COLUMBUS, Ohio – John Poznanski (184) delivered a top-10 win and Robert Kanniard (157) added a ranked victory, but Rutgers wrestling (0-2) dropped a 19-14 dual with No. 11 Ohio State (2-1) on Sunday afternoon in Columbus. With the Scarlet Knights down 16-14 heading into the final bout of the afternoon, No. 11 Tate Orndorff earned a tight 4-2 decision over Christian Colucci (HWT) to secure the win for the Buckeyes at the Covelli Center.
 
No. 6 Sammy Alvarez (133) and No. 1 Sebastian Rivera (141) picked up bonus points and Kanniard scored a 7-5 win in sudden victory over No. 25 Elijah Cleary to put RU ahead 11-6 at intermission. Poznanski picked up a huge 9-6 decision over No. 8 Rocky Jordan for his second win the season, but the Buckeyes secured the dual with wins in four of their final five bouts.
 
What to Know
• With Rutgers down 3-0 in the dual, Alvarez took the mat for the first time this season. Tied 2-2 after the first period against Jordan Decatur, Alvarez opened up with seven points in the second period, which included a four-point near fall to take a 9-2 lead. Alvarez collected four additional points in the third and the riding time point for his 14-3 major to give Rutgers a 4-3 advantage against the Buckeyes.
• Rivera followed and was in complete control against Dylan D'emilio, as he landed two takedowns in the first and one in the second for a 6-2 lead. Rivera added four points in the final two minutes along with the riding time point for his 11-2 major, the second win by bonus for the three-time All-American in as many outings.
• Michael VanBrill (149) took on No. 1 Sammy Sasso and once again wrestled tough, as he earned a takedown in the first period and trailed just 6-4 after two before Sasso secured the decision down the stretch. VanBrill's effort kept RU ahead, 8-6 with six bouts to go.
• Kanniard earned the biggest win of his collegiate career against Cleary, who entered the dual ranked No. 25 by FloWrestling. The Wall, New Jersey, native took a 3-2 lead in the second after a takedown, then earned back-to-back escape points down the stretch to tie Cleary, 5-5, after regulation. Kanniard then worked a double leg in sudden victory for the 7-5 decision to put RU up 11-6 at intermission.
• After Ohio State regained the lead, Poznanski faced Jordan, a consensus top-15 opponent and 2020 NCAA qualifier. Poznanski drove Jordan into the mat for two points in the first, countered a shot with another takedown in the second and produced four points in the final period for the 9-6 decision. Poznanski is now 2-0 to begin his collegiate career after his decision against Michigan in the season opener.  
• Ohio State closed the dual with back-to-back decisions, which included a 3-2 upset from Gavin Hoffman over No. 14 Billy Janzer (197).
• In RU's extra matches, Dylan Shawver (125), Gerard Angelo (149), Jackson Turley (184) and Boone McDermott (HWT) earned individual wins. It marked the first Division I varsity victories for McDermott and Shawver, while Turley pinned his opponent in the second period for Rutgers' first fall of the season.
 
No. 11 Ohio State (2-1) 19, No. 17 Rutgers (0-2) 14
Match Start: 125 Pounds
 125: 14/16/15 Malik Heinselman (OSU) 10-4 dec. over NR/22/18 Nicolas Aguilar (RU); Ohio State leads, 3-0
133: 6/6/6 Sammy Alvarez (RU) 14-3 MD over NR/NR/23 Jordan Decatur (OSU); RU leads, 4-3
141: 4/1/3 Sebastian Rivera (RU) 11-2 MD over NR/NR/25 Dylan D'Emilio (OSU); RU leads, 8-3
149: 2/1/2 Sammy Sasso (OSU) 11-5 dec. over Michael VanBrill (RU); RU leads, 8-6
157: NR/NR/27 Robert Kanniard (RU) 7-5 SV1 over NR/25/33 Elijah Cleary (OSU); RU leads, 11-6
165: 20/11/10 Ethan Smith (OSU) 10-3 dec. over Brett Donner (RU); RU leads, 11-9
174: 3/4/4 Kaleb Romero (OSU) 15-5 MD over NR/24/17 Joseph Grello (RU); OSU leads, 13-11
184: NR/NR/23 John Poznanski (RU) 9-6 dec. over 11/8/13 Rocky Jordan (OSU); RU leads, 14-13
197: NR/NR/30 Gavin Hoffman (OSU) 3-2 dec. over NR/14/20 Billy Janzer (RU); OSU leads, 16-14
285: 8/11/13 Tate Orndorff (OSU) 4-2 dec. over Christian Colucci (RU); OSU wins, 19-14
 
Rutgers vs. Ohio State Extra Matches
125: Dylan Shawver (RU) 9-4 dec. over Brady Koontz (OSU)
133: NR/NR/23 Jordan Decatur (OSU) 6-2 dec. over Shane Metzler (RU)
149: Gerard Angelo (RU) 6-1 dec. over Trey Grenier (OSU)
157: NR/25/33 Elijah Cleary (OSU) 3-1 SV1 over Nick Santos (RU)
184: Jackson Turley (RU) fall (4:02) over Zach Steiner (OSU)
HWT: Boone McDermott (RU) 2-0 dec. over Gary Traub (OSU)
157: Kevon Freeman (OSU) 4-0 dec. over Nick Santos (RU)
 
Rankings: Intermat/FloWrestling/TheOpenMat
 
• Wins by Bonus (3): Sammy Alvarez (133), Sebastian Rivera (141), Jackson Turley (184)*
• Pins (1): Jackson Turley (184)*
• Division I Varsity Debut (2): Dylan Shawver (125)*, Boone McDermott (HWT)*
• First Career Varsity Win (3): Dylan Shawver (125)*, Robert Kanniard (157), Boone McDermott (HWT)*
*Occurred in extra matches
 
Up Next
Rutgers hosts No. 15 Minnesota and No. 16 Purdue on Sunday, Jan. 31. The tri-meet is slated for a 10 a.m. ET start on BTN Plus.
 
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