Brandon Cannon and Ben Davino have been named the 21st and 22nd wrestlers in Ohio State history to earn “Black Shirt” status, according to an announcement made Thursday by the program.
Cannon, a redshirt sophomore, finished second at the 2024 Big Ten Championships in the 157-pound weight class, which secured him a No. 5 seed at the 2024 NCAA Championships. His overall record stands at 30-5, with a 6-2 mark in dual meets and a 2-1 record in conference duals. He began the current season undefeated, winning titles at both the Cleveland State Open and Edinboro Open.
Davino, a redshirt freshman, achieved a 14-1 record last year. He was undefeated in both his four dual matches and two Big Ten duals. In his first collegiate competition at the 2024 Clarion Open at 133 pounds, Davino went 5-0 and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
Ohio State is ranked fifth nationally as it prepares for the upcoming season. The team will start its campaign on November 2 at the Clarion Open before traveling to Tennessee-Chattanooga for its first dual meet on November 9. The Buckeyes are also scheduled to compete in the National Duals Invitational on November 15-16 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, opening against Wyoming. The first home dual is set for November 20 against Kent State at Covelli Center.
The Black Shirt tradition began during the 2019-20 season when all wrestlers training inside Jennings Wrestling Facility wore gray shirts. Only those who meet certain standards receive black shirts, joining coaches in selecting future recipients. J Jaggers said: “Becoming a Black Shirt rewards those who are doing things that in our program are non-negotiable.” Nominees must be unanimously approved by both coaching staff and current Black Shirts and must show elite discipline, grit, selflessness, and excellence.
From 2019 to present, Ohio State’s Black Shirts have collectively earned numerous honors including over fifty NCAA qualifications and nearly thirty All-American selections.