Ohio State head wrestling Tom Ryan received some big news on Wednesday. Seth Shumate, a sophomore from Dublin Coffman High School verbally committed to Ohio State.
This is a huge victory for OSU on the recruiting front. Shumate is currently ranked as the 4th overall wrestler in the class of 2022.
As a freshman in high school Shumate finished his season 50-1, capping off his year by winning the Division 1 State Title at 195 pounds.
Shumate has also burst onto the national scene. This summer Shumate became a double National Champion at the United States Marine Corps Cadet Freestyle and Greco-Roman Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota.
In the Freestyle tournament held from July 13th-15th, Shumate won his first three matches by more than ten points and appeared to struggle very little with his last two opponents on his way to winning the freestyle national title at 195 pounds. The Greco-Roman tournament was held on July 17th and 18th. Shumate shut out 4 consecutive opponents on his way to becoming a National Champion at 195 pounds.
This outstanding effort marked the second consecutive summer a wrestler from Central Ohio left Fargo with a title. The other was future teammate Carson Knarchla, who won the freestyle title last summer at 170 pounds.
In Shumate’s social media post, he reported he plans on competing at either 184/197 pounds for the Buckeyes in 2022 or 2023.
I would like to make it official: following my high school career, I will pursue my academic and athletic goals at The Ohio State University at 184/197. The coaching staff, training partners, and opportunity that The Ohio State has to offer are second to none. pic.twitter.com/fAXBiAksWT
— Seth S. (@ShumateSeth126) August 20, 2019
Shumate stated that the coaching staff, training partners, and opportunities Ohio State has to offer are second to none. It is hard to argue with the young man, considering Ohio State has Tervel Dlagnev on the coaching staff, RTC wrestlers — including Kyle Snyder training at OSU, and wrestlers like Greg Kerkvliet in the wrestling room to help him improve.
Shumate is still 3 years from stepping into the Ohio State Wrestling room, but at this point it appears there will be a need at 184/197 pounds.
Let’s look at what the lineup may look like in 2022 and what OSU’s needs may be over the next couple recruiting classes.
Keep in mind, this is completely hypothetical based on the current roster and recruits I think the Buckeyes will sign.
2022 hypothetical lineup
125- Decatur
133- open/Nick Oldham
141- D’Emilio
149- Sasso
157- Paddy Gallagher(uncommitted)
165- Carson Kharchla or Paddy Gallagher(uncommitted)
174- Rocky Jordan or Carson Kharchla
184- Seth Shumate
197- Braxton Amos(uncommitted)
HWT- Greg Kerkvliet
Based on this lineup, it appears the future is very bright for Ohio State Wrestling. But with many of the wrestlers graduating after the 2022-2023 season, coaches will be busy on the recruiting trail.
Jordan Decatur will either be a senior or redshirt junior in the 2022-2023 season, so 125 will be a recruiting need.
If Nick Oldham progresses into the wrestler I think he can become, he can represent the 133-pound weight class at some point. Oldham will be a senior or redshirt junior in 2022-2023, so 133 will be a need.
In the 141-pound weight class, it appears D’Emilio will be redshirting this year so that would make him a redshirt junior in 2022-2023. Sasso will be a redshirt senior in 2022, so 149 pounds will be a need. It also appears Kharchla will redshirt, so that would make him a redshirt junior in 2022.
In the HWT class it appears Kerkvliet will redshirt this year, so that would also make him a redshirt junior in 2022-2023.
[Follow Brandon on Twitter @RecruitingBucks]
