The conclusion of the National Duals Invitational sponsored by Paycom left Ohio State coach Tom Ryan not only happy about his team’s performance but rethinking some pre-tournament reservations he’d had about the tournament’s place on the schedule.

“A dual national tournament like this has been on my mind for 33 years,” Ryan said. “I’ve always believed a head-to-head format (deciding the team national champion) is best for our sport.”

But having it so early in the season didn’t sit well with Ryan.

“At first, it seemed ridiculous — having something like this so early with team invitations based on previous year’s finishes,” he said. 

Ryan’s reservations haven’t vanished. But he understands there’s no easy fix with the complexities of the wrestling calendar, which also features a freestyle season beginning almost immediately after the college season ends each spring.  

“Ideally, a team tournament like this should be at the end of the year,” he said. “But when? How do we have it and also have a tournament that recognizes individual excellence — guys on the podium? Do we put it before conference tournaments? Do we put it at the very end of the season after NCAAs? That brings athletes right up to the start of their freestyle schedule.

“Every window has its positives and negatives, but the tournament overall is incredible. I learned a lot. Until you experience it, you don’t know, but this (tournament) has to occur each year. When and how just need to be examined more to make it make the most sense.”

Lightweight Firepower

With the championship trophy and $200,000 in tow, the trip home from Tulsa was as good as anything Ryan could have imagined.

He wasn’t surprised, however. 

“I’ve taken questions like, ‘What are you doing differently?’” Ryan said. “And really, nothing. I have an incredible staff. J (Jaggers), Logan (Stieber), Bo (Jordan) and with Kolin (Moore) running our RTC, we’re just blessed with an incredible group of coaches.

“And guys on the team who have innately attacking mindsets.

“They understand you gotta constantly score, and that pretty much showed this weekend. Conservative, protecting mindsets don’t develop what’s needed. Our guys seek out and embrace duress and tension each practice. They seek (practice) partners who push them. Tension and duress in the practice room is the best thing for getting the results you want.”

Ohio State went 20-0 on the weekend at the first five weights. The first five in the Buckeye order collected three pins, four technical falls and six major decisions. Additionally, the group registered seven wins over top 10 opponents, including three over returning NCAA finalists. 

“None of us were surprised,” Ryan said. “Some think Nic (Bouzakis) ran from (Ohio State freshman 133-pounder Ben) Davino, and that’s why he dropped to 125. That isn’t the case. He’s beaten many high-level guys in college. He’s been on five U.S. World Teams. Nic doesn’t run from anyone. It just made sense, and at 125, carefully watching his nutrition and weight training, he’s one of the strongest 125-pounders in the nation. We saw that this weekend, (culminating in) the pin for us right out of the gate in the last match (versus Iowa’s Dean Peterson).

“We weren’t shocked this weekend about Davino or (157-pounder Brandon) Cannon, either. Ben’s incredible … In freestyle he’s beaten Daton Fix, Nico Megaludis, and Austin Desanto, and he goes out there this weekend and beats last year’s NCAA finalist (Drake Ayala) 10-4. It was a great win, but it all falls in line with the way he trains. He chooses the toughest guys in the room each day. Ben simply showed everyone what we already knew about him.

“Brandon’s the same way. I believed Brandon was going to win nationals last year. I really did — he’s that good. He showed that this weekend, particularly in his (major decision) win over last year’s NCAA champ (Nebraska’s Antrell Taylor).”

It's Gotta Be The Shoes

In addition to his impressive weekend, Cannon impressed his coach with his commitment — to his wrestling shoes.

“The kid is different,” Ryan said. “Most guys, in between sessions, take their wrestling shoes off, switch to sneakers. Cannon kept his on the entire time each day.”

Asked about his unique habit, Cannon laughed.

“I don’t know,” he said. “If they feel good, it’s just something I do. I’d prefer just staying at the arena the whole time, but when we leave after a session and go to the hotel or wherever, I like to keep them on.”