Case hosts big tournament, Ohio State

A wrestling caravan will embark on Case Western Reserve on Nov. 11 for the third Ohio Intercollegiate Open – including the nation’s No. 2-ranked team Ohio State.

Twenty colleges from Ohio, New York, Michigan, Iowa, Pennsylvania and West Virginia will compete at the event created by fourth-year Case coach Daniel Song. He did so three years ago with the hopes of landing every Ohio college to the tournament. Logistics have prevented that from happening, so Song reached out to other schools from the surrounding states.

The list of teams that will compete include Ashland, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Cleveland State, Davenport, Edinboro, John Carroll, Kent State, Mercyhurst, Michigan State, Notre Dame College, Ohio University, Ohio State, Ohio Wesleyan, Otterbein, Pitt, Tiffin, Urbana, West Liberty and West Virginia.

Having Ohio State at the tournament was quite the catch for Song, who’s known Buckeyes coach Tom Ryan since Ryan was Song’s coach as a youth wrestler.

“I’ve known Coach Ryan since I was in second grade,” said Song. “It’s awesome (Ohio State) will be here.”

There will be two divisions at the tournament — one consisting of Division I teams, and the other comprised of teams from lower divisions.

The tournament at Veale Field House begins at 9 a.m. with semifinal bouts at 2 p.m., and the championship round at 4:30 p.m.

Admission is $15 (18 and over) and $5 for college or high school students with school IDs. Ages 5 and under are free.

The Buckeyes will be the main draw. Ohio State was the NCAA runner-up to Penn State at last season’s Division I tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. OSU starts this season No. 2 in the NWCA Divison I Coaches Poll behind No. 1 Penn State. Five All-Americans return for the Buckeyes, including Myles Martin, an NCAA champion.