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NCAA Wrestling – Pre-Season Power Rankings – Can anyone compete with Penn State?

By Chris Snyder

Mar 19, 2022; Detroit, MI, USA; The Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team poses with the trophy after taking first place at the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Little Cesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2022; Detroit, MI, USA; The Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team poses with the trophy after taking first place at the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Little Cesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA – FEBRUARY 04: Sammy Sasso of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after defeating Beau Bartlett of the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center on February 04, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA – FEBRUARY 04: Sammy Sasso of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after defeating Beau Bartlett of the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center on February 04, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images) /

. Buckeyes . 3. team. 812. .

2022 Dual Meet Record: 9-3
2022 NCAA Finish: 13th (44.0)
Returning All-Americans: 4

149 Sammy Sasso (5th)
165 Carson Kharchla (7th)
184 Kaleb Romero (6th)
197 Gavin Hoffman (6th)

Here we get to our first truly intriguing team going into the 2022-2023 wrestling season.

I may be completely off of my rocker here with having them at three as Ohio State finished 13th at the 2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships, but I really think next year’s Buckeyes team will surprise some teams and they may be closer to their performances from 2015-2019 than many people realize.

Ohio State returns all four All-Americans from last year as well as their highly competitive grappler at 125, Malik Heinselman. Malik had a 2022 NCAA Championships to forget as he has the talent to be an All-American, yet he has failed to make it into the round of 12 for his career. Former All-American Ethan Smith also returns as he looks build on his round of 12 finish last year at 174.

The Buckeyes will also most likely add the services of the No. 3 overall recruit to their lineup next season as Paddy Gallagher compiled an impressive 17-2 open record during his redshirt year. Chances are slim any of the top guys from Ohio State’s record setting recruiting class in 2022 will see the mat this coming season, but you never know.

Overall No. 1 recruit Nick Feldman was joined by No. 3 Jesse Mendez and No. 4 Nic Bouzakis in the historic class and their effects will be felt soon enough. If any of them are ready then Tom Ryan’s squad could be pretty scary next year.

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