidates to make the move to 133 pounds.

Ohio State would love to have their 125 pounder make it through to the NCAA Tournament. As a true freshman, Nikko Triggas will be challenged to place at the Big Ten Tournament and qualify for nationals. If he makes it through to St. Louis, Triggas will be a seasoned freshman and optimistically can win a few matches to contribute to the team effort. While he is expected to experience some growing pains, Triggas has a shot of becoming a valuable contributor by seasons end. If Ohio State is going to move up in the standings their returning All Americans need to improve, other wrestlers step up, or a combination of both.

2007 NCAA Tournament Place Winners (2008 Class Rank)

First: Paul Donahoe (Nebraska; junior)

Second: Sam Hazewinkel (Oklahoma) Graduated; NCAA: 2007 second; 2006, 2005, 2004 third; 4x

Third: Troy Nickerson (Cornell; junior) NCAA: 2007 third; 2006 second

Fourth: Angel Escobedo (Indiana; sophomore)

Fifth: Jayson Ness (Minnesota; sophomore)

Sixth: Obenson Blanc (Lock Haven; senior)

Seventh: Tanner Gardner (Stanford; senior) NCAA: 2007 seventh, 2006 eighth

Eighth: Charlie Falck (Iowa; sophomore)

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