COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 6-ranked Ohio State wrestling team (8-1; 0-0 Big Ten) wrestled back to a fifth-place finish Sunday at the 2009 National Duals, defeating No. 11 Minnesota, 25-12, at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
After falling to No. 3 in Cornell in the quarterfinals Saturday, the Buckeyes recorded victories against No. 5 Missouri, No. 16 Boise State and Minnesota to earn fifth-place.
Wrestling at 174 pounds, junior Dave Rella scored Ohio State's biggest win with a 13-3 major decision over Golden Gopher Kaleb Young. In three periods of work, Rella, a Youngstown, Ohio, native recorded five takedowns.
The Scarlet and Gray also received wins from No. 8-ranked Reece Humphrey, No. 14 J Jaggers, No. 4 Lance Palmer, No. 4 Colt Sponseller and No. 2 Mike Pucillo.
At 133, Humphrey earned a close 5-4 decision to upset Minnesota's fourth-ranked Jayson Ness to put Ohio State on the board after sophomore Nikko Triggas dropped an 8-3 decision to No. 8 Zach Sanders at 125.
Jaggers followed with a 7-2 decision at 141 pounds. To secure the win, the senior tallied one take down, two escapes and a three-point nearfall in the upset over the Gopher's No. 8-ranked Mike Thorn. The winning continued for the Buckeyes with Palmer pinned Minnesota's Joe Grygelko in 2:35.
The Gophers earned a win of their own when Tyler Safratowich decided Buckeye Jason Johnstone in a close 6-4 match. Sophomore Sponseller would put Ohio State right back in the meet defeating 18th-ranked Scott Glasser in a 4-0 decision. Pucillo earned the final points for the Scarlet and Gray, pinning Brent Eidenschink in 4:33.
