COLUMBUS, Ohio - Backed by 13 bonus points, the fourth-ranked Ohio State wrestling team downed Northwestern, 37-6, Sunday in St. John Arena. The Buckeyes (16-1; 5-0 Big Ten) won seven matches and earned points on a Wildcat forfeit at 141 pounds.

For the second-consecutive match, Nikko Triggas pinned his opponent. This time, the junior from Moraga, Calif., downed Levi Mele with just nine seconds left in the first period to give the Scarlet and Gray an early 6-0 advantage.

Northwestern was able to cut the Buckeye lead in half when Eric Metzler beat Buckeye freshman Ian Paddock, 3-1. Neither wrestler scored points in the first and second periods, but Metzler recorded a takedown in the third which was enough to secure the victory.

A Northwestern forfeit at 141 pounds gave Ohio State six more team points and a 12-3 lead.

Up next at 149 pounds, senior team captain Lance Palmer won the Scarlet and Gray three more bonus points as he pinned No. 13 Andrew Nadhir with 40 seconds left in the first period.

Redshirt-freshman Tony Jameson claimed a 10-2 major decision against Kevin Bialka at 157 pounds. Owning a slim 2-0 lead heading into the second period, Jameson built his advantage to 9-0 after the middle frame. The Buckeye from Youngstown, Ohio, was shutout in the third period, but did compile 3:23 of riding time for the final score.

Junior Colt Sponseller also secured bonus points for Ohio State with his 11-1 major decision vs. Robert Kellogg at 165 pounds, while senior Dave Rella put down a 17-5 major decision against Brian Roddy at 174 pounds.

Getting the starting nod at 184 pounds, TC Pendleton dropped an 8-2 decision to Aaron Jones. However C.J. Magrum earned Ohio State the three team points right back with his dramatic 3-1 sudden victory win over John Schoen. With his escape in the second period, Schoen took a 1-0 lead going into the third period. Magrum, an Oak Harbor, Ohio, native, countered with an escape of his own to force extra time. As time was about to expire in the sudden victory, Magrum scored the takedown and lifted the Buckeyes to a 33-6 lead.

Senior Corey Morrison ended the early afternoon on a high note with his 12-3 major decision over Marcus Shrewsbury. Following 4-1 and 8-3 leads after the first and second periods, respectively, Morrison finished the match with a takedown and riding time of 1:59. (Morrison was awarded a point because of Northwestern penalty).

Ohio State returns to action on the road at Illinois before returning to Columbus for its final home match of 2009-10 in St. John Arena against Michigan State. The Buckeyes and Illini will wrestle at 7 p.m. Feb. 12. The Scarlet and Gray and Spartans will square off at 2 p.m. Feb. 14.
  
No. 4 Ohio State 37 (16-1; 5-0 Big Ten) vs. Northwestern 6 (5-10-1; 0-5 Big Ten)
Feb. 7, 2010
St. John Arena
Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 595

125 No. 20 Nikko Triggas pinned Levi Mele (NU), 2:51
133 Eric Metzler (NU) dec. Ian Paddock, 3-1
141 Northwestern Forfeit
149 No. 2 Lance Palmer pinned Andrew Nadhir (NU), 2:20
157 Tony Jameson mdec. Kevin Bialka (NU), 10-2
165 No. 6 Colt Sponseller mdec. Robert Kellogg, 11-1
174 No. 12 Dave Rella mdec. Brian Roddy (NU), 17-5
184 Aaron Jones (NU) dec. TC Pendleton, 8-2
197 C.J. Magrum dec. John Schoen (NU), 3-1 sv
285 Corey Morrison mdec. Marcus Shrewsbury, 12-3