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Ohio State wrestling: Jordan, Stieber among four MSU Open champs

Kenny Courts, Hunter Stieber, Bo Jordan, and Nathan Tomasello all brought home championships at the Michigan State Open.

The eleventh-ranked Ohio State wrestling team was back in action this weekend in East Lansing, MI at the Michigan State Open. With defending national champion Logan Stieber sitting out the tournament, the Buckeyes still posted an impressive four individual championships. Redshirt sophomore Kenny Courts led the way, winning the Buckeyes' lone "attached" title  by defeating Indiana's Lucas Sheridan in the final by a score of 6-4.

Wrestling unattached, three other Buckeyes won tournament titles (The unattached designation is a way of letting wrestlers compete in preseason open tournaments without burning their redshirts). Ohio State's unattached champions include All-American Hunter Stieber who defeated Ohio's Tywan Claxton 9-4 to win the 149-pond weight class.

The most dominate performances of the weekend came from a pair of true freshmen who will sit out the 2013/2014 season. Nathan Tomasello won his second consecutive college tournament, earning a major decision in all five of his matches including a 12-4 finals victory against Central Michigan's Corey Keener. In the 165-pound weight class, Bo Jordan built on his dominating performance at the season-opening Clarion Open by recording a major decision and two pins, including a second-period fall over Indiana's Ryan LeBlanc in the tournament finals.

Also placing for the Buckeyes were Ian Paddock (third place, 149 pounds), Nick Roberts (fifth place, 125 pounds), and Mark Martin (sixth place, 174 pounds).

The Ohio State wrestling season begins in earnest this Friday night as the Buckeyes welcome Notre Dame College to St. John's Arena for the first dual meet of the year. The Buckeyes are 50-36-1 all-time in home openers including 5-1 in the last six under coach Tom Ryan. The action begins at 7:00 p.m. Be sure to follow @_VestDJ_ on Twitter for updates as the meet unfolds.