Ohio State wrestling kicked off the new year with a hard-fought 22–17 win over No. 11 Illinois Sunday to start the new year in style. Both teams recorded a pair of tech falls, but the Buckeyes won two more matches than the Illini to earn the victory.
Thomas Haines earned a crack at the starting lineup and made the most of the chance, defeating NCAA qualifier Brooks Black 3-2 at heavyweight to start things off. After a slow (even for the bigs) first period, Haines scored an escape and nearly stuck Black, who was ranked No. 17 in the latest InterMat poll, after a scramble.